Raw Health 4 Dogs & The Curious Dog - Dog Training, Diet & Lifestyle

17/07/2025

A cautionary tale...

Yesterday, we had a really great outing. I took Rusty to a local carpark (Casuarina) to play some games, do a little training, do some nosework and have a bit of Spaniel time (aka running crazy in the bushes sniffing for birds and wildlife that had been through there).

I was so happy with how we engaged with each other, how happy he looked and how he interacted with me when he saw another dog relatively close by (he's dog reactive, which we've been working on). It was a really positive session.

Then, we came back through the garden and he snatched something in his gob, and downed it within a few seconds. It had the recognisable odour of 💩. Instinctively, I knew it wasn't dog poo, but I popped him in the car and went over to check. There was actually a dog poo there, so I thought "okay, gross, but less gross than human poo at the edge of a public carpark 🥴". Still, deep down I knew the smell was off. What Rusty had eaten wasn't from a dog.

Fast forward to 3 hours later, we arrive at my shop, and I get Rusty out of the car only to find he's wobbling around like he's drunk, then he starts to urinate... and doesn't stop - he just keeps wandering as he dribbles urine. At that point, I was certain he'd eaten human excrement 🤮 and was now drug affected.

Given the state of society these days (pessimistic I know, but honestly), I was worried it might have been something worse than w**d.

Off to the vet for assessment. Drug test showed positive for THC. He had experienced wobbly gait/incoordination, tremors, dilated pupils, heavy panting with no exertion, and finally, a long sleep. The vets did blood tests, administered fluids and monitored him throughout the day. Luckily, he recovered enough for me to bring him home.

Dinner consisted of his meal mixed with lots of activated charcoal to help bind the toxins, and more rest.

This morning, he is a little brighter, albeit with an upset tummy. He will be okay.
.. and yes, we are getting some mileage from stoner jokes 😏

THANK YOU to for looking after Rusty so well 🙏

16/07/2025

Prepping rewards for my walk today. Rusty is a continuing work in progress 🥴 💙 and we're going to try a new location today for a walk and some treat hunting, so I'm going to need some tasty rewards, our long lead, good awareness and good energy.

Farmer's Mate Beef Roll,.diced, ready to go in to the oven to dry the edges out (so it's not so sticky for me to handle, but still appealing to Rusty).

05/07/2025

❤️ this. Don't be embarrassed. Be motivated to do differently. Your trainer is here for you. I'm here for you 👉

01/07/2025

Wow!

01/07/2025

I talk to puppy owners about body language in my classes. Do you know what to look for? Are you confident in saying NO, my dog doesn't want to meet, bye bye 👋? ‍🏃‍♂️‍➡️

"They just adore each other" 😍

Do they? 🤔
Sometimes we really want to see signals that just aren't there.

We may focus on one area....like a wagging tail, because it "confirms" what we hope is true.
The reality though is scared, conflicted or anxious dogs can and often do wag their tails.

Unsure what's occurring?
In moments like these....the majority "rules".

A dog "backing away" ?
That can be a pretty clear signal for us to pay attention to.
It can even be combined with a little "happy dance".
That pattering and quick plods....those fast moving feet?

It can look playful but can mean your dog is unsure or even uncomfortable with what is happening.

Scroll back a few posts.
Look at ways to support those nervy greeters.
There are lots of ideas for that on this page.

Forcing interactions is never a way to fast track anything positive.

28/06/2025

An insightful post from Puzzle Dog.

I agree. For me, puzzle time is for the dog to use their skills, satisfy their curiosity, make their own choices about how they want to tackle a puzzle. My role is to sit back and observe how they do that with amusement and wonder 🥰 and to help when I need to if they really get stuck.

Do you do puzzles with your dogs? What sort?

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Yqp4Uq26V/

🧩 Puzzle Time or Trick Training? 🤔

There are SO many puzzle options out there—and as we’ve said before, not every puzzle suits every dog. But there’s something else just as important: our role as humans during the puzzle session.

Do we guide our dog like a teacher with a clicker, rewarding every "correct" move?
Or do we step back, slow down, and let the puzzle be the teacher?

💡 Using a clicker or marker word turns the puzzle into a trick—and that’s okay! Trick training is fun and useful. But it’s a different kind of learning. When we treat puzzles like tricks, our dogs often look to us for the “right” answer, instead of figuring it out naturally.

I personally love puzzle sessions that are calm, pressure-free, and focused on natural problem solving. Especially when I can build up the difficulty step by step, just like we do with human puzzles. That’s when a dog’s real puzzle-solving skills shine.

Trick training? Absolutely yes! But I keep it in a separate session.
Puzzle time is about curiosity, not performance. 🐶✨

27/06/2025

🤭

But seriously, 15% off storewide TODAY ONLY. We are open 9am to 12pm.

* Applies to anything in stock. No back orders. No holds.

26/06/2025

Feeling lucky? Support Afghan Hound and Saluki Rescue and Rehoming (Australia) with their online charity auction ❤️

AUCTION #2 starts this coming Tuesday 1 July, and will run for 10 days.

We have some lovely donated items including *A CUDDLEPILLAR*, 4 lots of Vet Bed, Plush Puppy grooming spray, various treats, martingale collars donated from The Hound Haberdashery, a great pack from Raw Health 4 Dogs & The Curious Dog - Dog Training, Diet & Lifestyle and MORE!!!!.

We need to you dig deep to help out the lovely afghans, salukis, and occasionally other sighthounds!

Set your alarms as the auction goes live 9am AEST!!!