The Canine Perspective

The Canine Perspective Positive reinforcement training for you and your dog, with an emphasis on helping you understand your dog & vice versa.

VALE Doug 28/9/2015 - 28/4/2026We knew this day was coming. But that didn't make it any easier.Doug was the dog that eve...
28/04/2026

VALE Doug 28/9/2015 - 28/4/2026

We knew this day was coming. But that didn't make it any easier.

Doug was the dog that everyone instantly fell in love with when they met him. Like the guy at the pub that's everyone's best mate.

His sense of adventure and very high pain threshold meant that he got himself into all sorts of mischief. Like getting 3 paralysis ticks on him at once and surviving. Or attempting to jump off the vet exam table after partially herniating 3 discs in his spine (that's what you do, right?).

Or being diagnosed with a spinal issue and not having working back legs, and then somehow managing to get down 6 steps, drag your arse across 30m of lawn, attempt to navigate a steep hill and end up in bushes up against a fence, all while mum was having a shower.

Doug had some serious s***k. Even up until the last moment, he had no issue with bitching at someone to share their food with him, and he never ceased to make us smile whenever we walked into the room.

A massive thank you to everyone involved in his treatment and care for his IVDD over the past few years. He enjoyed hanging out with each and every one of you.

Fly free gorgeous boy. Have fun running and fishing and eating all the treats you can find. Tell Kali and Harvey we miss them and love them. We are missing you already ❤️💔🌈

20/04/2026

There's a feeling that new puppy guardians sometimes experience that's completely unexpected.

Puppy remorse.

Puppy remorse isn't the grief from losing a puppy - it's from getting them.

Sounds weird, right?

But for some new puppy guardians, the sudden big lifestyle changes, the lack of sleep and the constant monitoring have them experiencing feelings of grief, doubt, shame and remorse.

And thoughts like "maybe I made a mistake", "I'm not cut out for this" or "maybe the puppy should go back" are really common, along with the guilt that comes with them.

This doesn't happen to everyone, but if it's happening to you - please know that you are definitely not alone.

And It gets better - I promise.

If you've been experiencing puppy remorse, drop an emoji below 👇, and hit the follow button for tips on how to make it through the puppy stage.

17/04/2026

If you have a reactive dog and would love some practical solutions, then this is for you.

Living with and loving a reactive dog can be... well...challenging.

Avoiding other dogs. Walking really late at night or really early in the morning. Not being able to take your dog to places like the dog beach, or even just out to a cafe.

And like most things related to dogs, the internet is full of conflicting advice.

Which is why I'm honoured to be a part of the Decoding Reactivity and Aggression Summit, happening on April 19 (for those in the Northern Hemisphere) and April 20 (for those here in the Southern Hemisphere). THAT'S JUST 2 DAYS AWAY!

14 industry experts from across the globe who specialise in reactivity and aggression, all discussing topics close to their hearts.

And what's even better is that for just $47 you get lifetime access.

Yeah, I know, this sounds like a bit of a sales pitch - but the truth is living with a reactive dog is hard. And the information in this summit will have you understanding your dog and how to navigate life with them, just that little bit easier.

Drop the word SUMMIT below 👇 for the link to join us.

When life throws you curve balls...So I'm at the airport, ready to fly to Sydney.Bags packed. Hair freshly done in prepa...
15/04/2026

When life throws you curve balls...

So I'm at the airport, ready to fly to Sydney.

Bags packed.

Hair freshly done in preparation for my appearance on Channel 9's The Today Show tomorrow.

And I get a phone call from my publicist...

"They've pulled the segment".

WTF???

The reason?

Because a few days ago, they asked if I could bring a dog on set with me and I said "no".

The segment was meant to be about puppy remorse. About how getting a new puppy can bring about feelings of grief. The topic had been approved for weeks.

And they wanted me to bring a dog so that I could do some kind of demonstration - for entertainment. Which I didn't think was relevant to the topic.

So at the last minute - they pulled the pin.

Being on set, under lights, in front of cameras is incredibly stressful for dogs. ESPECIALLY if they've never done it before.

And not only was I not willing to fly my own dogs down to Sydney - I'm not willing to put a random dog in that situation.

Not even for day time television.

Had this been part of the original agreement when it was organised months ago, I could have made other arrangements. Like driven rather than flown to Sydney with my dogs.

But to be at the airport about to board a plane...to receive a call the day before... it's just not ok.

But apparently, this is not uncommon with day time television.

I'm just SO grateful that I had another reason to come to Sydney this trip. And that's to present at the Newcastle All Breeds Dog Club about anxiety and behaviour tomorrow night. And I am BEYOND excited!

So, you will NOT be seeing me on The Today Show tomorrow morning.

But you WILL see me standing up for dogs' welfare, even if it means losing a gig.

f your dog barks, lunges, or looks like they’re auditioning for Snarling Street Dogs of Suburbia every time another dog ...
12/04/2026

f your dog barks, lunges, or looks like they’re auditioning for Snarling Street Dogs of Suburbia every time another dog walks past…

You’re not alone.

And it's important to recognise that your dog isn’t being difficult on purpose.

In fact, they’re not being dominant, disobedient, or dramatic.

Most of the time, they’re anxious.

Here’s what I want you to know:

Reactivity is rarely about aggression.

It’s usually a coping strategy.

That barking? That lunging? That intense stare?
It’s a desperate attempt to create space when your dog feels unsafe or overwhelmed.

And the mistake I see all the time is this:
People treat reactivity like a behaviour problem to shut down… instead of what it really is: a communication problem asking to be understood.

They correct it. Tighten the lead. Say “no!” or try to train it out with pieces of equipment designed to suppress.

But the consequence?

We get dogs who stop showing the signs, but still feel just as unsafe.

That fear doesn’t disappear - it just goes underground.

And when it resurfaces, it can look like shutdown, redirected frustration, or even a bite – seemingly out of nowhere.

What these dogs really need is simple - but not always easy:
🌿 Space
🌿 Safety
🌿 Compassion
🌿 A human who sees past the behaviour and into the emotion driving it

Because reactivity isn’t something to fix - it’s something to listen to.

If this is where you’re at right now - I see you.

Responding with compassion doesn’t delay progress - it creates space for it.

And you’re already doing the most important thing - trying to understand.

Sarah x

PS - If your dog struggles with reactivity and aggression, you won't want to miss the Decoding Reactivity and Aggression Summit on 19/20 April!

Over 10+ industry experts sharing practical tips for helping your reactive dog live their best life. Tickets are only US$47 for lifetime access! This is the perfect Summit for those who want to understand their reactive dog (and what you can do to help them).

Drop the word SUMMIT below for the link!

12/04/2026

Ok - here's the deal.

The next round of the 7-Day Recall Challenge starts tomorrow, and this is what we cover...

🐾 The 10 ways we humans unintentionally make it HARDER for our digs to come to us.
🐾 The 5 pillars of a successful recall
🐾 Picking the right recall sound that gets your dog's attention every time- no matter what's happening.
🐾 Determine the body posture that gets your dog to bolt straight to you.
🐾 Discover the unique experience that your dog loves that will make them choose you...every time.
🐾 Learn the right way to begin introducing distractions... so you can call your dog away from anything.

All done through a series of fun, science-backed exercises and games that take only 20 minutes a day!

There's also a private Facebook group to share wins and a free workbook for you to keep and refer back to, long after the challenge is over.

And all for only $127!

The honest truth is this - a great recall can literally save your dog's life.

And this time next week, you could have a dog having more freedom, having more fun - and actually COMING to you when you call.

There are only TWO spots left. We start tomorrow at 6pm AEST.

So, the qurstion is - will you be joining us?

Drop the word CHALLENGE below 👇and I'll send you all the details.

11/04/2026

If your dog doesn’t come when you call them… it might not be because they’re stubborn.

It might be because we humans make recall a little bit confusing.

Hear me out.

We pick a very generic word like “come.”

Which, to a dog, is about as exciting as someone yelling “OI! HUMAN!” across a crowded park.

Then there’s our body language.

Standing up straight.
Arms outstretched.

Or - in a panicked moment - chasing after them.
Which immediately turns the whole thing into a fantastic game of chase.
Just… in the opposite direction to what we were hoping.

And here’s the kicker.

Most of the time we’re calling our dogs away from the best stuff in their universe.

The smells.
The other dogs.
The mysterious objects they’d quite like to roll in.

So from the dog’s perspective… coming to you means an end to dog fun.

And on top of that, we often try to practise recall in places that are way too distracting while they’re still learning.

Expecting a dog to learn recall for the first time at the dog beach is a bit like trying to learn maths at a music festival.

But the good news?

This is completely fixable. And in just one week!

The 7-Day Recall Challenge, starting Monday, where we learn science-backed, fun exercises and games that make your dog WANT to come to you, even around distractions.

There are only three spots left.

If you’d like a recall — and a relationship — that actually works…

Drop the word CHALLENGE below and I’ll send you the details.

10/04/2026

Does anyone else feel this way???

09/04/2026

I'm going to be completely honest with you.

When I first started working on Recall with Floyd my new puppy - it wasn't pretty.

I vividly remember standing in the middle of the park calling clapping doing all the right things while Floyd sprinted full speed ...in the opposite direction away from me. 🤦‍♀️

And I was standing there thinking "yep...cool...I teach this for a living".

I felt frustrated, really embarrassed, and honestly... a bit like a fraud.

I told myself all the stories...

Maybe I wasn't trainer enough.
Maybe Floyd was just too independent. Maybe recall just wasn't our thing.

But I learned that teaching a successful recall is actually all about knowing which exercises to do in the right order - which is exactly what we will go through in the 7-Day Recall Challenge.

I've taken everything I learned (the hard way!), and turned it into something simple, supportive, and so much fun!

You'll learn what we humans do (often without realising) to make recall harder, how to strengthen the bond so your dog wants to come back, and how to call them away from real world distractions.

It's fully online and yes, you can ABSOLUTELY do it in your pyjamas with a glass of wine!

Our next round kicks off next Monday the 13th of April.

If you're keen to learn more about how to get your dog to come sprinting back away from distractions, just drop the word CHALLENGE below 👇and I'll send you out all the details.

08/04/2026

Whats one word that comes to mind when you watch this dog?

Stubborn?

But what if the problem… isn’t the dog?

What if this dog has a bit of history with the word “come.”

Maybe in the past,
Come meant being tied up.
Or given medication.
Or being told off for running off in the first place.

Suddenly coming when called doesn’t feel like such a great deal anymore.

Dogs don’t do things — or not do things — to punish us.

They do what makes sense for them.

So here’s something worth thinking about:

What does the word “come” actually mean to your dog?
Is it always a good deal?
Or does it sometimes mean leaving whatever fascinating, smelly, exciting thing they’re currently investigating?

You know…
the truly important things. Like whatever they’re currently rolling in.

This is where a lot of recall training falls apart — because it’s built from the human point of view.

Not the dog’s.

Inside the 7-Day Recall Challenge, we flip that around.

In just one week, and only 20 mins a day - using simple science-based games and exercises — we teach your dog that coming back to you, even away from real-life distractions, is genuinely their best option.

More freedom for them.
Much less stress for you.

If you’re curious about what’s involved, just drop the word CHALLENGE below 👇 and I’ll send you the details.

07/04/2026

What would change for your dog if their recall was genuinely reliable?

More freedom.
More beach runs, bush walks, and off-lead joy.

And for you?

More chances to actually relax and enjoy being out together.

Because a great recall happens when you teach recall in a way that actually makes sense to your dog. And that, my friends, is the secret ingredient.

And it’s what we do inside the 7-Day Recall Challenge.

In just one week, I’ll show you the exact exercises to build a spectacular recall that you can trust in real life situations, around real life distractions.

Want more of this with your dog?

Drop the word CHALLENGE below 👇 and I’ll send the details on how to get it.

Address

Sunshine Coast, QLD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+61405535336

Website

Alerts

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

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Canine Perspective:

Shortcuts

Share

Category