Canine Conversations

18/10/2026

Mental health is health, too.

We recognise the importance of treating physical health conditions in our dogs, yet medication for anxiety, fear and other behavioural health concerns is still surrounded by stigma and judgement.

Behavioural medication isn’t for every dog, nor is it a replacement for understanding their individual needs.

But when clinically appropriate, it can be an incredibly valuable part of supporting their welfare.

We need to consider the whole dog. Their genetics, development, physical health, pain, environment, learning history and emotional wellbeing.

And we need professionals who recognise when veterinary involvement is important, understand the limitations of their own scope of practice and work collaboratively to support dogs and their guardians.

Because misinformation doesn’t just influence opinions.

It can delay appropriate treatment, prolong suffering and prevent dogs from receiving the support they deserve.

Our dogs need us to do better.

🐾 Dog trainers and behaviour professionals: Want to build your confidence collaborating with vets, recognising when referral is appropriate and supporting your clients through complex behaviour cases?

Comment HUB to learn more about The Professional Hub, where we put knowledge into practice and work towards better outcomes for dogs and their guardians.

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16/10/2026

Decoy assessments can look confronting. I understand that.

But there is a great deal of professional judgement behind deciding when to use one, how to conduct it safely, and what we can learn from the dog’s response.

I only use a decoy when I believe the information is genuinely necessary.

It’s vulnerable work. We’re observing a dog in a potentially challenging situation, and their emotional and physical welfare must remain central to every decision.

That’s why these assessments are brief, carefully managed, and designed to minimise unnecessary stress.

And it’s also why I record them.

A dog’s response can happen incredibly fast.

What looks quite confronting in real time can often tell a very different, more intricate story when we slow the footage down.

We can observe the smallest changes in body language, movement, hesitation, mouth contact and recovery. Details that are easily missed in the moment.

Recording also allows me to revisit what actually happened, rather than relying solely on what I thought I saw.

That footage becomes valuable when I’m planning future sessions with real dogs, particularly around distance, positioning, handling and additional safety measures.

This isn’t about provoking a reaction. It’s about gathering information responsibly, when that information is genuinely needed.

Inside The Professional Hub, I have a dedicated presentation exploring decoy assessments, including how to set them up, conduct them safely, interpret the dog’s responses and use those observations to inform future behaviour work.

Because knowing how to conduct an assessment is only part of it. Knowing when it’s appropriate, when it isn’t, and how to protect everyone involved matters just as much.

Want to develop your skills in decoy assessments and make safer, more confident decisions when working with complex behaviour cases?

Comment HUB to explore the practical support available inside The Professional Hub.

12/10/2026

Some of the most devoted dog guardians I meet are also the ones carrying the most guilt.

They’ve changed routines, avoided certain places and spent countless hours worrying about how to help their dog.

And yet, they’re still judged.

By strangers on walks. Friends and family. Sometimes even the professionals they’ve turned to for support.

People see the barking, lunging and growling. They don’t see the fear, frustration, discomfort or everything that has shaped the dog’s world.

Genetics, early development, health, pain, learning history and environment can all profoundly influence behaviour.

You can love your dog deeply, and they can still struggle.

Love cannot change genetics, resolve untreated pain or erase every difficult experience.

But understanding can change how we respond.

Sometimes that means quieter walks, more distance, managing visitors, seeking veterinary support or accepting that your dog needs a different approach.

These aren’t failures. They’re part of advocating for the dog in front of you.

To my fellow trainers and behaviour professionals: our clients are often already exhausted, overwhelmed and questioning whether they’ve done enough.

They need us to listen. To explain the why, not just tell them what to do. To develop realistic plans that protect the dog’s welfare and support their people.

Because empowering guardians is just as important as helping their dogs.

If you’re a dog trainer who wants to lead with compassion, educate and empower your clients, and feel supported through complex behaviour cases, you deserve support too.

That’s why I created The Professional Hub: a place to ask questions, work through real cases and make better behaviour decisions with ongoing professional support.

Comment HUB and I’ll show you how we can support you, too.

Thank you to my talented friend Linda from Haggie Snaps for these stunning photographs. You’ve captured these dogs so beautifully, and I couldn’t think of more fitting images for this message. 🤎
LINDS | Perth Pet Photographer

08/10/2026

A dog can look “fixed” in five days.

Quiet at the café.
No barking.
No lunging.
No growling.

But I care about how the dog feels, not just what I can make them stop doing.

If expressing fear, frustration or discomfort now predicts an electric shock, silence does not automatically mean calm.

It can mean suppression.

It can mean the dog has learned that responding makes things worse.

And in some cases, repeated lack of control can contribute to learned helplessness.

That is not the outcome I want.

Our goals should never matter more than the dog’s welfare.

Sometimes the right answer is:

This environment is not appropriate for this dog right now.

Not forcing them through it until they stop objecting.

Behaviour modification should help a dog cope better, not simply look better behaved.

And if you’re a trainer questioning the methods you were taught, you are welcome here.

You are allowed to learn.
You are allowed to change.

What upsets me is knowing better and choosing not to.

If you want to build the skills to work through complex behaviour without relying on aversive tools, The Professional Hub is a safe place to do that.

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30/09/2026

One of the hardest parts of living with dogs can be accepting that the life we pictured may not be the life that suits the dog in front of us.

That doesn’t mean we’ve failed them.

It means we’re paying attention.

Welfare is rarely about doing more for the sake of doing more, or doing less because something is difficult. It’s about noticing the individual, their physical comfort, their recovery, their preferences, their opportunities, and what genuinely adds value to their life.

Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is stop measuring their life against the one we imagined.

And start building from where they actually are.

24/09/2026

Two households can both tell you:

“My dogs have started fighting.”

But that doesn’t mean you’re looking at the same behaviour case.

The incident pattern, injury history, recovery, health, relationship between the dogs, environment and the household’s ability to manage them can all change the decisions you make.

That’s why inter-dog aggression isn’t something I approach from the presenting behaviour alone.

I want to know what information actually changes the risk picture, the priorities and what happens next.

After seeing five inter-dog aggression cases in six days, I turned that thinking into this week’s activity inside The Professional Hub.

Four real case histories.

Members choose two, work through the information and develop their own Behaviour Support Guides before we discuss the cases together in live coaching.

Because knowing the theory is one thing.

Making decisions when a real case is sitting in front of you is another.

Comment HUB and I’ll show you how to join in.

11/09/2026

A reactive dog doesn’t just need more exposure.

Effective behaviour modification starts with understanding exactly what they’re responding to.

Is it every dog?
Fast-moving dogs?
A person on a bike?
The movement itself?
Or were they coping until several things happened close together?

Then look at what is happening during the exposure.

Can they observe and process?
Can they disengage?
What is their emotional state?
How are you supporting them?
How often are you repeating the experience?

Exposure can be part of behaviour modification, but exposure alone isn’t the intervention.

What happens in those moments matters.

Meaningful change comes from carefully planned experiences that change how the dog responds over time.

Save this if you’re working through reactivity with your dog.

09/09/2026

Diet is such an important part of the overall picture, and when I’m supporting a client I want to consider what actually works for them and their dog.

That means looking at things like their dog’s individual needs, any dietary requirements, their budget, what’s accessible to them, and what they can realistically maintain long term.

I’m not looking for one “perfect” food. I’m looking for useful information that helps me make a more informed recommendation for that individual dog and family.

One resource I’ve used for years is Pet Food Reviews. You can search the food you’re feeding and get a quick breakdown of the ingredients, pros, cons and overall rating.

You may be very surprised by how some of the big, well-known brands rate.

https://www.petfoodreviews.com.au