Deb's Positive Paws Mackay

Deb's Positive Paws Mackay Helping you train well rounded pups/dogs you can be confident with in everyday life.

Meet Parker! 🐾This handsome German Shepherd has already had some great training, but his owners wanted to take things a ...
09/10/2025

Meet Parker! 🐾
This handsome German Shepherd has already had some great training, but his owners wanted to take things a step further to fine-tune a few skills and work on some naughty habits — like jumping on the fence and not listening when he gets fixated.

Today, we focused on heeling and changing direction when he pulled on the leash, helping him stay more connected and responsive. We also used a long line to correct and redirect his behaviour around the fence, teaching him to make better choices.

I’m really looking forward to working with Parker and his lovely family over the coming weeks and watching his progress! 💪🐶

🐾 Does your dog constantly run at the fence or along it barking? 🐾Try this simple method:✔️ Have your dog on a long line...
01/10/2025

🐾 Does your dog constantly run at the fence or along it barking? 🐾

Try this simple method:
✔️ Have your dog on a long line while you sit out in the yard with them.
✔️ Each time your dog goes to run at the fence, give a little pop on the line and call them back to you.
✔️ Redirect their focus by engaging them in something else — scatter a handful of treats on the ground, play a quick game, or give them a big reward.

By consistently making YOU and the reward more interesting than the fence, your dog will begin to learn that staying calm and engaged with you is much more rewarding than barking or running the fence line.

With patience and consistency, those fence-running habits can fade away. 🙌🐶

Meet Rock!Rock’s owner reached out for help with his leash pulling and his tendency to jump up when excited.When I arriv...
01/09/2025

Meet Rock!
Rock’s owner reached out for help with his leash pulling and his tendency to jump up when excited.

When I arrived, I had his owner keep him on lead while I completely ignored him and kept talking with his owner. The moment Rock calmed down and offered a more acceptable behaviour, that’s when he earned attention — helping him understand that calm behaviour is what gets rewarded.

I also demonstrated how to correctly use a slip lead, showing his owner how to apply quick, light pops for correction when needed. We then worked on directional changes to help shift Rock’s focus back to his handler, teaching him that paying attention is the key to a more enjoyable walk for both of them.

With consistency, Rock is well on his way to becoming a loose-leash walking pro!

🎉 Graduation time for Lexi & Lou! 🎉Over the last six weeks, these two beautiful girls have absolutely smashed their obed...
22/08/2025

🎉 Graduation time for Lexi & Lou! 🎉

Over the last six weeks, these two beautiful girls have absolutely smashed their obedience training journey! 🙌

Together, we worked on:
🐾 Reliable recalls – even in high-distraction environments.
🐾 Loose leash walking and moving into a perfect heel position when other dogs approach.
🐾 Building confidence and reducing a little bit of reactivity so they can calmly walk by their side when another dog passes.

The progress these two have made in just six weeks has been incredible – and it’s all thanks to the hard work their owners put in every single day, incorporating training into their routines and setting Lexi and Lou up for success. 💪

I can’t wait to see how much more they improve as their owners continue to practice and build on these foundations. These girls are going to be absolute stars! 🌟

06/08/2025

Got a dog that loves to dig? 🐾🕳️
Instead of trying to stop the digging altogether, give your dog a space where it’s okay to dig – like their very own sandpit!

Bury some treats, toys or chews throughout the sand and let them sniff and search – this taps into their natural instincts and gives them a fun outlet for their energy.

Sniffing and digging is not only mentally enriching, but it’s also a great way to prevent your garden from becoming a crater field! 🐶🌿

✅ Encourage the behaviour in the right spot
✅ Prevent damage to your yard
✅ Provide mental and physical stimulation

Let your dog do what dogs do best – just with a bit of direction!
Have you tried a digging pit before?

Meet Snoop! 🐾This adorable 6-month-old dachshund pup had a training session with his lovely owner — who’s a first-time d...
29/07/2025

Meet Snoop! 🐾
This adorable 6-month-old dachshund pup had a training session with his lovely owner — who’s a first-time dog mum and doing an amazing job already! 💛

Together, we worked on some essential foundations to help set Snoop up for success, including: ✅ Reliable Recalls
✅ Threshold Training (like waiting calmly at doors)
✅ Socialisation & Desensitisation
✅ Encouraging Calm Behaviour
✅ Mental Stimulation for a happy, balanced pup

Snoop was an absolute superstar, and it was great to see how eager his owner was to learn and grow alongside him. With consistency and practice, this duo is going to make a fantastic team! 🐶👏

Meet Stryda! 🐾Today I had the pleasure of working with this young pup and his lovely owners who wanted to make sure they...
06/07/2025

Meet Stryda! 🐾
Today I had the pleasure of working with this young pup and his lovely owners who wanted to make sure they were on the right track with his training.

We focused on teaching him that jumping doesn’t earn attention — only calm and appropriate behaviours do. I also showed his family how to continue building a strong recall and introduced the foundations of heel and loose leash walking.

With consistency and practice, Stryda will be mastering these skills in no time! 🌟

Meet Regis! 🐾Today was a big learning day for this handsome boy. We introduced him to the concept of leash pressure and ...
25/06/2025

Meet Regis! 🐾
Today was a big learning day for this handsome boy. We introduced him to the concept of leash pressure and what it means—such an important foundation for building clear communication and trust.

I also spent some time helping his lovely mum with a few tips to manage things at home, especially when Regis gets a bit too rough with their other dog. One simple but effective tool I suggested is keeping him on a lead or long line during those moments. This gives his humans the ability to gently interrupt and guide his behaviour, helping him learn how to play politely and build better manners.

With consistency and structure, Regis is on his way to becoming a well-mannered gentleman! 🐶✨

24/06/2025

Did you know a lead isn’t just for walks?

Using a lead around the house or in the yard can be a game-changer when it comes to teaching your dog calm and responsive behaviour.

🏡 Keeping your dog on a lead at home gives you gentle control in situations like:

Practicing recalls in a safe space

Interrupting rough or over-excited play

Teaching your dog to settle or stay calm when needed

Instead of chasing your dog down or raising your voice, the lead allows you to guide them calmly and clearly—turning everyday moments into training opportunities.

It’s not about restricting freedom—it’s about setting your dog up for success and reinforcing the behaviours you do want.

A little structure goes a long way!

22/06/2025

Does your dog get way too excited when visitors arrive?

It’s completely normal for dogs to get excited when someone new walks through the door—but it’s also the perfect opportunity to teach them manners and what calm, polite greetings look like.

✨ Tip: Keep your dog on a lead when guests arrive. This gives you control and prevents any jumping, barking or over-the-top excitement.

🚫 Ask your visitors to completely ignore your dog—no talking, no touching, no eye contact—until your dog is calm.

✅ Once your dog settles, then they can approach your guests for a calm and respectful hello.

This helps your dog learn that calm behaviour gets attention, and overexcitement does not. It's not about punishment—it's about giving them the tools to make better choices.

Teaching polite greetings is part of helping your dog become a well-mannered and balanced member of the family!

22/06/2025

Why Teaching Your Dog Emotional Regulation & Impulse Control Matters 🧠🐾

Just like us, dogs experience excitement, frustration, fear, and anticipation — but unlike us, they don’t always know how to handle those big feelings. That’s where emotional regulation and impulse control come in!

Helping your dog learn how to pause, think, and make better choices (rather than reacting instantly) is one of the most valuable skills you can teach them. It creates calmer, more focused dogs and makes everyday life so much easier — whether you're walking past other dogs, greeting guests at the door, or waiting at a busy road.

Impulse control can look like: 🐶 Sitting and waiting before being fed
🐶 Walking nicely past a distraction
🐶 Coming back when called — even if there’s a bird, a ball, or another dog!

A regulated dog is a safer, happier, and more balanced dog. It also means less stress for both of you in those high-energy or high-distraction moments.

If your dog struggles to settle, gets overstimulated easily, or finds it hard to focus — you're not alone, and you're not stuck. With the right training, any dog can learn self-control.

Want help building calm and focus in your dog? Send me a message to chat about how we can work together 🐶💬

Meet Lexi and Lu 🐾These two beautiful girls have joined my 6-week obedience program, and they're already making amazing ...
20/06/2025

Meet Lexi and Lu 🐾
These two beautiful girls have joined my 6-week obedience program, and they're already making amazing progress!

Today was Week 2, and we focused on:
✨ Walking calmly beside their owner on leash
✨ Learning “leave it” – a key skill for safety and focus
✨ Being recalled even in high-distraction environments

Both girls showed great determination and improvement – can’t wait to see how far they go in the coming weeks!

Address

Mackay, QLD

Opening Hours

Monday 4pm - 6pm
Tuesday 4pm - 6pm
Wednesday 4pm - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61458777610

Website

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