Perth Canine Craft

10/06/2026

An awesome tip to give your dog tablets!!

06/06/2026

“You cannot ask the dog to understand a tool the human has not learned to use.” Did you know - You do not have to start remote collar training on the dog. In fact, I prefer to start on the human end of the leash first.👇

Before a remote collar ever goes on the dog for training, the owner needs to understand what the tool feels like, how the levels change, and how much responsibility comes with holding that remote.

👣That is why I always start all my remote collar programmes with the people first.
👉 Family.
👉 Friends.
👉 The handler.

🤓 We put the collar receiver against an arm or leg.

1️⃣We start at 1/100.
2️⃣Tap.
3️⃣No response?
4️⃣Go up one level.
5️⃣Tap again.

👉 The person simply raises their hand when they first feel it.
👌 That level is their WRS — Working Range Stimulus.

It is the lowest level they can notice.

👉 Not the level that makes them jump.
👉 Not the level that proves a point.
👉 The lowest level they can perceive.

🤓Then we practise again when they are relaxed, moving, distracted, or focused on something else.

Why?

👣 Because perception changes with context.
🐾 And the same is true for your dog.

Your dog’s WRS can change depending on coat contact, arousal, stress, movement, environment, distractions, and what they are focused on.

So before we ever expect the dog to understand the remote collar, the human needs to learn how to read subtle responses and use the tool responsibly.

📜In WA, electronic collars are regulated.

🐾Under the Animal Welfare (General) Regulations 2003, an electric training collar may only be used for training dogs when it is used in accordance with the generally accepted method of usage for that type of collar.

👣The WA Standards and Guidelines for the Health and Welfare of Dogs define that generally accepted method of use. They state that an electronic collar should be introduced and used under the advice of an experienced dog trainer, in a training programme appropriate for the individual dog.
👌That matters.

🤓Because remote collar training is not just “pressing buttons”.

👉 It is not a shortcut.
👉 It is not a magic fix.
👉 It is not something you slap on a dog because you are frustrated.

👎Done badly, it can create confusion, avoidance, conflict, and unfair pressure.
👍Done properly, it is layered into a training system the dog understands.

🐾The dog must learn how to turn the pressure off.
👣The owner must learn when to use it, when not to use it, and how to read the dog in front of them.

The tool in your hand is only as fair as the person using it.

So no, I do not start remote collar training by making the dog figure it out first - I start by coaching the human.

Because if the human end of the leash does not understand the tool, the dog end of the leash should not have to pay for that confusion.

I’ll add a video in the comments showing exactly what this looks like when finding WRS on family and friends first.

Fair warning: once you see how low and boring this step should be, you may never look at remote collar training the same way again.

👣Coaching both ends of the leash.🐾

04/06/2026

Check out my favorite knot i use when I tether my dogs outside while I work!

04/06/2026

I'm so blessed to have had the chance to help Toto and his family, now he doesn't have to be anxious anymore and his owners are empowered to help in the future.

I love making myself redundant!

12/05/2026

Well said!

This video breaks down what an e-collar actually is and more importantly, how learning works when it matters most.
You’ll see a live self-demo so you understand exactly what the stimulation feels like, and why control, timing, and contingency matter more than the tool itself.
Some dogs do very well with positive reinforcement alone.
But if you’ve been training for months or years and your dog is still not reliable when it counts… especially with behaviors like poor recall, chasing, or high drive in real environments, then this video is for you.
This is not about replacing reinforcement!
It’s about understanding what happens when reinforcement no longer competes with reality.
What you’ll see:
What the e-collar really does (and what it doesn’t). Why “aversive” does not mean harm. How clear, immediate, avoidable consequences create understanding. Why avoidance is not the same as living in fear. Where redirection works and where it doesn’t.
At some point, every training system is tested the same way:
What happens when the dog is already committed?
That’s what this talk is about.

12/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DzvfSQy5s/

When a client says to me - my dog should not do it because they know they shouldn't - I too bring up things that people do when they 'know they shouldn't' - from speeding, to lying to stealing - as humans we are capable to justify our decisions, but some people don't know while others forget - dogs are not moral creatures.

The dog training world isn’t short on nonsense. One of the major nonsensical assertions is that if you have to rely on tools then your dog isn’t trained.

The argument behind this should make anyone who actually knows dogs, and who’s honest, giggle. The argument posits that if you’ve trained your dog what to do, and reinforced what you trained patiently, consistently, and competently… your dog will always listen and will simply do what it’s been taught.

Knowing = doing. Period.

Which means your dog will never find itself torn between what it knows it should do and what it would prefer to do. It will never break place and charge the front door when a guest arrives, because you’ve taught it to hold place no matter what. And your dog will never be off-leash and ignore your recall command when that bunny or enticing dog shows up, because you’ve taught your dog to come back no matter what. And your dog will definitely never blow up at that maniacal Chihuahua straining to get a piece of your best friend, because you’ve taught your dog to ignore naughty monsters on walks no matter what.

Hahahaha…

Just like you and that speed limit. You’d never break that clearly explained and clearly understood law/rule. You’d never be in such a rush that it would damage your “knowing.” You’d never be enticed by the thrill of some extra speed that you’d “forget” the rules. And you’d never just truly innocently forget the speed limit and careen through a 25 zone at 45 because you were distracted by life. Nah.

We don’t use e-collars as a shortcut, quick-fix, or crutch — we use them because we don’t deny reality. We give our dogs the full credit of having conflicting motivations, desires, and brains that can simply get lost in the noise of the moment… just like you.

Any sensible, honest, reality-aligned person knows all too well that knowing and doing are two very different things. Which is why we unapologetically use tools that help dogs (and owners) enjoy the greatest: quality of life, amount of freedom, and degree of safety.

Because everyone “forgets” occasionally. ;)

TLDR: “You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality.” -AR

28/04/2026

As a responsible dog owner - I have to make sure to follow my local laws just like anyone else, and there are benefits to doing so.

For example - by registering my puppy with the council; means that as they know dog numbers increase; they can provide more services like enclosed dog parks, p**p bags and p**p bins!

28/04/2026

I love feeding my predators a natural carnivorous diet - but how do you calculate it or how can I get technology to calculate it for me. Thanks to WILDPET's calculator it is made easy. Check the comments for the link to their website food calculator.

20/04/2026

It is vital to continue exposing your puppy and nurturing helpful mindsets and attitudes as your puppy grows.

18/04/2026

It is important for my dogs to learn about how to avoid aversives-I'd do them a great disservice by avoiding what life gives.

Skye is currently learning the 🟨yellow/🟥red card system:

🟨 Warning-I only give it once and it means keep doing that and you'll will get a penalty.
🟥 Penalty-I give the marker when my puppy continues to do the behaviour i have marked with the warning marker. It is ALWAYS followed through.

The idea is for your pup to take about 3-5reps to understand what behaviour out of many is leading to the aversive penalty.

Then your puppy will try to figure out if it is really the behaviour or are you just temperamental. If you are inconsistent then from your pup's point of view - the behaviour is not the cause of the aversive effect and thus the behaviour will never weaken, diminish or stop in the future.