Confident Canines NZ

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Confident Canines NZ Human and Dog Educator - Helping you understand your dog better using humane methods & modern science

We use scientifically based positive reinforcement training methods to help you teach your to become a confident canine.

🎄🐾 12 Days of Confident Canines Christmas?🐾🎄Times are tough. Money is tight. Normally around now I open preorders for ou...
17/08/2025

🎄🐾 12 Days of Confident Canines Christmas?🐾🎄

Times are tough. Money is tight. Normally around now I open preorders for our 12 Days of Confident Canines Christmas, but this year I’m pausing to ask… should we skip a year?

Over the past 3 fabulous years, we’ve shared so much fun, surprises, and loads of awesome products through this tradition – and I’d love to know if you’d like to see it continue. 💜

✨ A couple of options for this year:

The full 12 Days of Christmas as before 🎁

Or… a Mystery Christmas Day Bag 🎅 – smaller, more affordable, with options between $30–$100 (always valued above the sale price!) and available as:

A mix of toys & treats 🧸🍪

Or treat-only for the food lovers 🦴

So – hands up if you’d like to see 12 Days (or a Christmas Bag) happen this year! Drop a comment or message me with what you’d love most. 🥰

We are all set up at the Woof Market in Kai Tahi Porirua.
16/08/2025

We are all set up at the Woof Market in Kai Tahi Porirua.

🍂❄️ DogCoach Autumn/Winter 2025 Drop! ❄️🍂The DogCoach KeepDry 2.0 Jacket will be landing soon – your perfect lightweight...
16/08/2025

🍂❄️ DogCoach Autumn/Winter 2025 Drop! ❄️🍂

The DogCoach KeepDry 2.0 Jacket will be landing soon – your perfect lightweight transitional jacket for the season.

Available in 6 colours: Black, Mustard, Pinetree, Rosso, Arctic, and Mocca 🌈

✨ Packed with all the classic DogCoach features you love:

🐕 Large waterproof back pocket

🐕 Treat pockets + internal pockets

🐕 Thumb holes

🐕 Reflective strips

🐕 AND it folds into its own bag for easy transport!

👕 New for 2025: Men’s version in Pinetree and Black.

💲 Price: approx. $500
📦 Available by preorder only – the order will only go ahead if we reach the MOQ.

The ultimate blend of style, comfort, and practicality for trainers and dog lovers alike. 🐾

🐾 We’re heading to the Woof Market! 🐾Confident Canines Active Outlet will be at the Woof Market on Saturday 17th August,...
15/08/2025

🐾 We’re heading to the Woof Market! 🐾

Confident Canines Active Outlet will be at the Woof Market on Saturday 17th August, 10 am–3 pm at Kai Tahi – and we’re bringing all the goodies!

🎉 Market Day Specials & Fun:
✨ Treats – 2 for $12
✨ Sale toy buckets (find a bargain!)
✨ Bubbles (because dogs LOVE them 🫧)
✨ And yes… we’ve got a few special things for the cats too! 🐱

📚 We’ll have catalogues and samples for you to check out from Dog Copenhagen, Pomppa, and Ruff & Tumble.

💬 We’ll be hanging out with our awesome friends Anita from Fetching Designs – so come say hi!

👉 If there’s something specific you’d like to see in person, let me know so I can bring it along.
📦 Or, order via the website, choose Pick Up, write “Kai Tahi” in the notes, and I’ll bring your order with me!

Come for the shopping, stay for the dog cuddles – see you there! 🐶💛

Problem Behaviour vs Behavioural Problem – Understanding your dogWhen someone tells me, “I want my dog to stop doing X”,...
15/08/2025

Problem Behaviour vs Behavioural Problem – Understanding your dog

When someone tells me, “I want my dog to stop doing X”, I always ask: “What do you want your dog to do instead?”

This is the key to changing a problem behaviour. Behaviour follows reinforcement — it’s science. 🧪 If we reinforce the behaviour we want to see more of, we will see more of it.

But…
We also have to consider the dog’s emotional state. Dogs don’t act out of spite — their behaviour is always a response to their environment, feelings, or needs. Before attempting to change a behaviour, it’s important to understand whether the dog is stressed, anxious, bored, or seeking attention. This ensures that any training is effective and compassionate.

The difference between problem behaviours and behavioural problems:

🧍‍♀️ Problem behaviour – A behaviour the human has an issue with, but the dog is happy doing it. Examples: jumping up, stealing socks, barking at the door. The dog enjoys it, so stopping it requires teaching an alternative and reinforcing it consistently.

🐕 Behavioural problem – A behaviour that is genuinely problematic for the dog, causing them stress, fear, or anxiety. Examples: compulsive licking, self-harm, severe separation anxiety. These behaviours require addressing the underlying emotional or physical cause, often with professional guidance.

Why this distinction matters:
💜 It helps you choose the right approach — training vs intervention.
💜 It prevents misunderstanding your dog’s needs.
💜 It ensures your dog stays mentally and emotionally healthy.

Remember: Dogs don’t do “naughty” on purpose. They behave based on what is reinforced and what feels rewarding. By focusing on what we want them to do, we can create behaviour we actually enjoy living with.

Ethical Breeding vs Just BreedingBreeding dogs isn’t just about making puppies — it’s about giving them the very best st...
15/08/2025

Ethical Breeding vs Just Breeding

Breeding dogs isn’t just about making puppies — it’s about giving them the very best start in life. Ethical breeders think beyond the litter.

Ethical Breeding
• Health tested parents – Prevents passing on inherited diseases.
• Stable, friendly temperaments – Good behaviour starts with good genetics.
• Purposeful pairing – Improving or preserving the breed, not just making puppies.
• Limited litters – Protects the mother’s health and welfare.
• Excellent puppy raising – Early socialisation, positive experiences, and exposure to everyday life before they leave.
• Lifelong responsibility – The breeder is there for every puppy, forever.

Just Breeding
• No health checks – Problems can be passed on for generations.
• Unstable temperaments – Leads to behaviour issues and rehoming.
• Just to see the puppies – No thought for their future.
• Overbreeding – Puts dogs’ health at risk.
• Puppies raised with little interaction – Little thought can be put into raising the puppies meaning they miss critical development stages.
• Selling to anyone with cash – No care where the dog ends up.

💡 If it’s not ethical, it’s not responsible. Breeding right means raising right, too.

Voilà Order Update! I am expecting the order to be delivered on Monday!!If you were expecting a Voilà Pouch and haven't ...
14/08/2025

Voilà Order Update!

I am expecting the order to be delivered on Monday!!

If you were expecting a Voilà Pouch and haven't received an invoice please let me know ASAP!

✨ Pomppa Pre-Sales Are Now Open! ✨We’ve opened pre-orders for the current Pomppa colour range arriving late August / ear...
14/08/2025

✨ Pomppa Pre-Sales Are Now Open! ✨

We’ve opened pre-orders for the current Pomppa colour range arriving late August / early September!
Stock and size options coming are limited, so secure yours now.

🌟 Available for pre-order:
🛁 BathPomppa (more arriving!)
🩷 JumppaPomppa – Pink
🖤 KuoriPomppa – Graphite
🖤 SporttiPomppa – Graphite

Pomppa is a Finland-designed range of canine coats – from super waterproof to super sleek to super toasty. Designed to cover the majority of your dog, they keep them warm, dry, and comfortable in all conditions.

💡 New season colours are coming… but they’re top secret until closer to the time!

Confident Canines is one of the very few places on this side of the world that holds Pomppa in stock – and to keep doing that, we need your support.
Order through Confident Canines and help us keep bringing you some of the world’s top dog brands.

🐾 Pre-order now & be ready for winter walks!

Environmental Allergies and Atopic Dermatitis Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a genetically predisposed inflammatory skin dise...
13/08/2025

Environmental Allergies and Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a genetically predisposed inflammatory skin disease in dogs caused by allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mould spores, and human dander.

Why it happens:
Dogs with AD have a weaker skin barrier, allowing allergens to pe*****te and trigger immune overreaction. The condition often appears between 6 months and 3 years of age, and tends to worsen seasonally or year-round depending on the allergen.

Signs:

Itchy skin (face, ears, paws, belly, armpits)

Licking or chewing skin

Chronic/recurrent ear infections

Skin redness, hair loss, or thickened skin from chronic irritation

Science snapshot:

AD affects 10–15% of dogs globally (Hillier & Griffin, 2001)

Commonly linked to other allergic conditions such as conjunctivitis or rhinitis

Management:

Reduce allergen exposure (where possible)

Medicated baths to restore skin barrier

Anti-itch and anti-inflammatory medications

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) — the only treatment that can change disease progression over time

🔍 Myth-buster: Changing your dog’s food won’t cure atopic dermatitis unless they also have a food allergy — which is much less common than environmental triggers.

References:

Hillier, A., & Griffin, C. E. (2001). "The ACVD task force on canine atopic dermatitis (I): incidence and prevalence." Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 81(3–4), 147–151.

Ethical Dog Training 🐾Ethics in dog training aren’t just for when people are watching.The choices we make behind closed ...
11/08/2025

Ethical Dog Training 🐾

Ethics in dog training aren’t just for when people are watching.
The choices we make behind closed doors matter just as much as what we do in public.

True ethical training means:
✅ Using methods based on kindness, respect, and science.
✅ Putting the dog’s welfare before convenience or speed.
✅ Avoiding fear, pain, or intimidation—always.
✅ Staying consistent whether in the park, at home, or in a training hall.

At all times.

A dog’s trust is earned every single day, in every interaction.
If we are kind and fair when no one is watching, we can be proud of what our dogs see when they look at us. 💛

Allergies in Dogs: What’s normal and what isn’tAn allergy is an inappropriate immune system response to a normally harml...
10/08/2025

Allergies in Dogs: What’s normal and what isn’t

An allergy is an inappropriate immune system response to a normally harmless substance (allergen). When exposed, the immune system releases histamine and other inflammatory mediators, leading to itching, redness, and inflammation.

Normal:
It’s normal for dogs to occasionally scratch, shake their ears, or lick themselves — grooming is part of canine behaviour.

Not normal:

Persistent scratching or chewing paws

Frequent ear infections

Hair loss or skin redness

Inflamed skin or scabbing that doesn’t heal

Why it matters:
Allergies are usually chronic conditions. Without proper management, the constant itching can cause skin barrier damage, secondary infections, and reduced quality of life.

Science snapshot:
The most common allergic skin diseases in dogs are:

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) – hypersensitivity to flea saliva

Atopic dermatitis – environmental allergies

Food allergies, which account for approximately 10–15% of all allergic skin disease cases in dogs (Olivry et al., 2015).

🔍 Myth-buster: Most itchy dogs don’t have food allergies — flea bites and environmental triggers are far more common.

Did you know there are veterinary dermatologists who specialise in diagnosing and managing allergies in dogs?
They can help pinpoint the exact cause—whether it’s environmental, food-related, or something else—and create a tailored treatment plan to keep your dog comfortable and healthy.

References:

Olivry, T., et al. (2015). "A systematic review of the evidence of reduced allergenicity and clinical benefit of hydrolyzed diets in dogs with food hypersensitivity." Veterinary Dermatology, 26(4), 247–e52.

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Our Story

We use scientifically based positive reinforcement training methods to help you teach your to become a confident canine. Techniques used are force free, low stress, and help to strengthen the relationship you have with you dog.

Confident Canines offers one on one training and behaviour modification sessions in your home. Puppy classes and other group classes are offered as required. In addition to helping you train your dog we also run classes in person first aid class as well as providing online classes in various aspects of dog husbandry. Well versed in behaviour adjustment, puppy development and cooperative care.

The Active Outlet, Confident Canines’ online store is place to buy environmental enrichment toys, training tools, and sports gear. New Zealand Stockists of Dog Copenhagen, BUMAS, Howling Dog Alaska, and Kickbike. We have a wide range of Kong products and other quality toys.

Lucy has a BSc in Psychology and Zoology, Diploma of Veterinary Nursing, and a Diploma in Applied Science. She has complete various online training courses in animal behaviour and training.