Top Dog

30/10/2026

Here's the thing. Dogs are incredibly good at reading body language, movement and tone. Yet we humans have a habit of talking their ears off.

When we repeat commands, chatter constantly or let frustration creep into our voice, we can end up creating more noise than clarity.

Sometimes the most powerful communication isn't verbal at all.

Your posture, movement, timing and calm, consistent energy can communicate more than a dozen repeated commands.

That doesn't mean words don't matter. It means they work best when they're clear, consistent and backed up by what your body is saying.

Less noise. More clarity. Better communication.

Next time you're training, try saying less and paying attention to what you're communicating without words.

Mila approves. 🐾

29/10/2026

The breed is not the number one thing that drives your dogs behaviours!

I hear it time and time again, explaining behaviours away because of breeds, or even saying how confident and reliable a dog is because its a certain breed, truth is, all dogs are individuals, from a litter of 12 you can have 12 completely different dogs, from confident, excited, boisterous to timid, anxious and everything inbetween

When a behaviour occurs, ask why is this happening? Have i communicated to my dog how i expect them to act in this moment in a clear and simple manner?
Or is it just 'how the dog is' or 'this breed does that'
Your dog needs your guidance to understand the human world, so lets help them with that!

27/10/2026

We understand the world through human feelings. So when our dogs do something we don’t understand, we tend to give it a human explanation.

Stubborn. Defiant. Disobedient.

But what if we’ve got it wrong?

A dog that follows every command at home might look like they’ve forgotten everything the moment you step outside.

They’re not necessarily ignoring you. They might genuinely not understand what’s being asked of them.

Dogs don’t automatically generalise what they’ve learned. Add new environments, distractions and excitement, and suddenly a simple command isn’t so simple.

And here’s why the label matters.

A dog we call disobedient gets corrected. A dog we recognise as confused gets taught.

Same dog. Same behaviour. Very different response.

Before you correct the behaviour, question the communication.

Good training starts with understanding, not assumptions.

24/10/2026

BIG BRAINS NEED GOOD FUEL. 🧠🐾

As we gear up for our YOUNG GUNS adolescent training course, here's a little food for thought.

Your teenage dog's brain is still developing, and what goes into their bowl can play a role in how they learn.

Research suggests that Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, support healthy brain development and may improve learning ability in growing dogs.

Adding an appropriate daily source of Omega-3s, such as quality fish oil, can help support those busy young brains alongside consistent training.

My personal favourite? Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil, which you can get from Pet Direct. Just make sure you're giving the right amount for your dog's size and diet.

Because raising a Top Dog isn't just about what you teach them. It's about giving them the best foundations to learn.

Feed the brain. Train the dog. 🐕

21/10/2026

REACTIVE DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN AGGRESSIVE. 🐕

Does your dog bark, lunge, pull or completely lose their cool when they see another dog?

It’s easy to label that behaviour as aggression. But reactivity isn't always about wanting to fight.

Sometimes it’s fear. Sometimes it’s frustration. And sometimes your dog is just SO excited to say hello that their brain forgets everything you've ever taught them.

Reactivity is an over-the-top response to a trigger — whether that's another dog, a person, a bike, a car or something else in their environment.

The behaviour might look the same on the outside, but what's driving it can be very different.

The good news? Reactivity can be worked on.

With the right understanding, leadership and training, you can help your dog manage their excitement, build confidence and make calmer choices.

MEET UNDERDOGS. 🐾

Our 6-week reactivity group course is designed for dogs who struggle to keep their cool around other dogs.

Small classes. Plenty of space. Real-world skills. And no judgement.

Class is in session. Sign up today.

📍 Arrowtown
🎓 Limited to just 6 dogs per course

Book your spot in UNDERDOGS with Top Dog Academy online.

19/10/2026

There's nothing better than seeing the difference a little understanding, consistency and the right training can make.

And hearing how that translates into everyday life? That's the good stuff.

Ready to see what's possible with your dog? Let's get to work. Book your session online today.

12/10/2026

NEW GROUP CLASSES ARE HERE!

YOUNG GUNS – For teenage and adult dogs ready to take their obedience to the next level.

UNDERDOGS – For reactive dogs who need a little extra support building calm, confident behaviour.

📍 Arrowtown
📅 Starting 7 November
🐕 Small groups, limited spots!

Ready to put in the work? Book your spot today!

Topdogtrainingnz.com

26/09/2026

Hey Dog lovers!

Not long been on google so if you we have worked with you and your dog and you feel like sharing your experience and feedback please do so on there!

Its all really appreciated as it helps us grow and keep doing the job that me and Mila love so much!

Thank you

Dog trainer

06/09/2026

Claiming Space, Items, Foods & People
The principal of claiming is so important for a dog, to undertand boundaries, rules and respect your instructions.
You need to create these rules to help your dog understand what is expected of them, not just remove things and hide them but teach the dog how to be around them

This practise should begin from the puppy stage and continue to practise the entire life of your dog
It demonstrates leadership, control from you, impulse control from the dog, improves engagement and by enforcing rules your dog learns to respect you more!

02/09/2026

Good Evening Dog Lovers!

New website launched today, check out our new design and logo!
We are soon starting to provide group sessions so if you are interested please head over to the Service Details page and register your expression of interest so i can get an idea of numbers, it would help a lot!
There will be General obedience Group sessions & Reactivity/Agression group sessions, we can expose and desensitize your dog to triggers and help you make the progress you need without upsetting the general public!

Also if anyone has good reviews for Top Dog please review on this page it goes a long way!

Thank you!

Topdogtrainingnz.com