Engaged Minds Wagging Tails

02/11/2026

It's not just about learning to accept scissors, it's about how we teach the skill! ✂️

For this session, we introduced scissors for the very first time. Rather than jumping straight into the end goal, we broke the task down into smaller, achievable steps.

Why? Because dogs don't automatically understand what we want from them. We need to teach the individual pieces before putting them together.

We started by encouraging her to explore and touch the scissors, building curiosity and positive engagement with the object. Once she was comfortable, we introduced a paw cue, then gradually progressed to placing her paw on top of the scissors, and the scissors on top of her paw.

This is where scaffolding becomes so important.

We take something that may initially be unfamiliar or challenging and build on skills the dog already understands. Each step creates the foundation for the next, allowing us to gradually increase the expectation without overwhelming the dog.

Just as importantly, she has a choice. She can move her paw away, disengage or take a break. We aren't forcing participation; we're building understanding and confidence.

This approach isn't just useful for scissors. It's something we can apply to grooming, nail care, vet handling, cooperative care and everyday life skills.

The goal isn't simply to get the task done. It's to teach the dog how to confidently participate in the process.

Break it down, build understanding, develop confidence.

Engage. Play. Grow. 💜

01/11/2026

Got to meet this handsome boy 💙

He was not happy when I first walked through the gate, this was his pattern of telling people i dont want you to come near me, he was able to take his time to work out who I was and whether I was worth trusting.

Rather than rushing the process or flooding him with pressure, we gave him the space and support he needed to make his own choices.

Before long, his confidence started to come through, and he cam over to sniff, this was not a time for me to try and pat him. After a while of sniffing and seeing that i wasnt going to rush, push him past his threshold. We waited for permission it was great to see him warm up and become much more comfortable around me.

Confidence isn't built by forcing dogs through situations they're not ready for. It's built through understanding, clear communication, and positive experiences. Using a holistic approach, we're helping him develop the skills he needs to navigate the world with more confidence and less worry.

He's a clever boy with a lot of potential, and I'm looking forward to watching him continue to grow. 🐾✨

01/11/2026

Got to meet this beautiful girl today 💕 She's entering those fun pre-teen months where selective hearing starts to appear and the family gets kept nice and busy!

Super intelligent, highly trainable, and full of character. Can't wait to watch her progress and see her personality continue to shine ❤️

27/10/2026

If you are keen and free definitely worth it 😊

🐾 CANINE DISC WORKSHOP🥏

Join Erin from Canine Sports Coach this Saturday for a fantastic morning of fun, learning and disc skills with your pooch!

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your skills to the next level, all abilities are welcome! Advanced skills will also be available for those who completed the 2025 course.

📅 Saturday 31st October
⏰ 8:00 am – 10:00 am

Only $50!

Spots are limited and filling fast, so get in quick!

📩 For more information or to register, contact: [email protected]

Bring your pooch, have some fun and learn something new together! 🐕🥏

We hope to see you there! 🐾💜

25/10/2026

Well, that was a fun little adventure! 😅

I had the opportunity to join a group class to practices skills with my girl… and somehow ended up being volunteered to run it! 😂

With very little notice, I threw a few ideas together and got straight into it!

I think it's safe to say we worked not only the dogs' brains but the humans' too! 🤣

There was plenty of fun, confidence building, problem-solving (for the handlers as well 🤭), skill development, socialisation and a few challenges along the way!

It was all about learning together, building engagement, encouraging teamwork and having fun while doing it.

Sometimes the best sessions are the ones you don't have time to overthink!

A big thank you for the opportunity. I thoroughly enjoyed working with all the wonderful teams!

NorAus Canine Services

24/10/2026

Got to spend some time with these two beautiful ones today! 🐾💜

What a great session, with plenty of learning for both dogs and their humans!

One of our little friends was displaying some pretty big behaviours, giving us a great opportunity to look beyond the behaviour, identify what they were feeling and work through it together.

Today we focused on engagement building connection and encouraging check-ins with their humans.

Desensitisation helping them become more comfortable with their environment and the triggers around them.

Clear communication helping the dogs understand what we're asking while also making sure we're listening to what they're telling us.

Working around triggers teaching them that yes, triggers may be present, but they can acknowledge them and choose to re-engage with their humans instead.

This was particularly challenging for one of our little friends, but as the session progressed, we started seeing some lovely moments of understanding and engagement!

We also spent time identifying body language in other dogs, discussing what they're communicating and why on-lead greetings aren't always the best idea.

Training isn't just about changing behaviours. It's about understanding what's driving them, building trust and giving both dogs and their humans the skills to navigate the world together.

Some lovely progress today, and plenty to keep building on! 💜🐾

Engage, Play, Grow
Engaged Minds Wagging Tails

21/10/2026

ENGAGE – DISENGAGE: Sometimes the biggest win is choosing to look away!

Have you ever been told your dog needs to learn to ignore other dogs, people, cars or distractions?

But what if looking at something isn't actually the problem?

Engage–Disengage training helps dogs learn to notice what's happening around them without feeling the need to react or interact.

So, how does it work?

ENGAGE: Your dog notices something in their environment. It could be another dog, person, bike or something they find exciting or worrying.

DISENGAGE: Your dog chooses to turn their attention away and potentially reconnect with you.

Sounds simple, but there's so much more happening beneath the surface!

Why is this important?

We're not teaching our dogs to ignore the world. We're helping them understand that:

They can notice things without needing to interact.

Seeing another dog doesn't mean they have to say hello.

They can observe their surroundings while remaining connected to their handler.

They have choices, and choosing to disengage can be rewarding.

But here's something important!

Disengagement doesn't always mean looking back at you.

It might be breaking eye contact, softening their body, choosing to sniff or simply moving away.

These are all behaviours worth recognising!

Distance matters too!

If your dog is already overwhelmed, barking, lunging or struggling to process their surroundings, expecting them to disengage may be asking too much.

Sometimes creating distance is the best training decision.

And remember, one successful experience doesn't mean your dog will manage that trigger every time. Each positive experience helps build confidence and understanding.

The goal isn't a dog who never notices the world.

It's a dog who can notice what's happening, process it and learn they don't always need to respond.

Because engagement isn't about having your dog's attention every second. It's about building a connection they WANT to return to.

💜 Engage, Play, Grow!

21/10/2026

What a fantastic session we had this little one worked through lots of triggers and was able to engage beautifully 😍

Best way to finish the session was with play ❤️

17/10/2026

🐾 Paws up, everyone! Bailey & Skye have some good news! 🐾

We've been a little quieter than usual lately, and Mum hasn't had as many training spots available. But don't worry, we've got a good reason! 💜

Our family has been busy settling into our new home, and Mum needed a little time to get everyone comfortable and find our feet in our new environment. 🏡

The good news? We've all settled in really well!🥰

We're feeling much more comfortable in our new surroundings, although we're still learning our way around our new home.

There are still boxes EVERYWHERE, which we think Mum might be getting a little tired of seeing! 😂📦

But hey, we're dogs… as long as we're settled, comfortable, enjoying our adventures, getting back into our regular training and spending time with Mum, we're pretty happy! 💜

So, we've been given an important job to do…

Mum says it's time to get back to business!*📣

That means Engaged Minds Wagging Tails is ready to pick up more training sessions, and bookings are opening up again! 🎉

Whether you're looking for help with your puppy, building engagement, working through some challenges, developing confidence or simply learning new skills together, we'd love to hear from you!

Mum is ready to get back out there and help more dogs and their humans learn, grow and build stronger partnerships. 💜

So, if you've been thinking about booking a session, now's a great time to send Mum a message!

Until then, we're off to supervise the unpacking… because clearly, Mum needs all the help she can get! 😜📦

Love,
Bailey & Skye 💜

Engaged Minds Wagging Tails
Engage. Play. Grow.

16/10/2026

Cuteness overload with a side of cheeky! 😍

Meet this gorgeous little Border Collie girl who I had the pleasure of meeting recently! 💜

Don't let that adorable little face fool you… there's a very clever brain in there, a whole lot of personality and some natural herding instincts just waiting to be put to work! 😂

Like many Border Collie pups, she's curious, enthusiastic and already discovering that the world is full of exciting things to investigate!

But with clever little minds come big learning opportunities!

Our focus will be on building engagement, developing confidence, creating clear communication and helping her understand how to channel those natural instincts into something productive.

Because it's not about stopping a dog from being who they are… it's about understanding what makes them tick and teaching them how to use those clever brains for good, not evil! 😂

Her lovely owners are keen to learn and give her the best possible start, and I'm excited to be part of their journey.

Something tells me this little lady is going to keep everyone on their toes! 😜

Watch this space… there's plenty of learning, laughter and a little mischief ahead! 🐾