Tawai - Training for Companion Dogs

24/05/2026

Feeling a little bit proud of Vader
He participated in his first scent trial
Very cool sport
Lovely bunch of people and dogs

Highly recommend it to anyone who wants to keep their dog mentally engaged and build a really good bond with them (regardless of their size, breed/s or age)

And a fun activity to do indoors on those rainy days

21/05/2026

11/12/2025

Allergies…

Several things that help with allergies and itches:
- Never bathe with shampoo or soap. That way you don’t wash off natural oils that are the first barrier against pathogens
- Add 2 teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar (ACV) to their food. Dilute in 1/4 cup of water before adding to their food so as to not corrode their teeth.
ACV changes the body’s pH and helps with yeast infections.
- Add a good dog probiotic to their food. (I use Fourflax probiotic).
- Add sources of Onega 3 and 6 to boost their immune system: fish oil (be sure to get fish oil tested for mercury), spirulina, h**p seed oil.
- I also add turmeric as an anti-inflammatory and for overall health.
- In Summer I harvest any stinging nettle I see and put it into paper bags to dry off.
I then scrunch it up on top of their food. It’s a natural anti histamine and very nutritious too

Also, if dog has yeast smell on skin, dandruff or rashes, spraying coat with a 25% ACV solution diluted in water can help change skin pH killing off yeast

03/12/2025

I hope none of you need to use this but in case there is a dog attack or fight I wanted to share the way I separate fighting dogs:

I learnt this in Brazil as a kid while doing schutzhund (protection work) for dogs that wouldn’t obey the out/auss command.
To separate a dog fight you put a leash on the attacking dog, or both if it’s 2 dogs fighting each other.
Then grab flap of skin between abdomen and thigh (marked in red on picture) and you pull backwards and upwards. Pull strong and sudden.
If 2 dogs, both owners, or person handling the dogs, agree to pull at the same time. Dogs will let go and turn round to check what’s hurting them. Pull dog/s away from each other.
And no, I’ve never had a dog turn on me and bite me.
Has worked every time I’ve helped separate a fight.

And it helps if the people around the dog fight remain as calm as possible.
Shouting, hiting and freaking out just adds “fire” to the fight