Canine Companion Dog Training & Behaviour In-Home & Online

19/02/2026

Provide a regular sniffari

WHO’S THE WALK FOR ANYWAY?

Imagine being taken on a long-anticipated walk, through different scenery with exciting smells after being cooped up in the same place all day, but you have been fitted with a blind fold and are being dragged or yanked along at a fast pace, maybe having to walk to heel on a short, tight leash.

I imagine that this is how dogs feel when we don’t allow them time to stop, sniff and explore the environment.

Dogs largely perceive the world through scent - it’s how they collect and process information to help the world make sense.

Taking away an opportunity for sniffing on a walk really isn’t being fair.

As much as physical exercise is important, the mental stimulation that sniffing provides is equally, if not more important.

Allowing dogs to choose when to stop and sniff provides so many benefits – increases self-confidence and resilience, promotes calmness, lowers stress and anxiety levels, lowers pulse rates, reduces cognitive decline in older dogs and provides important mental and environmental enrichment.

Make time for a slow sniffing walk when you can, where your dog is allowed to choose which direction to go and allowed time to just investigate, interpret, process the environment and follow wherever their nose leads them.

It may take far more time and patience as we wait for them to finish smelling that particular blade of grass, but the benefits are well worth it – after all, who is the walk really for anyway?

07/02/2026

Fine line between lots of fun and obsession..

They love it.
They chase it.
They can’t stop.

So what’s the big deal?

It’s their favourite game and they really, really enjoy it.
They can’t take their eyes off the ball once they spot it and it looks like pure fun from the outside.
But something else has changed.

They don’t sniff and explore like they used to and now fetch has started to replace everything else.
When the ball is put away, they stare at the top of the fridge where it lives and the whining slowly starts. So five minutes before you finally sit down with a cuppa, the ball comes down again and the second they see it, their focus locks on completely.

They need more now.
Have you noticed that need slowly increasing?

They can’t settle at night unless you throw the ball for another 15 minutes and what used to be five minutes outside has turned into several five minute sessions, even indoors.
At the park today they needed 20 minutes with the ball thrower. A few months ago, five minutes was enough.

So what's changed?

Your dog hasn’t just found a favourite game. They're stuck in a powerful "loop" of adrenaline that keeps their arousal high (very high). It makes switching off harder and that drives the constant need for more and more.

That “fun” is doing more than we think.
Enough has started to become never enough.

07/02/2026

Many who contact me think there's a set formula and once done all will be well. A natural pace and the days and weeks to come should be the focus when introducing strangers, especially those who will be living together..

This is the setup most of us were taught. Two dogs, tight leashes, face to face, hoping it goes well.

For a lot of dogs, this is overwhelming and sets the stage for barking, tension, or conflict before they have had a chance to feel safe.

There is a safer, more effective way to introduce unfamiliar dogs. Parallel walks give dogs space, reduce pressure, and allow them to build positive associations at their own pace.

I put together a free download that walks you through this process step by step so you can introduce dogs more safely and successfully.

Link to download below.

06/12/2024

NO-GO xmas foods for dogs!

📷 unknown

05/11/2024

Give your new fur kid some time to adapt to your life 🐶
More info on choosing the right dog for you.
https://caninecompanion.co.za/choosing-the-right-dog-for-you/

23/07/2024

Such a good article 👏🏼 A happy dog, who's canine needs are taken care of, is naturally more obedient and easier to train.
https://caninecompanion.co.za/

Instead of asking, “How do I get my dog to obey me?” we should ask, “Is my dog happy?” and “How can I make them happier?”

26/10/2023

Anxiety is stress-driven. Help your pooch not to feel stressed 💚
https://caninecompanion.co.za/6-helpful-hints-for-separation-anxiety/

Make sure your pets have a calm thunderstorm season. There are many ways that you can help a pet with their storm anxiety.
Remember to check your pet's microchip and update details ahead of the thunderstorms and firework season.

28/04/2023

😂😍
https://caninecompanion.co.za/

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24/02/2023

Barking is always some kind of expression - bored, scared, lonely, nervous, chatty.. 💚
https://caninecompanion.co.za/
How to help your dog: https://caninecompanion.co.za/dealing-with-excessive-barking/

WHY DO SOME DOGS BARK SO MUCH?
Whether we find it irritating, annoying, frustrating, are indifferent or it doesn’t really bother us, barking is what dogs do, some dogs more than others, just like some people talk far more than others! Barking is a species typical, natural and normal behaviour.

Barking is simply a form of communication. Excessive barking is often a symptom of an underlying issue. How to get a dog to bark less all depends on why they are barking in the first place. When we know the “why?” it’s far easier to work on the “how?” to prevent or decrease the behaviour.

The “why” can be due to so many reasons - boredom, frustration, loneliness, anxiety, fear, frustration, separation distress, lack of mental or physical stimulation, lack of social interaction, environmental stimuli, attention seeking, excitement, greeting, to initiate play or even a medical condition. Look at what the consequence of barking is for the dog – does something move closer or further away, do they receive attention, whether positive or negative – negative attention is still attention.

We recently had contractors repairing our roof after a particularly bad storm. My husband became increasingly irritated and angry at the dogs constantly barking at the strange people climbing all over the roof. We live in a crime riddled country and I asked him if he would still be irritated if they barked at burglars trying to gain access from the roof to the house in the middle of the night. The dogs don’t know the difference and their barking, although irritating, was understandable. Giving them a long-lasting chew, telling them that all was fine and keeping them inside where they couldn’t hear or see the contractors, solved the problem.

Using punishment or any other type of aversive method to stop barking is cruel and inhumane. We don’t punish people for speaking. Look for the “why”, before working on the “how”.

In the wise words of Dr Ian Dunbar – “Punishing a dog for barking is like punishing a bird for singing"

02/08/2022

Professional Dog Training, Puppy Training & Behaviour Therapy in the comfort of your home. Randburg, Roodepoort & Fourways - Johannesburg.

13/06/2022

That's good perspective 💙
https://caninecompanion.co.za/

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