Kat's 4 Dogs - Sunshine Coast

17/07/2025

The first thing I speak to all clients about is “STILLNESS”.

The art of being still is tiring and very fulfilling for your dog.

If we stop projecting on our dogs they would be so much better off.

What’s really behind so much dysfunctional dog training as well as so many dysfunctional human/canine relationships?

Selfish, dysfunctional humans.

But how can the desire to see dogs “happy” be selfish and damaging?

1/ The actual motivation isn’t truly about the dog, it’s about how the dog’s behavior makes the human feel.

2/ Because the humans perception is derailed by their emotional needs, rather than reality, they’re unable to see what’s actually best for the dog.

3/ This leads humans to require dogs to appear always overtly “happy” — which in reality is often mental chaos, neuroticism, and discomfort — in order for the humans to have their needs met.

4/ Dogs end up suffering so that selfish, dysfunctional humans can feel happy.

Here’s the reality. Life is complex. Healthy dogs will have moments of their day that are infused with highly energized, playful behavior that is easily observed as “happy”, but what’s critical is that these are temporary, transient states. A dog cannot, and should not be in these elevated states for extended periods or on a repeating cycle of explosion to exhaustion to rest to explosion again. This is a shallow and dysfunctional take on a “happy” dog.

Healthy dogs will have plenty of quiet, down time — times when to the selfish, dysfunctional, or simply ignorant that the dog is “sad”. These “sad” periods will promote a healthy mind and body, and *gasp*… a dog who has the conditioned mindset to be calm and relaxed when needed, which then leads to a dog who is included in countless human activities and gets to do life with their human. Which is about the happiest thing most dogs can experience.

Which is why healthy humans desire healthy dogs over “happy” dogs.

10/07/2025

The end

09/07/2025

Well what a beautiful place to visit. Great place to take in the fresh air and reflect.

Dolphins everywhere too 🐬

When I find myself over complicating my thoughts, I just have to check into nature. Ground myself and give myself a little upper cut 😂

🌈🐾🦋🐬❤️

06/07/2025

So true, if I had a dollar for every time I had to go over the importance of rules and boundaries.

It's like people struggle to believe that creating leadership in the home is the answer but it is in most cases.

It really isn't hard having a well behaved dog, dogs are generally pretty simple with their needs. They love consistency, structure, rules and a stable leader.

Everything outside of that they dislike. How do you know if your dog is not happy? I've listed some thing's you will see in your dog if they aren't happy:

Barking
Separation Anxiety
Reactivity
Aggression
Digging
Escaping
Pacing
Chasing cars
Chasing flies, butterflies, shadows, birds
Ball obsessed
Shaking
Paw clicking
Skin problems
Eating socks, rocks, sticks, tissues
Can't sit still or remain calm or switch off
Phobia's (Car,storm etc)
Overly territorial, aggression at the front door.
Excitement at the front door.
Pulling on lead

Any dog that is bouncing of the walls all day, cannot stay still and get long periods of good quality sleep while humans are present are struggle and not happy.

If you dog lives in an environment where the humans are stressed, anxious, yelling at each other, carry negative energy, get easily frustrated. Your dog is not happy.

Also, I do not care if your dog is from a puppy farm (backyard breeders), rescue or any other excuse people like to use. Being a rescue doesn't determine how that dog develops. It's who rescues the dog that makes all the difference.

Always a tough conversation and most people like the easy fluffy stuff but for those that are willing to work and make personal changes. You will see the magic happen!

Are there other components?

Of course.

Play, affection, exercise. But these are all enjoyable and rewarding for the human — so you don’t need me or any other trainer to remind you to do this stuff. You’ll happily do it without anyone nagging you.

But, the other stuff? The rules, the structure, the accountability? Bleh.

This stuff is no fun. In fact, it’s often emotionally uncomfortable. And so it gets placed in the very back of the mind’s priority list.

Which means the dog’s needs get the usual out of balance treatment.

Our dogs get the play, affection, and exercise — aka, the soft, fun, sweet stuff, and little to none of the other stuff that balances them and your relationship out. Which means owners get the usual out of balance dog behavior, AND as a special bonus they get the usual out of balance relationship dynamics… which only serves to exacerbate their dog’s behavior issues.

You see, it’s a double pronged undermining. You not only withhold the essential stuff that helps your dog share their best, you also teach your dog that you’re a doormat to be walked upon.

And I’m sure you can see where that all ends up. It ends up with you sitting on mine, or another trainer’s couch, terribly upset and overwhelmed by your dog’s unexplainable behavior, explaining how unpleasant and unbearable life has become.

Which leads me back to the reason you hear smart trainers always promoting the same tired old rules, structure, accountability stuff. Because it’s the same tired old stuff we see derailing dog after dog after dog. And we’re hoping that maybe just maybe, that this time perhaps another one of you will hear it, process it, and actually run with it. 🙏

04/07/2025

Ellie, 5 year old reactive GSD.

Sadly Ellie was attacked by a staffy when younger, she was tied to the family caravan when ambush. Her owners have put so much work into her using other trainers but were still having reactivity issues.

Again, with any reactive dog there is always a lot to unpack. I took a deep dive into Ellie’s life and we have made many changes.

The human dog relationship needed to be strengthened and the leadership journey had to commence.

This video was from our second session yesterday and everything you see in this video happened within the space of 20 minutes.

Also noting that Romeo my staffy was the dog used to help Ellie regain trust with staffy’s.

There is still a lot of work to do but in a very short time, there is great progress.

04/07/2025

It’s always great to get updates from clients.

Cino’s made problem was reactivity but with all reactivity there are always other problems that need addressing.

Working on impulse control in the home is crucial and can directly assist with reactivity.

Cino used to charge up and down stairs, check him out now ⭐️💪🐾

02/07/2025

Louie and Frank

Behavioural Problems between the two of them: Reactivity,Separation Anxiety, Ball Obsessed, Territorial at home, Excitement.

First session 10th June 2025.
Jo couldn’t walk them together without it being extremely stressful, fear of other dogs and just a lack of focus made life very difficult in public. Louie the Lab was the worst. Frank the Kelpie would sometimes join in when Louie would react.
Major separation anxiety at home and trying to enter the front door was pretty intense.

This is the 3rd session yesterday and they nailed it. Not 1 reaction.

They are also very calm at home, the separation anxiety with Louie and Jo is improving everyday.

All in all, an amazing turn around 3 weeks.

Onward and upward Jo. Well done to you for having the strength to change and do what’s necessary to help your dogs live a calm and happy life.

02/07/2025

Romeo has earnt his cuddle on the lounge tonight. Work hard, get rewarded!

He has help teach Woody the puppy social etiquette, made Marnie the nervous slightly reactive Dachie X walk the river and shown her how to properly engage today. Then to top it off head was a neutral and calming pack walk mate to Louie and Frank that have been reactive to other dogs.

14 years and still loves to work. That’s my boy!!

02/07/2025

Sorry long video but some great free information of you watch until the end.

Stop over stimulating your working dog!

01/07/2025

This is such an important message.

I have and I’ve never felt such happiness (consistent happiness). When you prioritise your own needs the ripple effect is endless.

It’s not easy and I’m still practicing in little areas but overall the feeling of self love and learning how to use the “Let them theory” has made so much room in my life to just LIVE!

26/06/2025

Whilst I get many reviews, I don’t post them all but this one is an important one.

It highlights why it’s CRUCIAL to get the right Dog Behaviourist. Obedience was not used at all to modify any of the problems in this situation. There were no treats used either.

My focus is ALWAYS the humans, like the saying goes. You always put your oxygen mask on first.

“We were referred to Kat by our amazing Vet at Prestige Vets. By the time we engaged Kat we were in absolute chaos and desperation to fix the issues that had worsened over time. To paint a picture of the challenge Kat had walking into - we are a family of 4 with 3 dogs (Husky x Border Collie, Cavoodle and Chihuahua x Terrier). The two small dogs were bonded but our larger dog was doing his own thing and when play fighting occurred between husky and cavoodle it didn't end well. So a mix match of a bunch with no proper leadership from us as owners. Bella (Chihuahua x) has always been very anxious and was on so many medications to ease her heightened anxiety as well as just going into remission with lung cancer. Daisy (Cavoodle) was a rescue adopted mid last year she was a anxious and timid dog who would chew up anything left around when we were out. Loki (Husky x) was also a rescue over time the separation anxiety, attention seeking and boundary issues worsened. Prior to Kat arriving we had experienced approx 50 escapes from Loki despite our best efforts with amending fencing etc and a destroyed door frame and screens. We were not sure what to expect in the sessions but my god did Kat whip us all into line and speak some hard truths. Not only is she educating and focusing on the animal psychology but she connects and explores the human psychology. It was a very holistic approach. We had two sessions and my gosh the changes since Kat entered our lives is actually unbelievable. But boy are we incredibly grateful. Kat is a knowledgeable and dedicated dog behaviourist, she has such a beautiful passion for restoring stress free homes and a caring nature towards everyone in the home. Yes it feels like an outlay financially going down this path especially with cost of living but let me assure you it's 1000% worth it. Thank you Kat!!!!”

22/06/2025

When a previous client spots my car and stops to say hi with a photo of their beautiful boy Rufus ❤️