DOGS ETC: Dog Trainer Kate Lloyd

18/09/2025

As a follow-up to my previous post, which includes a link in the comments to a video showing Adelaide trainer Daniel Tropeano spending over 17 minutes choking a struggling and highly stressed dog while attempting to drag the dog onto a pedestal, I’d like to show a video of how I approach this sort of confidence building exercise even with a dog that won’t take food in that situation.
Gentle leash guidance, and break the task into small achievable steps. Yes, I am inducing mild stress, but the key factor is that it is MILD stress and the dog achieves success in a short timeframe. There is no long drawn out adversarial battle, I’m simply helping the dog overcome a mental obstacle using gentle pressure and release techniques.
Thank you for watching and please choose your dog trainer carefully.

https://fb.watch/CcfjKiKVIb/?fs=e

16/09/2025

**Warning - Sensitive Topic**

I was recently made aware of a very disturbing video of an Adelaide dog trainer using a slip collar to force a dog onto a pedestal - the video shows the trainer spending 20 minutes trying to drag the dog onto the pedestal as the dog chokes and gags and pants and salivates. The trainer claims that he is teaching the dog to "work through the pressure" in order to "grow".

I have this to say. The training in the video is animal abuse. I am not a purely positive or force-free trainer. I use slip collars for certain training purposes. I understand that dogs benefit psychologically from overcoming mild stress. I believe it is important to expose dogs to resolvable stress in order to develop a resilient dog. But the training shown in the video is unacceptable.

I am attaching a link to a video by Dr. Melanie Uhde which clearly explains the science behind the benefits of "escape training". Dr. Uhde's presentation points out the following key features in how this approach should be carried out in an ethical welfare-driven manner, which I quote below:

* "Unnecessary discomfort does not produce thoughtful learners"

* "How the learning starts matters"

* "Heavily reinforce the wanted behaviour first BEFORE introducing any pressure"

*"Pressure has to be adjusted to the individual dog - sensitive dogs need a lighter touch to get started"

*"If negative reinforcement is handled poorly you don’t get clean avoidance learning, you get a dog stuck in a frantic escape phase, that’s not good training, that’s just creating stress"

The Adelaide trainer claims that the dog will not take food or toy rewards which is frankly rubbish - this dog will definitely work for food or toy when in a suitable environment.

I will put a link to the Adelaide trainer's YouTube video in the comments - it is upsetting so I understand that many people will choose not to watch it. Please AVOID this trainer and do not be sucked in by clever-sounding justifications for animal abuse. If the trainer is happy to publicly show this training, I dread to think what he does when he is not filming.

The ends do not justify the means. There is a far more humane way to teach resilience and confidence as described by Dr. Uhde and as applied by ethical modern balanced trainers that does not involve this level of stress and discomfort. Not to mention the risk of damaging the dog's trachea.

Thank you for reading my rant.

05/09/2025

I have relocated to the lovely town of Drouin in Victoria :-)

I will continue to post Tintin’s Training Tips to help you with your training goals 👍

Existing clients can contact me any time for refreshers or problem-solving advice including video reviews (you send me a video of you training your dog for a critique). And I’d love to hear from you - please keep me updated on your dog training fun and achievements 🥰

All my online training courses can be found on my website - see link below - Scent Detection for Fun or Sport, Rally, Dances With Dogs, Dog Acting, Herding Games and Recall with more courses coming in 2026
https://www.dogsetc.com.au/?page_id=1185

For Drouin/Warragul residents, I am open by appointment for sales of training gear - Black Dog Wear and Mendota brands - harnesses, head halters, recall training leads. Also clickers, treat pouches and training pods (lotus balls). Contact me through this page :-)

I will be back in South Australia in 2027 🐾🤗

10/08/2025

Today Tintin and I took part in a Dances With Dogs competition, and achieved a First Place in Freestyle Starters. We performed our routine to the music from the TV show "Rawhide".

My online self-study course "Beginning Dog Dance For Fun Or Sport" shows you how to teach your dog both Freestyle and Heelwork To Music, including lots of different freestyle tricks, and a variety of heel work positions and transitions, as well as tips on choosing suitable music for your dog and choreographing your routine.

If you love music, and want to teach your dog some fun tricks and have a great bond, this course is for you!

Only $39.99 🙂

Here's a link to the course :-)
https://www.udemy.com/course/beginning-dog-dance-for-fun-or-sport/?referralCode=C5B5E6DC42FC8004334C

08/08/2025

Have fun training your dog to be an Animal Actor! Tips, tricks and techniques from a professional animal trainer.

Sign up for my online self-study course "Action! Train Your Dog To Be A Movie Star"

Here's a link to the course.
https://www.udemy.com/course/action-train-your-dog-to-be-a-movie-star/?referralCode=EF9F6731C6AC4E06A800

“Action! Train Your Dog To Be A Movie Star” contains over 6 hours of video, with 60 lectures, covering basic training to advanced skills including stay, come, go to a mark, fetch and carry an item, pull on an item, go to sleep, speak (bark), wave, get in a box, follow a person, “puppy dog eyes”, prick up ears, paw at someone to get attention, jump through an opening, and much more.

Examples of training equipment including target sticks, platforms and target mats, the movie trainer’s “Look Stick”, and how to use these in training.

Training principles are woven through the course lectures, including the 3 D's of training (Distance, Duration and Distraction) and how to apply them in your training, the use of reward signals to communicate with your dog when it has responded correctly, and how to train silent cues.

Get tips, tricks and techniques from a professional animal trainer. What is an A to B? What sort of dog do you need? What kind of work do Dog Actors do?

The lectures use real examples from films, TV shows and commercials that my dog, or dogs I have trained, have appeared in, to illustrate the professional methods that you can use to teach the acting skills to your dog.

But - guess what - even if your dog isn’t called up for an acting job, you will still have tons and tons of fun training your dog to perform these skills!

Only $59.99 AUD and you get lifetime access to the course - no cut-off date.

Have fun training your dog to be an Animal Actor! Tips, tricks and techniques from a professional animal trainer

02/08/2025

*All SOLD pending pick up*

Flirt Poles - “Rat On A Stick” dog chase toy.
Nearly all gone! Last remaining 😮 Were $45, now $25.
Pink only. Toy included. 160cm long.
Perfect for using up energy in a small space.
Keep the toy low to the ground and let your dog chase and catch it.
Ideal for small to medium breeds - terriers to border collies.
Video in the comments of my previous Belgian Laekenois having fun with our flirt pole.
Healthy outlet for your dog to use their natural prey drive.
Pick up from 6 Gumeracha Road O’Sullivan Beach by appointment.

02/08/2025

Last chance to stock up on your Black Dog Wear training gear before I move it all to Victoria 😆
Also Menota all-in-one slip leads.
Plus various bits and pieces at bargain prices 😮
Come and have a browse 🤗
My address is 6, Gumeracha Road, O’Sullivan Beach and I am open today and tomorrow from 10am to 2pm for Drop In sales - cash, card or Pay ID. Other times by appointment.

01/08/2025

For anyone coming to my Black Dog Wear gear sale session today, there’s a bonus event 👍🤗
My lovely neighbour across the street is having a garage sale, plants, clothing, furniture - she donates all the proceeds to charity, so check it out ❤️
My address is 6, Gumeracha Road, O’Sullivan Beach and I am open today and tomorrow from 10am to 2pm for Drop In sales - cash, card or Pay ID. Other times by appointment.

28/07/2025

Be Quick!
Don’t Miss Out!
Last Chance to stock up on Black Dog Wear training gear!
I’m relocating to Victoria and my Black Dog Wear stock is coming with me!
I will be open on:
*Saturday 2nd August any time from 10am til 2pm
*Sunday 3rd August any time from 10am til 2pm
*By appointment up until Friday 15th August
* 6 Gumeracha Road, O’Sullivan Beach

Balance Front Clip Harnesses, Head Halters, Training/Safety Collars, Double-Clip Multifunction Leads, Long/Recall Leads, Treat Pouches and more!

Also massively discounted items/brands that I no longer stock - short leads, regular collars, bits and bobs.

Back in Adelaide 2027 😉

12/07/2025

The official ANKC Rules for the dog sport of Rally are currently undergoing a review, and the finalised version of the approved Rule changes will be available very soon, although the new Rules won't come into effect until January 2026.
Good news - there will be some new exercises introduced in Novice Level, some Rule clarifications and more.
My online self-study course will be UPDATED to reflect these new changes. So everyone who has already signed up for the course will automatically get access to the new video lectures that I will be filming and adding later this year :-)
And in 2026 I will start filming courses covering Advanced, Excellent and Masters levels!

Teach your dog the fun dog sport of Rally obedience using simple lure and reward training techniques

25/06/2025

Tintin’s Training Tip 🐾👍
Teach your dog to fetch (retrieve) all sorts of different items! If you only ever use one particular toy or object, your dog may find it hard to retrieve other items later on, if required.
I forgot to put a toy in my pocket, so today Tintin fetched a piece of cuttlefish bone for me 🐾🤗
*Sticks can be dangerous as they can land pointing up and injure your dog*
In some dog sports, such as Kennel Club Obedience, or Mondioring, the retrieve item may be provided by the Judge, and could be any safe item - such as artificial flowers, or rubber ducks. In Dances With Dogs you may want your dog to fetch one of your props - a flag, bag, or fake jewellery. An Assistance Dog may be required to fetch medication, keys, water bottles or other personal items.
Happy Training!

15/06/2025

Tintin’s Training Tip 🐾👍
In the sport of Scent Work, one of the exercises is for the dogs to search the outside of vehicles (the bumper bar, number plate, towbar, wheels, wheel arches, sills) for the hidden odour.
When you are preparing your dog for Vehicle searches, position your vehicle in a large open space such as an empty car park. You want your dog to understand that the vehicles are the target, so set up your search so that the vehicle clearly stands out and avoid doing vehicle searches where there are other objects, walls, fences, in close proximity. For example, don’t do vehicle searches in your carport or garage where there is lots of other stuff close by.
Later on, once you reach Ultimate Level (the highest level) there will be a blended search environment where searches are not separated into each Element (type), but to start with, a Vehicle search is JUST vehicles. So help your dog understand this concept 🤔🤗
Happy Sniffing 🐾😁