What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 4pm Tuesday 8am - 4pm Wednesday 8am - 4pm Thursday 8am - 4pm Friday 8am - 4pm Saturday 8am - 4pm Sunday 8am - 4pm

https://www.facebook.com/428668384238140/

TLC Dog Training

Home
Australia
Cannonvale, QLD
TLC Dog Training

Call Directions

Unleash your dog's potential by training with TLC Dog Training. Professional, unique, results based. Our unique training style sets us apart from the rest.

At TLC Dog Training we believe that every dog is special and deserves a tailored approach to training. We understand that no two dogs are the same, and their training should reflect that. We assess each dog's individual needs, temperament, and abilities to craft a training plan that aligns with their unique personality and your specific goals. Whether your dog is a mischievous pup, a shy senior, or anything in between, we'll create a personalized training experience that brings out the best in them.

🏆 Professionalism as Our Foundation 🏆

Professionalism is the cornerstone of our dog training business. We take our work seriously, ensuring that you and your beloved pet receive the highest level of service. From the moment you contact us to the completion of your dog's training, you can expect punctuality, reliability, and the utmost respect for both you and your four-legged family member. Our credentials, experience, and commitment to ethical training practices are a testament to our professionalism.

🌟 Why Choose TLC DOG TRAINING 🌟

✨ Personalization: We understand that one size does not fit all when it comes to dog training. Each session is crafted to suit your dog's unique needs, creating a tailored experience that guarantees results.

✨ Passion: We're not just dog trainers; we're dog lovers. Our deep passion for dogs shines through in every training session, ensuring a positive, enjoyable experience for both you and your canine companion.

✨ Expertise: With a strong foundation in dog behavior, training techniques, and a track record of success, we have the expertise to guide your dog towards becoming a well-behaved and happy member of your family.

✨ Professionalism: We take pride in our commitment to professionalism, ensuring that you and your dog are treated with respect, courtesy, and punctuality at every interaction. Contact us today, and let's take the first step towards a well-behaved and joy-filled life for your canine companion.

26/10/2026

CAN YOUR DOG BE CLASSIFIED AS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING?

Does your dog always want something?

Nudging you, following you from room to room, barking at every noise, or dropping a toy in your lap for the tenth time. It might look like your dog simply wants to be involved in everything you do. But if your dog struggles to switch off, it can become exhausting for everyone.

The attention-seeker learns that pestering gets results. Every nudge, bark or toy delivery that earns a response can teach your dog to keep trying.

The anxious dog may follow you everywhere because being apart feels uncomfortable. While wanting to be close is perfectly normal, a dog that struggles to cope without constant contact may need help building confidence and independence.

The overstimulated dog is always switched on. It struggles to settle, reacts to every little thing and seems unable to relax, even when there's nothing happening.

Different dogs, different reasons, but one important skill many need help developing: learning how to settle.

Of course, dogs need exercise, play, mental stimulation and time with their people. But they also need to learn that life doesn't revolve around them.

Sometimes, when you're sitting on the couch, you're just sitting on the couch. You're not an entertainment service.

Sometimes, it's time to relax on your bed while the household gets on with its day.

And sometimes, attention and play can wait.

And that's perfectly okay.

Teaching your dog boundaries isn't about taking away its freedom or making it miserable. It's about helping your dog learn to live comfortably alongside you without constantly needing entertainment, reassurance or direction.

So how do you start teaching calmness?

Teach a reliable bed command. Don't assume your dog will automatically choose to settle, particularly if it has no natural off switch. Teach your dog to go to its bed, stay there and relax until released. Build duration gradually, rewarding the behaviour you want.

- Stop reinforcing pestering. Where appropriate, avoid rewarding demanding behaviour with attention, and teach your dog alternative ways to behave.

Build independence gradually. Practise short periods apart, keeping things manageable for your dog, especially if anxiety is involved.

Balance activity with rest. Exercise and enrichment are important, but so is learning to relax afterwards.

Remember, a dog that struggles to settle isn't necessarily being naughty or deliberately difficult. It may simply never have learnt this skill.

Calmness is a skill. Teach it, practise it and make it part of everyday life.

Because a well-adjusted dog doesn't need to be entertained every minute of the day to have a good life.

25/10/2026

EVERYONE WANTS A DOG THAT COMES WHEN CALLED.

SO WHY DO SO FEW PEOPLE ACHIEVE RELIABLE RECALL?

Watch Bella in this clip. She's out of sight, swimming in the creek, happily doing her own thing. I give my recall, wait a few seconds, and up she comes. She has to get herself out of the water and come back to me, leaving behind something she clearly enjoys.

That's recall. Not because I got lucky, not because I had a pocket full of treats, and certainly not because Bella learned it in five minutes.

**It's because of all the work that came BEFORE the recall.**

Here's where many owners go wrong. They want the end result without putting in the foundational work needed to achieve it.

Reliable recall starts long before you ever call your dog away from something exciting.

It starts with basic obedience. When you tell your dog to sit, they remain sitting until you release them, not until they decide they've had enough.

It starts with loose-lead walking, which is a whole other set of foundational skills. Your dog learns to pay attention to you, follow your direction and understand that walking together is a partnership, not a case of them dragging you wherever they want to go.

It starts with name recognition, building an association that means your dog responds to their name because it has value, not simply because they think a treat might be coming.

And it starts with building a relationship where your dog actually WANTS to be with you, even when there's another dog playing, an interesting smell to investigate or, in Bella's case, a creek to swim in!

This is the bit people often overlook: PLAY.

Play and training should be balanced. You can incorporate both together.

You need to build a bond, engagement and a desire to interact with you that can compete with all the wonderful things your dog wants to investigate. You need to become part of the fun, not just the person who calls them away from it.

Does that happen overnight? Of course not.

Reliable recall takes months, sometimes years, of practice, repetition and consistency. You build it gradually, increasing distractions as your dog develops the skills to cope with them. You don't start by expecting your dog to abandon the best thing in the world and come running just because you've called.

Think about how much time and effort it has taken you to become the person you are today. And I don't mean in your working life. I mean becoming a decent human being, learning self-control, making better choices and understanding the world around you.

That didn't happen in five minutes, did it?

Yet we bring a dog into our lives and expect them to understand our rules, ignore their instincts, resist temptation and respond perfectly, often without ever teaching them the skills they need to succeed.

Nothing worth having comes without putting in the work.

Recall isn't just a command. It's the result of everything you've built with your dog before you ever need to use it.

At TLC Dog Training, we focus on the foundations first, because when you get those right, the results start to follow.

If you want your dog to come when called, give them a reason to WANT to come back.

That's the difference.

24/10/2026

📣 WANTED: A SPACE FOR TLC DOG TRAINING! 🐾

I’m putting this out there in the hope that someone might have, or know someone who has, an unused space that could be put to good use!

As we head into Airlie Beach’s hot, humid and rainy season, outdoor dog training is going to become increasingly difficult. I’m looking for somewhere I can establish TLC Dog Training on a more permanent basis, without breaking the bank while I get established.

What am I looking for?

🐾 An undercover area where we can train, rain or shine
🐾 Secure fencing
🐾 Access to toilets
🐾 Parking for clients
🐾 Air conditioning would be absolutely fantastic, but it’s definitely not a deal breaker!

I’m looking for something as affordable as possible, or even a three-month trial arrangement to get things up and running before committing long-term. I’m open to different possibilities, so if you have a space that might work, please don’t assume it wouldn’t be suitable!

And there’s more to the plan than just dog training classes. I’d love to establish a permanent circuit training course, agility activities, obedience classes, social days, game days and potentially even doggie daycare if the space and facilities allow.

The idea is to create a place where dogs and their owners can learn, have fun, build confidence and enjoy spending time together, whatever the weather.

It might be a commercial space, a shed, an underused facility or somewhere you haven’t considered putting to use. You never know what might be possible until you ask!

If you have something available, or know someone who might, I’d love to hear from you.

Please send me a message with any suggestions or leads. Even if you can’t help directly, sharing this post could put it in front of the right person.

Let’s see if we can find a home for TLC Dog Training here in Airlie Beach! 🐕

23/10/2026

🐾 TLC Everyday Dog Skills — CASUAL GROUP CLASS

STARTING SATURDAY, 7th NOVEMBER, 7.30am

I've had people enquiring about group classes but find it difficult to commit to a six-week program, so I've decided to offer these casual classes!

Each week we'll tackle a different everyday behaviour, with practical exercises you can continue practising at home.

Of course, you can't solve every training issue in an hour! But you can learn something new, understand your dog a little better and take away some useful skills to get you started. You might even discover that you'd like to take things further and join one of our six-week programs for more structured training and ongoing progress.

No weekly commitment. Just turn up, learn something useful and start building better habits with your dog!

📍 Groups are limited to 6 dogs, so BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL

💲 $30 per session

⏱️ 1 hour, including Q&A

Tell me below which behaviour you'd most like to work on with your dog!

23/10/2026

LAST WALK & TRAIN OF THE WEEK!

Meet Jethro, a 4-year-old Aussie Bulldog who I worked with about two years ago. He’s still just as big, slobbery and well-behaved as I remember!

As soon as I pulled up in the car, Jethro was excited. Oh yeah, he remembered me!

What I didn’t know at the time was that Jethro normally gets a little overexcited when visitors arrive. According to his owner, he can jump up, bring them a stick, barge into them or continually paw at them for attention.

Well, that certainly wasn’t what I experienced!

As soon as I got out of the car, I used my familiar “Good boy” in a warning tone to remind him that invading my personal space wasn’t on the agenda. Straight away, he stopped and sat. No fuss, no carry-on. He remembered!

His owner was a little concerned about how Jethro would go, as he’s developed a few issues over the past couple of years. One concern is that Jethro seems quite protective of his owner, to the point where his owner will sometimes avoid people and dogs walking towards him when they are out on a walk.
Even at home, Jethro has occasionally been a little suspicious of visitors.

Even though I had a pretty good feeling about how our walk would go, I wanted to see how he responded to me in a safe environment before introducing more distractions. The duck pond is the perfect place.

When we arrived at the duck pond, he also remembered that he wasn’t allowed to jump out of the car until given permission. He walked beautifully on the lead and, as you can see in the videos, did just as well off lead. His recall was as good as ever.

It really was a case of déjà vu!

Next week, we’ll head to Cannonvale and see how he goes with more distractions. I’m looking forward to seeing how he handles the challenge, but so far, he’s given me plenty of reason to be optimistic.

Jethro, we’ve missed your slobbery cuteness! It’s lovely to have the opportunity to take you out for regular weekly walks again.

Sometimes, it’s not about starting from scratch. It’s about reminding a dog of what they already know and building on those foundations.

That’s what makes a familiar face so rewarding to work with!

22/10/2026

2nd Walk and Train this Week.

I caught up with Teddy, the 14 month old Frenchie again this week. His owner still needs a bit of confidence and moral support.

Teddy was very excited but still overall behaved himself. He was able to interact with a couple of calm well behaved dogs. Even tried to steal their ball.

My suggestion last week to see if she could get Ted into doggy daycare paid off.

He had a great time and was very well behaved. It will help him not be so curious about dogs he passes when he is out walking.

Teddy flacked out after his walk.

Teddy, you have won a special spot in our 💕 💞.

21/10/2026

THIS WEEK TURNED INTO A WALK & TRAIN WEEK!
(With a bit of déjà vu thrown in!)

First up was Sunny, a 2-year-old Great Dane. I first met Sunny two years ago, the day after her owners brought her home. They knew she was going to be a BIG girl, so they wanted to get her training off to the right start. You might remember some of my posts about her back then!

Sunny was a quick learner, and her owners did a fantastic job with her. Fast forward two years, and they were back in touch.

A few weeks ago, Sunny had an incident on a walk. She lunged at another dog that was in a yard across the road. Now, anyone who has handled a Great Dane knows just how much power they can have behind them! Her owner, who is quite petite, had no choice but to let go of the lead.

Fortunately, nothing bad came of the incident, but it was enough to prompt her owner to get back in touch and arrange a Walk & Train session so I could assess how Sunny was going.

Well, I have to say, Sunny was an absolute angel!

From the get-go, she listened, behaved beautifully and responded to a few minor corrections when needed. It was lovely to see how much of her training had stuck.

Now, I do need to point out one important detail. The incident happened while Sunny was wearing just her flat collar, which made it even harder for her owner to hold her back.

Because it had been two years since I'd worked with Sunny, I started our walk with a halter. This was about making sure I had the control needed to handle her safely while I assessed her behaviour.

By the end of our session, I was confident enough to remove the halter and walk her on her flat collar. Of course, I made sure there were no dogs nearby while we did this, just to be on the safe side.

Sunny, you really are a beautiful, gentle giant! It was wonderful to see you again, and I'm looking forward to our next walk.

A good reminder that training doesn't necessarily end once your dog has mastered the basics. Sometimes, a little refresher and a professional set of eyes can make all the difference.

🐾 TLC Dog Training – helping you and your dog navigate the real world, one walk at a time.

17/10/2026

🐾 A TRAINER'S JOURNEY

You might think that because I'm a dog trainer, my own dog would be perfectly behaved, walk beautifully past every dog and never put a paw wrong.

Well, let me introduce you to Kevie!

Kevie is my seven-year-old mixed breed, supposedly Staffy x Cattle Dog, although personally, I reckon there are a few other breeds thrown into the mix.

He was originally my son's dog, but at seven months old, he became too much for their family situation. So, of course, I took him!

Even as a puppy, Kevie would get ridiculously overexcited at group training classes. Wanting to give him the best chance at socialisation, I arranged for a dog walker to take him out with his pack, sometimes up to 15 dogs at a time. He absolutely loved it and was making great progress.

Then COVID hit.

We were living in Melbourne, and for nearly three years, Kevie had no opportunity to interact with other dogs. Like thousands of other dogs, his social world suddenly shrank. All that progress went out the window.

After COVID, I became busy working with everyone else's dogs, and Kevie, unfortunately, ended up at the bottom of my priority list. You know how it goes. The shoemaker's children and all that!

When we moved to Airlie Beach, I decided it was time to put my money where my mouth was and make Kevie a priority again.

And he improved! He went from being ridiculously reactive to every dog he saw to being only slightly reactive. We were getting somewhere.

Then a Blue Heeler broke through a fence and went after him while we were out walking and training.

Thankfully, I had Kevie on his long line. I called him away, and he listened. Neither dog was hurt; it was more noise than bite, and thank goodness, the other dog didn't follow. But an experience like that can certainly set your training back.

Then we had to go back to Melbourne, and for the next two years, personal circumstances meant no training and still no interaction with other dogs.

The only regular exposure Kevie had was a Bernese Mountain Dog that walked past our property almost every day. We had no fences, so Kevie had to learn to keep his distance. Over time, he learnt to stay away from the other dog and reduced his whining, although that little habit has been with him since puppyhood!

And now? Here we are again, back in Airlie Beach, surrounded by dogs, and I'm back to training Kevie in between clients.

Will Kevie ever be able to socialise comfortably with other dogs? I still hold out hope, but I'm not going to rush him or push him into situations he's not ready for.

My goal isn't necessarily to have him playing with other dogs. I'd be perfectly happy if he could walk past other dogs, stay focused on me, and not lunge, whine, carry on or become ridiculously overexcited.

That's progress. That's a win.

And today, he did brilliantly!

The videos I'm sharing are just a few snippets from an hour-long walk. Typical of what I do not just with Kevie but with clients as well. I've sped up two of them so I don't bore you all to tears! 😂 Some of the good stuff was missed, but you'll get the idea. The last video shows both dogs off-leash.

What I want people to understand is that dog training isn't always a straight line from problem to solution.

Life happens. Circumstances change. Training gets interrupted. Dogs and owners have good days and bad days, and sometimes we have to go back a few steps and start building again.

And yes, even dog trainers have dogs who need work!

Being a dog trainer doesn't mean my own dog will never have problems. It means I have the knowledge to understand his behaviour, recognise where we need to improve, and work with him to get there.

Kevie is still a work in progress, and that's okay. We're in no hurry.

Because at TLC Dog Training, I don't just talk about the work. I'm doing it with my own dog, too.

\

15/10/2026

🐾 MEET TEDDY — THE LITTLE FRENCHIE WHO SURPRISED US ALL!🐾

Teddy is a 12-month-old French Bulldog whose world has been pretty small up until now. His owner has been worried about how he would cope around other dogs, particularly after living with an older Frenchie who became reactive as she got older. Teddy appears to have picked up some of those habits, and his owner has been reluctant to venture much further than their little cul-de-sac.

Her goal? To be able to take Teddy out for walks and enjoy the world with him.

So, how did he go?

We ditched the harness, fitted him with a collar and introduced him to the long line. Much like Ernie in yesterday's session, Teddy surprised the hell out of me! He followed my movements, kept up beside me, turned when I turned and stopped when I stopped. He was an absolute star pupil!

Next, we needed to see how he would respond to other dogs.

When the first dog passed, Teddy barked and lunged. A firm "No", followed by a quick correction, interrupted the behaviour. What impressed me most was his recovery. He continued watching the dog but didn't carry on barking and lunging.

The next few dogs who passed Teddy just watched whilst on a loose leash, without reacting.

There was one moment when I could feel him starting to build. He wanted to move forward, so rather than pulling him back or tightening the leash, I simply followed a step, keeping the leash loose. Teddy stopped, and that was that.

Sometimes, what you DON'T do is just as important as what you do.

I'm fairly confident that if I had reacted by pulling Teddy away and tightening the leash, we could have ended up with barking and lunging instead. By staying calm and allowing him a little room to process what was happening, I avoided adding unnecessary tension to the situation.

Another dog passed who was barking and carrying on. Just like Ernie yesterday Teddy reacted, but once again, his recovery was excellent.

We also had a lovely lady with a quieter, older dog stop to help us assess Teddy's social skills. Once Teddy had stopped pulling to reach the dog and had calmed down a little, I allowed a brief introduction. He managed a couple of seconds before excitement took over and he became a little too enthusiastic! The other dog was happy to interact, but she was larger, and her owner wasn't confident she could safely hold her if things got too boisterous. So we called it there. Knowing when to stop an interaction is just as important as knowing when to allow one.

🐶 Teddy's biggest challenge? The whole world is new!**

Imagine taking a child to Disneyland for the first time. Everything is exciting, there's something happening everywhere you look, and your brain is working overtime trying to take it all in.

That's Teddy right now.

There were plenty of times when we simply stood and let him observe the world around him. Not every moment needs to involve a command or an exercise. Sometimes dogs need the opportunity to watch, listen, sniff and process without being hurried along.

I've suggested his owner find some quiet places where she can sit with Teddy and let him become familiar with new sights, sounds and environments. I've also suggested exploring a suitable local doggy daycare, with careful attention to the dogs, supervision and play style, so he can gradually learn appropriate social skills around other dogs.

At home, Teddy has been allowed to get away with quite a bit, and until now, he hasn't had much opportunity for mental stimulation. That doesn't make him a bad dog. It simply means there are skills he hasn't learned yet, and experiences he still needs to have.

His owner finished the session feeling much happier. She now has a better understanding of Teddy's behaviour, some practical strategies for managing his reactions and exercises to practise with him in quieter environments.

And the best feedback came later, when she messaged me to say Teddy had been sleeping like a log since his big adventure! 😂

That's what happens when a young dog gets to use his brain, explore new surroundings and learn how to navigate the world instead of simply reacting to everything in it.

Teddy did a fantastic job, and I'm looking forward to seeing his confidence grow.

The TLC message? Don't just focus on stopping the unwanted behaviour. Give your dog the skills, experiences and guidance needed to make better choices.

Sometimes, the dog isn't being difficult. He's simply experiencing a world he hasn't yet learned how to handle.

14/10/2026

ONE DOG. ONE SESSION. A HUGE STEP FORWARD.

Meet Ernie, the beagle who surprised us all!

What a great session with 18-month-old Ernie today!

Ernie is reactive to both people and dogs. When I first approached, he barked at me while his owners tried to pull him away. I ignored the barking, but Ernie kept pulling and carrying on. Before I could expect him to listen to me, I needed to earn a little trust.

So, we started with a few treats on the ground, then I gradually moved closer, and eventually Ernie was happily taking treats from my hand. And just like that, we were best friends.

But making friends wasn't the main objective. Ernie needed to learn how to navigate the human world without feeling the need to react to everything in it.

His owners used treats to redirect his reactivity; unfortunately, that doesn't change his behaviour; it's more of a band-aid approach. His mum had gotten to the stage where she was anxious about walking him around town, so she had stopped doing it altogether. If Dad spotted an approaching dog, he would avoid it.

Can you see the problem here? Ernie wasn't learning anything.

As we chatted, a dog passed us. Ernie reacted. Before it had time to escalate, I gave him a firm "No" with a brief lead correction. He looked surprised. This was a new experience for him, but it interrupted the behaviour.

TIME TO GET TO WORK!

I put Ernie on the long line and started my tune-up.

And this is where things got interesting.

Straight off, Ernie engaged, checked in for confirmation that he was doing the right thing, followed my movements and needed very little prompting. Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by just how well he responded.

As we started walking, a gentleman nearby was playing with his off-lead Border Collie. He very kindly asked whether I'd like him to put his dog on a lead.

I explained that, as long as his dog wasn't going to approach us, he could carry on. This was a great opportunity to work with Ernie around a dog at a manageable distance.

And guess what? Ernie didn't react. At all. Even with a dog being excited and playing. I used my tone to communicate that he was getting things right. Ernie responded beautifully.

We can't spend a dog's entire life avoiding everything that triggers a reaction. We need to teach the dog that we want him to remain neutral. No barking and no lunging.

And here's the thing many owners miss. Your dog needs to make the mistake so he can be corrected for it so he can learn what NOT to do. It's no different for humans. We do the wrong thing; we pay the price.

As each dog passed, Ernie remained composed as I kept using my tone to tell him he was a good boy. His owners were amazed. Normally, this would have meant barking, lunging and going off his head.

Today, we saw something very different.

So, how many corrections did Ernie need during a 90-minute session? Just THREE.

The first I've already mentioned at the beginning.

The second came when a German Shepherd went past and barked and lunged at Ernie. Whilst it's entirely understandable for a dog to react when another dog behaves that way. It's the degree of the reaction I'm monitoring and how quickly the dog can recover.

Given Ernie's history, his reaction was relatively mild, and once again I interrupted it before it escalated. And even better, Ernie didn't remain fixated.

The third happened when Ernie was walking with Mum. We'd just discussed lead-handling skills, and Mum was still getting used to handling the long line. We were also in a more confined area, with less room to create distance. Ernie did his thing. Fortunately, I caught it early, and again it didn't escalate like it usually would.

Training isn't about correcting a dog all day. It's about making the message clear, then giving the dog every opportunity to get it right. When it's possible, we reset the situation so that the dog gets a chance to behave differently and then gets rewarded for that change.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

Ernie's owners have plenty to practise. They'll need to work on their lead-handling skills, timing, confidence and consistency. Ernie, in turn, will learn that walking through our human world doesn't mean he needs to take charge of every passing person or dog.

Will everything be magically fixed after one session? Of course not. Real-life progress takes practice, and his owners have an important role to play.

But what a starting point!

As trainers, we're often thrilled with small improvements. A little less pulling, a quicker recovery, and a moment of engagement that wasn't there before.

Ernie gave us far more than that today. His improvement was huge, and his owners got to see what their dog is capable of when the communication starts to make sense.

THE TAKEAWAY?

Dogs aren't born knowing how we expect them to behave in our world. They learn through experience, consistency and the information we give them.

Clear communication. Appropriate boundaries. Consistent rules. Calm, confident leadership. And just as importantly, recognising and rewarding the behaviour we want.

That's what we worked on with Ernie today.

At TLC Dog Training, we don't just look at the behaviour. We look at the dog, the humans, the relationship between them and what needs to change for everyone to move forward.

Because sometimes, the dog isn't being difficult. He just hasn't been shown a better way.

Address

Cannonvale, QLD
3925

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4pm
Tuesday	8am - 4pm
Wednesday	8am - 4pm
Thursday	8am - 4pm
Friday	8am - 4pm
Saturday	8am - 4pm
Sunday	8am - 4pm

Telephone

+61410480887

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when TLC Dog Training posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.