Engage Veterinary Behaviour and Training

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Toowoomba, QLD
Engage Veterinary Behaviour and Training

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Hi-I am Dr Cate Webb-an experienced Veterinarian, Behaviour Vet and Dog Trainer with 15 years experience.

I have a Membership of the ANZCVS (Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists) in Veterinary Behaviour.

18/10/2026

Molly’s adventures continue! 🐾

Following on from yesterday’s post about walking Molly and Louis together, today we joined the dog hiking group that Louis and I walk with every fortnight.

I know how these dogs interact with other dogs, having spent many hours walking with them. Not all are particularly social, but they love their hikes and are comfortable walking together without conflict.

Molly is an adult dog who has had very limited experience around other dogs, so this was a wonderful opportunity for some social learning – which isn’t necessarily about making friends!

When we first approached the group, Molly gave a snarl and lunge towards two of the dogs who were sitting and watching her from about 20 metres away.

Rather than making an issue of it, we remained a comfortable distance from the group for the first five minutes, gradually moving closer until we could join them.

Initially, Molly occasionally approached another dog and grumbled, but she soon learnt to make better choices, moving away and giving herself space rather than approaching dogs unnecessarily.

As our two-hour walk progressed, Molly became increasingly comfortable with the other dogs moving around her, even when they passed quite close by.

And Molly was her usual sassy little self throughout, tail up and thoroughly enjoying her adventure!

Dogs don’t need to greet, play with or even particularly like every dog they meet. Learning to move comfortably around other dogs, respect their space and make appropriate choices is an important social skill.

For an adult dog with Molly’s limited social experience, this was a fantastic learning opportunity! 😊

17/10/2026

Teaching Middle Position – Training can be quick, but not Instagram quick!

Training doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Using part of your dog’s dinner for a short training session is a great example of habit stacking – incorporating training into something you already do every day. But quick doesn’t necessarily mean 30 seconds! This session with Molly was about 5–6 minutes. I’ve left the video unedited so you can see the whole learning process, rather than just the successful moments.

After my walk with Molly today, I realised how useful it would be for her to learn a middle position – coming to sit between my legs.

On our hike, I often needed to call the dogs back and step off the trail to let others pass. Louis has a very reliable return to heel on my left, but Molly, although she has a great sit, tends to sit wherever she happens to be! Not particularly useful on a narrow trail with a drop to one side.

Middle position gives her a very clear picture of exactly where I want her to come. She needs to return all the way to me, rather than sitting somewhere in front of me, and she has her own position, separate from Louis’s heel position.

Training a new behaviour is also wonderful enrichment – mental stimulation, problem-solving and social interaction.

I could have taught this entirely using lure-reward training, and she may have learned the behaviour just as quickly. But I prefer to incorporate shaping, allowing the dog to problem-solve, offer behaviours and have some control over the learning process.

This is particularly important for Molly. Her early training with other trainers involved lure-reward methods, but also aversive consequences when she didn’t respond as expected. She was not an optimistic learner. Anything resembling training made her worried that she might get something wrong, and it took us many months to work through this.

Shaping games were an important part of that process, and she’s come ahead in leaps and bounds.

Molly hadn’t seen my CATO platforms before, and it’s been over a year since we’ve done any shaping together. But she soon remembered how to experiment and offer behaviours for me to capture. I also used some lure-reward training to help her find the correct position.

For Molly, I want her to feel confident experimenting and offering behaviours, knowing that her own choices and actions can make me deliver the rewards!

17/10/2026

I’ve known Molly for three years now, since she was just one. I first saw her for severe household dog aggression towards the little white fluffies she lives with, along with various other manifestations of anxiety and aggression.

I’m looking after her this weekend, and today she joined Louis and me for an 80-minute hike up Mt Coot-tha – the longest walk she’s ever done!

She wanted to explore the whole way and was an absolute joy with Louis. It’s just lovely to see how far she’s come. ❤️

Many people think socialisation means dogs playing together at a dog park. But there’s so much value in dogs just walking together in nature, exploring, sniffing and sharing experiences, without any expectation that they need to interact. This is one of my favourite ways for dogs to enjoy each other’s company.

16/10/2026

Morning tablet ritual - consistent, cooperative and always ends with special liverwurst.

Molly the labradoodle (actually Embark DNA tells us she is really poodle cross cocker spaniel) is boarding with me a few days.

Her mum has done a great job with her morning direct tabletting ritual, so it is quick, easy and stress free. 🙌

Note - Many of my clients hide tablets in treats and that is an excellent strategy as well

30/08/2026

Sun morning walk Cooack - Louis has rules 🙂

11/08/2026

Muzzle Movement muzzle versus Baskerville versus Jafco for Louis

11/08/2026

I have just received my order of the Professional Pack of Muzzle Movement muzzles. Each week I see many dogs who have a history of growling/snarling/snapping/biting.
A muzzle is not a management or treatment plan, but it provides a layer of safety in various situations.
There are many types of muzzles for sale and each have their pros and cons. Safety from bites, and comfort for the dog are my main priorities.
My Muzzle Movement muzzles arrived today and I was very happy with the fit on my German Shepherd Ava and my poodly groodle Louis.
They are solid, but very light and both my dogs appeared more comfortable in these than their Baskervilles or Jafcos.
And I do love the bright colours.
I don’t have custom fit large wire basket muzzles for my dogs, but these are also a very good option

06/08/2026

A significant proportion of my patients with anxiety problems or showing aggressive behaviours suffer undiagnosed musculoskeletal pain or discomfort.

Where possible, I will examine the musculoskeletal system at the home visit. I will also watch your dog move and look for gait abnormalities.

This lovely girl has always been too tense for an examination at her vets, but was comfortable for me to manipulate her front limbs and spine. My examination has uncovered some discomfort that we will follow up.

06/08/2026

I just need to share this - because she is adorable 🥰

06/08/2026

Sometimes I recommend head halters for leash walks. This is usually when the dog is larger and strong and the client needs a little more help to turn the dog if they need to move their dog away from a trigger.

If wearing a head halter I want the leash to be loose, and the dog to be near the owner’s side.

This owner has a beautiful relationship with her Rhodesian Ridgeback cross, and has been enjoying daily walks for over a year now after a struggle with leash reactivity to neighbourhood dogs.

Address

Brisbane And Toowoomba
Toowoomba, QLD

Telephone

+61456957096

Website

http://www.engagevetbehaviour.com.au/

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