Pawspectives

10/05/2026

07/05/2026

PRACTICAL SKILLS. Hand targets are one of the many helpful communication skills l love teaching people and dogs. Making living with dogs easier and fun. As long as you reward them for touching your hand in training and top up the value regularly, it can be used in situations you don't have rewards handy.

04/05/2026

FOSTER COOPERATION. Reaching towards a dogs neck can be intimidating or scary for some. Puppies often mouth at our hands. A lost dog might move away from a friendly stranger trying to catch them or if we try to restrain them in an emergency. For some dogs it can predict the loss of freedom. Rewarding small steps, builds understanding and cooperation. Collar holds can teach a positive and calm association with gentle restraint, fitting their collar, harness or lead.

01/05/2026

IT’S AN EMU. Surprised seeing an Emu for her first time, Ivy was captivated. A rare sight and a learning opportunity! I grabbed a handful of food and went outside to reward Ivy for “disengaging” from the Emu and “engaging” her SEEKING system, through a rewarding game of “Find It” with me.

Herding dogs were selectively bred to control movement, by highlighting the Eye - Stalk - Chase parts of the Predatory Motor Pattern. They are genetically primed for action. Good MANAGEMENT, a fenced yard, prevented Ivy “physically engaging” in Chase. My cue “Thank you” (l see it), come away and “Find It”, helped her “mentally disengage” from the Emu. Not allowed to follow her instinct to Chase but allowed to search for some of her meal, in a fun way that helped her mind and body calm down after the excitement. A positive outcome all round!

30/04/2026

A SPECIAL SEASON. Our precious dogs, Autumn 15 and her daughter Ivy 11, enjoy different scents amongst the leaves each morning. What's your dogs favourite sniff spot?

26/04/2026

GREAT WORK! Seeing these beautiful puppies grow and develop new skills that will help them thrive in everyday life with their families is so rewarding. I look forward to continuing this journey as they become teenagers.

18/04/2026

INTENTIONAL TUG!
Toy play can be a great way to teach your dog skills in a fun game with you. Building your communication and bond. Some of those skills include: give (release), permission to "get it", wait or stay, recalls, impulse control and listen when distracted or excited.

As a Herding breed Ivy finds "stalking" the toy rewarding too. Reach out to learn more about playing with purpose.
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12/04/2026

AMAZING PROGRESS TEAM KATHY!
Today I enjoyed a rare opportunity to teach Kathy's final lesson alongside her brother and sister, usually in separate groups. This delightful family trio were a joy to watch play, which was one way we helped them manage some noisy distractions.

Play is such a powerful tool to build confidence and nurture positive associations when exposing pups to new things. Dogs can't be scared and playful at the same time. PLAY and FEAR are mutually exclusive. They are two of seven primary emotional systems in the brain that drive survival, emotion and behaviour.

07/04/2026

There’s lots of ways we can adapt dog’s home environments to meet their canine needs too!

Pandas need the right food, space, quiet, or temperature.
You wouldn’t try to force a panda to behave like a polar bear.

It’s the same with people.

When we stop to understand what someone needs,
everything can change.
Instead of calling someone “challenging” or “too sensitive,” ask:
👉 What does this person need from the environment?
👉 What helps them feel calm, safe, and able to be themselves?

Neurodivergent brains aren’t the problem.
Often, it’s the surroundings that need to shift.

02/04/2026

https://pawspectives.com.au/

25/03/2026