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Dogs By Design

We our passionate about education 👩‍🏫 Helping owners understand their dogs better 😍 We are incredibly passionate about edcuation!

The more owners understand their dogs and how to communicate with them, the happier & heapier relationships they will have

10/06/2025

🔥Reminder🔥Building on the Foundations Workshop THIS Saturday (14/6)

If you’ve completed an In-Home Consultation, Laying the Foundations Workshop, or Board & Train program then this is a great way to practice with your dog in a controlled but distracting environment, ask some questions and fine tune anything you might be struggling with. It's also just a great way to get out with your dog and do some training and upskilling! 🐶🐾

Drop me a message if you would like to sign up!
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The journey to a well-trained dog doesn’t end with the basics—it grows with consistent practice and expert guidance. Just like mastering any skill, dog training takes time, patience, and the right environment to turn good habits into lasting results.

Our ‘Building on the Foundations’ workshops provide a safe, controlled-distraction setting where you and your dog can safely build skills, boost confidence, and work toward mastery at your own pace. With professional support on hand, you’ll refine techniques, troubleshoot challenges, and strengthen your teamwork—layer by layer. Because true progress isn’t just about practice… it’s about practicing right.

27/05/2025

📢 Attention Training Clients! 📢

Hi everyone! Just a quick reminder to check your email inbox (and spam/junk folders, just in case!) for important information about our upcoming training workshops.

If you’ve completed an In-Home Consultation, Laying the Foundations Workshop, or Board & Train program but didn’t receive an email, please private message me so I can add you to the mailing list!

Looking forward to seeing you all soon! 🐾💙

30/04/2025

Poor Joey has had no interest, he's such a fun boy - please share 🐾🐶😍

⭐🐾 Meet Joey – A fun and goofy young boy who loves learning 🐾⭐

Joey is a playful and goofy 8-month-old, neutered, Boxer/Staffy mix who’s looking for a home to call his own and help him mature into his best adult-self. He’s off to a great start already—he knows sit, down, place (all with stay), and here(recall), walks nicely on a leash, and loves learning new things! Like all young dogs, he’s still learning, so he’ll thrive with someone who understands how important guidance an on-going training is.

We have worked hard to give him a solid foundation, and we’re committed to setting up his new family for success with training support. Joey is a quick learner, especially when treats are involved, and he’d love an owner who’s excited to keep teaching him

He’s had lots of positive experiences with other dogs and enjoys playing. He can pester dogs to interact with him sometimes, but he has an excellent ‘out’ command and will leave them when told! He doesn’t need a canine sibling but would happily live with a confident dog. He’s also lived around cats and livestock—while he has a typical pup’s curiosity, he’s done well with responsible supervision and boundaries. A dog-savvy cat or a home with livestock (with an owner who can provide guidance) could be a good fit.

Joey isn’t a "set-it-and-forget-it" kind of dog—he’ll do best with clear expectations, mental engagement, and daily activity. You don’t need to be an expert, just someone willing to learn with him. He’s full of goofy charm, loves adventures on and off-leash, and is sure to keep you smiling as he grows into a wonderful companion. He enjoys going for walks, bike rides and playing scent games like sniffing out a toy.

Because he’s still a playful, bouncy pup, he’d do best with older kids or adults who can help him stay calm. He’s learning to greet new people politely, and this learning is made much easier as he solidly understands his basic commands.

If you’re looking for a smart, loyal pup to partner with—one who’s eager to please and ready to learn—Joey could be your perfect match! He’s already pretty amazing for a 9-month old dog and with the right guidance, he’s going to blossom into a wonderful adult dog.

Joey is located in Southland. You can either contact Dogs By Design or Furever Homes if you think you can offer Joey the best home.

18/03/2025

⭐🐾Joey – A Smart, Trainable Pup Looking for the Right Home🐾⭐

Joey is a fun and friendly, 7-month-old Boxer/Staffy mix who needs a home that understands the importance of structure, training, and proper fulfillment for a young, energetic dog. He has a solid foundation in obedience, reliably following 'sit', 'down', 'place' (all inclusive of 'stay'), and 'here' and has excellent leash manners. He is very keen to please, but at his ages and stage in his development, he will need ongoing training and leadership to continue growing into a well-balanced adult dog.

He has been fostered by us and we have put in a lot of work to give him the best possible start, and we are looking for a home that is enthusiastic about continuing his training and fulfillment. To ensure a smooth transition and set both Joey and his new owner up for success, we will provide training to his new home so they understand how to maintain his progress and bring out the best in him.

He has had plenty of exposure to other dogs and has made great progress with his social skills. He can be excitable and a bit pushy, which means he requires continued guidance to ensure he maintains good social skills and knows how to be polite. He does not need a home with another dog, but would be suitable in a home with another dog providing the owner understood how to manage social interactions and the other dog was confident.

He has been living with livestock and cats—he has shown signs that he has a natural prey drive, but with the right handling and structure, it is manageable and we have had no issues. He can live with a confident, dog-savvy cat that won’t run from him. He will also be fine with stock with the right owner.

Joey is not a dog for someone looking for a pet to spoil—he needs an owner who will set clear rules, boundaries, and limitations and provide both mental and physical fulfillment. He is young and will test limits, so a calm, confident handler is essential - you don’t need to be dog experienced, just willing to learn. While he has good energy levels, he does not require excessive exercise—an hour a day is currently enough for him, paired with structured training and engagement.

Joey loves learning commands and is very food motivated. He enjoys going on walks both on and off-leash. He makes us laugh every day and that he is growing into a fun boy with lots of potential - he now needs to get into a home where he can continue to learn and grow with his people.

He hasn’t had much exposure to young kids, but due to his cheeky but pushy personality he would be better suited to a home with older kids who won’t get him as over-stimulated. He can be excitable around new people, but with the right guidance and direction is able to ignore them.

If you’re willing to put in the time to continue his training and provide strong leadership, Joey has the potential to be a well-mannered, stable, and rewarding companion.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out! ☺️ If you think you can offer Joey the home that he needs and will thrive in then please take the time to fill in our adoption form (this part is important) - https://forms.gle/nEocpuL93FTKeg2V7

20/12/2024

🎄🌟 That's a wrap guys! 🎄🌟

As the year comes to a close we wanted to give our heartfelt thanks to our clients and community - trusting us with your canine education and training 🐾🐶

We count ourselves very lucky to get to do what we love - educating owners and helping them have happy healthy relationships with their dogs!

Marc and I wish you all a joyful holiday season filled with laughter and relaxation, whatever you may be getting up too 🤗🌞

See you in 2025! 🐾🐶

25/11/2024

🔥 Secure your spot at our last dog training workshop of 2024 🔥 With the holiday's coming up and owners having some time off, it can be a great opportunity to work on you and your dogs relationship and improve some of their behaviours!

We are passionate about owner education and teaching owners how to communicated clearly with their dogs and have happy healthy relationships with them 😍 Check out the details below:

Join us for our information packed 2 x 2-hour Dog Psychology and Behavior Workshop, designed for all dog owners eager to unlock the potential in their canine companions. This workshop will help you foster a robust, trust-based relationship between you and your canine friend. Through understanding and practice, you can improve common behavioral challenges like disobedience, over-excitement, jumping, leash pulling, incessant barking, and reactivity, among others.

In this workshop, you'll master the art of providing clear, effective, and equitable leadership, nurturing your dog's trust and respect. Discover the essential daily practices that need to be integrated into your life with your dog, laying the foundation for a healthier bond and more composed and contented canine companion.

Upon completing the workshop, you'll possess a deeper understanding of your dog's behavior and psychology. You'll grasp why they exhibit certain behaviors and, more importantly, how you can guide them towards making better choices and achieving success.

At our workshop, you'll find a supportive community of like-minded individuals, all striving toward the same goal. This shared experience fosters confidence and reassures you that you're not alone in your journey to improve your dog's behavior.
Our upcoming workshop will take place at our facility in Riversdale, Southland on two consecutive Saturdays, below is the last set of dates for 2024:
🐾December 7th & 14th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on both days.

Here's a sneak peek at what you'll learn:
⭐️ How to establish effective and equitable leadership.
⭐️ Understanding the impact of your own energy and body language on your dog and leveraging it for clear communication.
⭐️ Essential and practical commands such as 'sit,' 'down,' 'come,' and 'place.'
⭐️ Leash etiquette for enjoyable walks.
⭐️ Establishing crucial rules, boundaries, and limitations and implementing them effectively.

Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of your dog's behavior and take significant steps towards a more harmonious relationship 🙋🐾🐶 Cost: $285

29/10/2024

🔥 Tuesday Training Tip 🔥

Have you got reliable recall? No? Use a longline!! 🧏‍♀️
🔥 Many people do not have reliable recall! 🔥

Reliable recall does NOT mean...
⭐️ "He comes majority of the time"
⭐️ "His recall is great, until there is a rabbit"
⭐️ "Her recalls awesome, unless there is another dog"
⭐️ "She comes all the time unless we are at the beach"
⭐️ "Their recall is perfect unless they are playing with another dog".
🔥 All these dogs should be on a longline! 🔥

YES they need to be on a longline even if they are at an off-leash beach or park - remember these are still shared spaces!! The number of times I hear people say "If you don't want dogs running up to you, don't walk at a place where dogs are allowed off-leash" is absolutely appalling! 😠

Why is a longline important and helpful?
⭐️ It's an essential tool for teaching a reliable recall, if you have a puppy you must get one.
⭐️ It means you can be consistent and ensure they come every time you call.
⭐️ It could save their life.
⭐️ It could prevent them approaching another dogs and triggering a fight.
⭐️ Can help you teach them to ignore other people & dogs.
⭐️ Its respectful to other people and their dogs, to be able to stop your dog approaching them!! ❤️

24/10/2024

🔥 Secure your spot at our information packed, up-coming training workshop 🔥
This workshop can help with so many common behaviours you might be struggling with, from leash pulling and reactivity, inability to settle, no listening, anxiety and nervousness, to name a few.

We are passionate about owner education and teaching owners how to communicated clearly with their dogs and have happy healthy relationships with them 😍 Check out the details below:

Join us for our enlightening 2 x 2-hour Dog Psychology and Behavior Workshop, designed for all dog enthusiasts eager to unlock the potential in their canine companions. This workshop is your gateway to fostering a robust, trust-based relationship between you and your canine friend. Through understanding, you can conquer common behavioral challenges like disobedience, over-excitement, jumping, leash pulling, incessant barking, and reactivity, among others.
In this workshop, you'll master the art of providing clear, effective, and equitable leadership, nurturing your dog's trust and respect. Discover the essential daily practices that need to be integrated into your life with your dog, laying the foundation for a healthier bond and more composed and contented canine companion.

Upon completing the workshop, you'll possess a deeper understanding of your dog's behavior and psychology. You'll grasp why they exhibit certain behaviors and, more importantly, how you can guide them towards making better choices and achieving success.

At our workshop, you'll find a supportive community of like-minded individuals, all striving toward the same goal. This shared experience fosters confidence and reassures you that you're not alone in your journey to improve your dog's behavior.
Our upcoming workshop will take place at our facility in Riversdale, Southland on two consecutive Saturdays, below are the last two sets of dates for 2024:
🐾November 16th & 23rd from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on both days.
🐾December 7th & 14th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on both days.

Here's a sneak peek at what you'll learn:
⭐️ How to establish effective and equitable leadership.
⭐️ Understanding the impact of your own energy and body language on your dog and leveraging it for clear communication.
⭐️ Essential and practical commands such as 'sit,' 'down,' 'come,' and 'place.'
⭐️ Leash etiquette for enjoyable walks.
⭐️ Establishing crucial rules, boundaries, and limitations and implementing them effectively.

Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of your dog's behavior and take significant steps towards a more harmonious relationship. Join us and embark on a training journey with your canine 🙋🐾🐶 Cost: $285

22/10/2024

🔥 Tuesday Training Tip 🔥

The leash is your friend, utilize it 🥰 Having a leash on your dog enables your to get control in situations you and your dog are struggling.

If you are working on things with your dog, particularly things that can happen randomly throughout the day then have a leash attached to them and dragging around - this is a number one priority for ALL puppies.

Here are some situations it can help with:
⭐If your dog is learning something new, you can use the leash to make sure your dog gets it right everytime!
⭐ If your dog ignores you commands, you can pick up the leash to prevent them for ignoring you and ensure they do the command that was asked.
⭐ If you are teaching them a "place" command, you can pick up the leash and guide them back to the bed without them getting confused or turning it into a game.
⭐ If they steal things and then run away from you so you can't catch them: grabbing the leash prevents them from running away from you.
⭐ If they jump up on on you, guests, children you can pick up the leash to get control and prevent them from jumping up when they don't listen to your verbal instructions.
⭐Any situation where you are struggling to get control of your dogs because they are learning, are over-stimulated, stressed, choosing to ignore you, not taking your serious - just to name a few!

We have leads attached to all our puppies and adult dogs in training, it's sets us and the dogs up for success so we are clear and consistent with our expectations! 😊🐾🐶

15/10/2024

🔥 Tuesday Training Tip 🔥

There is no reason not to use a long line 🥳 They are an excellent training tool that allows for clear communication and consistency between you and your dog!

⭐️A long line does not prevent your dog from running around and having a good time.
⭐️A long line does not restrict your dog's freedom.
⭐️A long line does not mean you have a bad dog.
⭐️A long line is not a hindrance.
⭐️A long line is not only for dogs who run away.

However…
⭐️A long line is essential on puppies, young and old, no puppy has reliable recall as they are still learning!
⭐️A long line is essential on an adult dog if it doesn’t have reliable recall**
⭐️A long line is essential if your dog chases other animals and you can’t stop it.
⭐️A long line is essential if you can’t stop your dog approaching other dogs and people or environmental factors.
⭐️A long line is essential if your dog has poor social skills.
⭐️A long line is essential if your dog spooks easily and runs away.

There are many dogs out there that are not on long lines, and they should be! Do your part and be a responsible dog owner 😃

**Reliable recall means that you can recall your dog off ANYTHING, including chasing a bird or rabbit, running up to another dog or person or while interacting with another dog.

02/08/2024

🐶🐾 Friday Friends 🐾🐶

Say "Hi" 👋 to Tex! We've been hanging out with Tex every week for a few years now, he comes along to our Pack Socialization & Training service!

He is an energetic boy and he loves coming to hang out with us! It's been amazing to see him mature and learn how to control his energy levels with us - he's always such a sweetie and tries his best to please and do the right thing 😍

Tune in next Friday to meet more of our canine friends!

30/07/2024

🔥🐾 Tuesday Training Tip 🐾🔥

Muzzles are not something that should be viewed as negative; a dog wearing one is not a bad dog!! 😇

A dog happily wearing a muzzle is the sign of a responsible dog owner, one that cares about the safety of others and their own dog ❤

ALL dogs should be properly conditioned to wear a muzzle. You may never need to use it, but if the a situation ever arises where you do, you will not put more stress on your dog by putting something on them they are not familiar with!
⭐ Best example for this is the vet clinic, when your dog might be in pain, feel unwell, be stressed and forced to accept handling that might make them uncomfortable and more likely to use their mouths as a way to communicate.

We are big advocates of muzzles for owners struggling with various behaviours towards dog & people. Why? Because it creates confidence in the owner, which in turn means the dog is less likely to do something in the 1st place. For most owners the thought of their dog hurting another animal or human creates anxiety. A muzzle can alleviate that anxiety, meaning they can give their dog more exposure and fulfillment ❤

I generally say a muzzled dog with an owner who is in control of that dog and putting in effort to be a responsible owner is far safer than a "friendly" dog who is running around like a lunatic and their owner has zero control! 🤔

Pic of my muzzled dog Tui, she gets nervous when rude people & dogs invade her space. So in busy public places where I might make a mistake or miss a warning sign we muzzle up ❤

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http://www.dogsbydesign.co.nz/

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Our Philosophy

Our name explained – A dog is a Dog By Design, it is not a cat, bird, fish or human. A ‘Dog’ is what he is most happy being.

Our main goal is help owners prevent behavioural issues arising by educating them on the needs and behaviour of their dog.

If you have a better understanding of how your dog naturally works it makes communicating with them a lot clearer.

Don’t under estimate the power of socialisation. It is about preparing your dog to cope with change, distraction & the unknown and learn that it isn’t something to react to. When done properly it builds a dog’s confidence so that when human error inevitably occurs your dog is better equipped to make better choices.