Curious Companions K9 Training

Curious Companions K9 Training Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Curious Companions K9 Training, Dog trainer, Bluewater.

Townsville Dog Trainer 🐾
Helping over-excited & reactive dogs in the real world
Structured training programs (not quick fixes)
Building stronger bonds through connection, encouragement and guidance
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Pumba 🐾I had the pleasure to meet this handsome young boy for his initial consultation.Pumba has plenty of energy and en...
04/09/2026

Pumba 🐾

I had the pleasure to meet this handsome young boy for his initial consultation.

Pumba has plenty of energy and enthusiasm for life… and one of his favourite activities at the moment is grabbing, biting and pulling on his lead 😂

During his consult we started working on some foundation skills, clearer communication and showing Pumba what we’d like him to do instead when all that excitement starts to take over.

For a young dog like Pumba, it’s not about expecting perfection. It’s about creating consistency, giving him clear direction and helping both Pumba and his owners learn how to work through those moments together.

He’s a fun little character and I’m looking forward to seeing how this team progresses. 💛🐾

Building skills. Building communication. Building teams.

29/08/2026

A little training session with my own boy 🐾

Working on his heel in a new environment, so we went back to making things nice and simple and using some luring to help him find the position I was looking for. We also mixed in some sits, drops and a spin along the way.

New environments bring new smells, sounds and distractions, so I don’t expect the same level of focus straight away. We build it back up and give them time to take everything in.

I also had him on a long line so we could break up the more structured training with plenty of time to explore, sniff and just be a dog in between.

A little bit of work ➡️ a little bit of freedom ➡️ then back to work again.

Training doesn’t always have to be one long structured session. Sometimes those little bursts of training mixed into exploring are exactly what we need.

And yes, even the dog trainer is still out there training her own dogs 😂🐾

How handsome is Tubble! 🐾💛A little end-of-program photo for this gorgeous boy!Tubble did so well throughout our time tog...
28/08/2026

How handsome is Tubble! 🐾💛

A little end-of-program photo for this gorgeous boy!

Tubble did so well throughout our time together, and it’s been great watching him and his owner build their skills and confidence as a team.

Of course, training doesn’t stop when the program finishes. As our dogs grow and develop, consistency and practice are so important to keep those skills strong.

And for our younger dogs, it’s also completely normal to hit that teenage stage where it can suddenly feel like they’ve forgotten everything they’ve learnt 😂 A little more distraction, a little more independence and sometimes a lot more selective hearing!

That’s when we go back to those foundations, stay consistent and keep practising.

Tubble has some great skills under his belt now, and I’m looking forward to seeing this team continue to grow together. 🐾💛

We don’t just train dogs. We build teams.

22/08/2026

Scout and his owner working on his recall out and about 🐾

We’ve been using a long line to give Scout a bit more freedom to explore, while still being able to safely practise his recall around everyday distractions.

At this stage it’s all about consistency and creating that pattern — letting him explore, calling him back, rewarding that choice to come back in, and then giving him the freedom to head off and explore again.

The more we practise this in different places, the more familiar that pattern becomes and the stronger his recall will get.

These two have been putting in the work and it’s so good to see it coming together 💛

Building skills and building teams.🐾

🎓🐾 Another group of graduates!A big congratulations to this lovely group for completing their Level 1 Foundations classe...
22/08/2026

🎓🐾 Another group of graduates!

A big congratulations to this lovely group for completing their Level 1 Foundations classes!

One of my favourite things about group classes is watching the relationship between each dog and their person grow over the weeks. We’re not just teaching dogs cues — we’re building communication, confidence and teamwork.

Because at the end of the day, training isn’t about creating the “perfect” dog. It’s about learning how to work together as a team, understand each other better and build skills that actually work in everyday life.

And this group has done exactly that. 💛

There’s always more to learn and build on, but I’m so proud of the progress these teams have made and I’ve loved being a part of their journey.

We don’t just train dogs. We build teams. 🐾

Congratulations, graduates! 🎓👏

18/08/2026

A little look at some of our group class teams working on their walking skills 🐾

For this exercise, we made use of the park around us — changing directions, working around trees, adding in turns and navigating around the other dogs and handlers in the class.

Walking nicely isn’t just about walking in a straight line. In the real world we’re constantly changing direction, moving around things and coming across distractions, so I like to incorporate plenty of that into our classes.

Having the other dogs around also gives us a great opportunity to practise staying connected with our own dog while learning to work calmly around others. The goal isn’t for our dogs to meet or interact with every dog they see — it’s teaching them that other dogs can be around and they can still listen, move with us and continue what they’re doing.

I was so proud of this group and how well they handled this exercise. 💛 It’s so good to see the skills we’ve been working on coming together and each team growing in confidence as the weeks go on.

Lots of little skills coming together here 🐾

Building skills. Building confidence. Building teams.

Meet Snickers. 🐾💛Snickers is a rescue who isn't a fan of being handled by unfamiliar people, especially at the vet. Like...
07/08/2026

Meet Snickers. 🐾💛

Snickers is a rescue who isn't a fan of being handled by unfamiliar people, especially at the vet. Like many dogs, she's not being "stubborn" or "dominant"—she's simply communicating that she doesn't feel safe.

Instead of asking her to just tolerate handling, we're teaching her that she has a voice.

Using cooperative care, we're building a simple routine where Snickers learns exactly what's about to happen, can choose to participate, and is rewarded for calmly working through each step. Over time, this helps build confidence rather than relying on restraint or simply hoping she'll cope.

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that dogs who struggle at the vet need "more obedience". In reality, many of these dogs are simply scared. Changing how they feel is often far more effective than trying to make them comply.

Today's session focused on teaching a chin rest, introducing body part cues, and showing Snickers that handling can be predictable, safe and even rewarding.

Training isn't always about teaching a sit or a recall. Sometimes it's about giving a dog the confidence to say, "I'm okay with this."

Well done, Snickers. I can't wait to see how far you come. ❤️🐕

🐶 Just a goofy six-month-old puppy doing his best. 💙Alfie is at that fun age where everything is exciting! The smells, t...
04/08/2026

🐶 Just a goofy six-month-old puppy doing his best. 💙

Alfie is at that fun age where everything is exciting! The smells, the birds, the grass... even a leaf blowing past can be the most interesting thing in the world. 😂

But despite all those distractions, he's learning that walking nicely with his owner is pretty rewarding too.

Training a puppy isn't about creating a perfect dog overnight. It's about building good habits, celebrating the small wins, and having fun along the way.

I'd say Alfie and his owner are doing a pretty great job. 👏

Can't wait to see how this goofy boy continues to grow!

01/08/2026

👀 "Look At That!" – One of the most powerful exercises for reactive dogs.

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is:

"Shouldn't I stop my dog from looking at other dogs?"

Actually... no.

Looking isn't the problem. It's what happens after they look that matters.

The Look At That (LAT) game teaches your dog that noticing a trigger—whether it's another dog, person, bike or something else—isn't something to fear or react to. Instead of staring, becoming fixated or reacting, they learn that seeing the trigger is their cue to check back in with you.

🐾 How it works:
✔️ Your dog notices the trigger.
✔️ Give them a moment to look.
✔️ As soon as they choose to look back at you, mark ("Yes!") and reward.

Over time, your dog starts thinking:

"I saw another dog... where's my human?"

instead of...

"I saw another dog... I need to bark, lunge or panic."

🧠 Why does it work?

LAT combines counterconditioning and operant conditioning.

Counterconditioning changes a dog's emotional response by repeatedly pairing a trigger with something they enjoy, while operant conditioning reinforces the behaviour of checking back in with you.

Behavioural research suggests that changing how a dog feels about a trigger is often more effective than simply trying to stop the behaviour. When the emotion changes, the behaviour usually follows.

⚠️ Tips:

🐶 Start far enough away that your dog notices the trigger without reacting.

🐶 Let them look—don't rush to distract them.

🐶 Reward the decision to disengage and check in.

🐶 If they can't look away, increase your distance and try again.

LAT isn't about distracting your dog from the world. It's about teaching them they don't have to deal with it alone.

With consistency, many dogs begin checking in automatically whenever they notice a trigger, making walks calmer and more enjoyable.

Have you tried LAT with your dog? 🐾💙

🐾 WE BUILD TEAMS.Not just dogs that can sit.Not just dogs that can walk nicely on lead.At Curious Companions, we help do...
31/07/2026

🐾 WE BUILD TEAMS.

Not just dogs that can sit.

Not just dogs that can walk nicely on lead.

At Curious Companions, we help dogs and their owners build calm, confident partnerships through connection, encouragement and guidance.

If you've recently welcomed a new dog into your family, you're struggling with pulling on walks, or you simply want to better understand your dog, our 4-week Foundations Group Training is the perfect place to start.

Together, we'll work on:
🐾 Loose lead walking
🐾 Recall foundations
🐾 Building engagement and focus
🐾 Confidence around everyday distractions
🐾 Place training
🐾 Understanding your dog's behaviour and communication

This isn't about creating the "perfect" dog.

It's about giving you the skills and confidence to enjoy life together.

📅 August Intakes

Saturday 22nd August
🕣 8:30am – 9:30am

Thursday 27th August
🕔 5:00pm – 6:00pm

📍 North Shore (Burdell)

✔️ Small class sizes
✔️ Dogs 16 weeks and older
✔️ Practical, real-world training
✔️ Supportive, judgement-free environment

📩 Send me a message or email [email protected] for more information or to secure your place.

Curious Companions K9 Training
Building stronger bonds through connection, encouragement and guidance.

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Bluewater, QLD

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