Positively Rewarding Sydney

24/07/2025

If you have a new puppy currently aged 8-15 weeks, you may be aware that you need to start socialising them with other dogs, but... how do you do that when they're not yet fully vaccinated?

That's where we come in!
The easiest and most effective way to start is by enrolling in PUPPY SCHOOL!

At Balmain Village Vet Clinic, our small group classes are run after hours in the reception area. Floors are disinfected using an antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal, hospital-grade disinfectant, which actually smells like bubblegum, so not only are the puppies kept safe, classes also smell lovely!

Learn all about how your puppy thinks, why they do what they do, how to ensure they're enjoying social interactions and how to teach them what you'd like them to know, all while all in a safe, friendly environment.

PUPPIES NEED ONLY TO HAVE HAD THEIR FIRST VACCINATION TO ATTEND.

Don't miss this never-to-be-repeated stage in your dog's life! Get in touch to reserve your spot in an upcoming class.

23/07/2025

Here's funny wee pocket rocket HARRY!

You can see that getting a photo was no mean feat with Young Harry but it was worth the effort to finally catch his cutie-pie Blue Steel moment!
Good boy Harry 💙

22/07/2025

And we are firmly opposed to the use of these tools for good reason. There can never be a time when it's acceptable to use pain, fear and intimidation to get what we want, especially from someone we claim to love. Good dog training, like good parenting, goes beyond gaining robot-like "obedience" and is instead about creating a relationship built on trust and mutual understanding. Beware of any trainer who uses aversive tools such as slip leads, choke, prong and electric collars and any method which involves yelling, shoving or pinning down. These tools only ever at best suppress behaviour rather than addressing the root cause. And as dogs are always learning by association, they can easily create more (and more dangerous) problems, and will also destroy your relationship with your dog.

Force free trainers are firmly opposed to using ‘training tools’ that are aversive in nature, including slip leads, electric collars and prong collars as some of the most widespread that are seen.

You can read all about it here: https://www.canineethics.org/post/the-trouble-with-training-tools

19/07/2025

Meet the latest Gorgeous Graduates 🎓 of Puppy School Balmain Village Veterinary Clinic

It was a little class but with a huge variety of puppy temperaments - but all a delight!
Congratulations to Chris & Saskia with their lovely little genius, LEICA Helen (& Calen) with THE tiniest, cutest & most bomb-proof & confident little HARPER and last but not least, Scott, Allegra & Henry with their sweet little softy MONTY

It's been a real pleasure seeing this bunch each week & watching the puppies grow and develop.
Well done on all the hard work you've put in so far. Keep it up, be patient and enjoy those puppy antics while they last!

🎓 🐶 🏆 👏 👏 👏

Big shout out to for our ongoing goody bag collaboration! Thanks for your generosity - you guys rock ❤️

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19/07/2025

LULU was loving her very first trip to the park! Time to let off some pent-up puppy steam!
What a gorgeous and hilarious girl she is 💖

19/07/2025

Pretty as a picture, it's little LULU 💕
Lulu's mum has been struggling with her increasing frustration on lead; jumping & spinning & generally not having much fun.

Senior puppyhood can be a tricky time, as older puppies have now completed their vaccination schedules, are keen to get out and properly explore their world BUT... they haven't yet had time to learn a reliable recall.

This often results in lots of on-lead greetings of other dogs, which can easily create what's known as "leash reactivity"; the phenomenon of creating a dog who is highly social off-lead but turns into a flurry of lunging and barking at dogs when on-lead.

There ARE appropriate ways to socialise your puppy; the first of which is to sign up for our Puppy School Balmain Village Veterinary Clinic
before your puppy reaches 15 weeks of age! This capitalises on their Critical Socialisation Period (3-16weeks) in a safe environment with other healthy but also not-fully-vaccinated puppies.

Then following that, a private Senior Puppy session where we head out into the world to continue working on keeping those social skills strong and your puppy safe 💪

17/07/2025

Meet beautiful little LOLA
After a less-than-ideal start to life, being holed-up in a yard with her Mama & litter mates & with a bunch of other dogs biting & hassling her, this sweet natured little girl hit the adoption jackpot & now lives a peaceful life with her wonderful new human mums who are committed to making her life all it should be.
It's always such an honour & a joy to help everyone, both people and dog, with the settling in process, expectations, and cross-species communication so everyone can thrive in these situations. ❤️

11/07/2025

I do think that when it comes to the beauty lottery, dogs & horses are two of the big winners 🏆
Meet Jimmy who clearly hit the jackpot!
And what a clever boy too - the boy with it all 🤎

30/06/2025

I don't think I've met a Beaglier I didn't like and young COOKIE here is no exception! Cookie learned every exercise as quickly as though he'd just spent the first 4 years waiting for them! Amazingly clever & utterly adorable little guy.

30/06/2025

Naww, what a little sweetheart is Benjamin . I'm looking forward to session 2 when we head out on the long line for some sniffing and exploration, with some recall & loose lead walking training thrown in for good measure!

30/06/2025

Meet the beautiful Chloe & Bailey . It's very interesting that the behaviour of these two has changed, coinciding with their human Mama becoming pregnant. No doubt they knew before she did. It's not uncommon for their to happen & dogs can become more clingy or possibly more protective. The trick is to support them through this time & to be aware they're more sensitive to the environment, so avoiding situations that might alarm them is key. And it's a very good idea to start acclimatising them to any restrictions (such as no more sleeping on the human bed, teaching them to be comfortable.behind a baby gate etc, plus all the sights, sounds & smells of all the weird new gear that will be a part of their world soon, BEFORE baby arrives!

19/06/2025

Here are the utterly adorable faces of the newest students at Positively Rewarding puppy school Balmain Village Veterinary Clinic
We are lucky enough to have a trio of very junior, newbie puppies, so will tweak the usual older puppy program to suit their tender age 💙
Introducing MONTY LEICA (gathering up her own lead, ready for home time) and the record holder for smallest & chillest puppy, HARPER ALL too cute for words & I look forward to watching them develop over the next month. Little Monty's confidence increased significantly after one session! Also, I hope these little guys have made you feel a little better .mastro 💕