Aggles

17/10/2026

Do you know this person 😞

11/09/2026

Cute ☺️

13/06/2026

Always check credentials and talk about the methods used. You don’t want your dog being forced or learning fear

"Be very choosy about which trainer you hire. It's still the case that you could hire somebody who's going to come and make it worse." That's Jean Donaldson of The Academy for Dog Trainers talking about how careful we have to be when hiring a dog trainer to make sure that we only hire someone who will use modern, reward-based methods. The full conversation is full of tips about resource guarding in dogs. Jean also tells us why she wrote the second edition of her book Mine!. This book is a must-read if you have a resource-guarding dog!

Listen to The Pawsitive Post in Conversation wherever you get your podcasts, watch on Youtube, or do both and read a transcript on my blog (link in bio).

Mine! is available wherever books are sold.

11/06/2026

I like this because it is so true. 😊

.secret.dog.walker

11/06/2026

This is so true 😊

08/06/2026

Good to know.

The “immediately friendly equals well-socialised” myth

There’s a widespread assumption - particularly in Western dog culture - that an immediately friendly dog is a well-socialised one. But sociability and social health aren’t the same thing.

A dog that rushes up to every stranger isn’t necessarily confident. It can equally reflect overarousal (due to varying emotions), a lack of impulse control, or a lack of clear social boundaries.

Natural reservation and fear are not the same thing. This distinction matters enormously, and the two are frequently collapsed, which is a significant equivocation with real consequences for dogs.

Fear-based reservation tends to involve active avoidance, visible stress signals, and an inability to recover. Natural reservation looks quite different - the dog may be calm, observant, and fully functional - simply withholding engagement until they’ve made their own assessment. Conflating the two pathologises a healthy characteristic.

Some breeds were never bred for indiscriminate friendliness: Chow Chows, Akitas, and many Nordic and Eastern breeds among them. Applying a universal social template to every dog and finding them wanting does a real disservice to both the individual and the breed. The Eurasier standard, for example, describes the breed as reserved with strangers, but without signs of aggression - and in my experience, that’s accurate. There’s a spectrum, as with any breed, but natural reservation was genuinely one of the things that drew me to them.

The pressure for dogs to be immediately friendly with strangers largely serves the stranger, not the dog. A dog that takes their time is exercising due diligence. Appropriate social boundaries. Something we’d readily respect in a human.

There’s also a persistent assumption that reservation in adult dogs signals inadequate early socialisation. Sometimes that’s true - but a well-socialised dog of a naturally reserved breed, or any breed, may still be reserved. Socialisation does shape confidence and resilience, but it doesn’t necessarily alter how much social contact a dog seeks, or from whom.

Every dog deserves to be read as an individual - not measured against a template, or unrealistic expectations that we wouldn’t apply to other humans.

02/06/2026

Please be aware 😞

🚨 PARVO ALERT 🚨

We’re seeing an increase in cases of Canine Parvovirus (Parvo) in our area right now and it can be absolutely devastating, especially for puppies and unvaccinated dogs.

Parvo is highly contagious and spreads easily through contaminated environments (parks, footpaths, even your shoes).

Early signs to watch for include lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, severe diarrhoea (often bloody) and rapid dehydration. If your dog seems “just a bit off,” trust your gut as Parvo can escalate quickly.

The good news? It’s preventable. Keeping your dog up to date with vaccinations is the best protection you can give them.

Not sure if your dog is still protected? Titre testing is a simple blood test that checks your dog’s immunity levels to Parvo and other core diseases. It can be a great option for adult dogs to ensure they’re still covered without over-vaccinating.

If you’re unsure about your pet’s vaccination status, interested in titre testing, or notice any symptoms, contact us immediately as early treatment can save lives.

Please stay vigilant, especially with young pups, and help us stop the spread.

🏥📞 6372 2105
📍104 Market Street, Mudgee

29/05/2026

Great way to start your new life with your new bestie 😊

Join in the fun of our next Puppy Pre-School! Tuesday 9 June in Petersham!
Contact [email protected] or call Julie on 0421 053 438