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Happy Hounds K9 Academy - The Urban Shepherdess, Church of the Ascension Catholic Community Hall, Melkbosstrand (2026)

Q: What is the address?

Church Of The Ascension Catholic Community Hall

15/07/2026

Your dog’s nails don’t just affect their feet... they can affect their entire body. 🐾

Dogs are digitigrade animals, meaning they walk on their toes. Healthy toe function is the foundation of good movement.

When nails become too long, they reduce the dog’s ability to grip the ground properly. That loss of stability can create compensations throughout the body, contributing to muscular tension, poor posture, reduced mobility and discomfort. In dogs with arthritis, elbow or hip dysplasia, long nails may make these issues even worse.

Here’s how it happens:

🐾 Long nails reduce toe grip and stability.

💪 The wrist and forelimb muscles work harder to compensate.

🦴 That extra strain travels to the elbow and shoulder.

🐕 Tight shoulder muscles restrict neck movement , the 2 are linked through origins and insertions

🦴 Because the spine works as one kinetic chain, compensation can continue all the way from the neck to the tail. You may notice:
• Stiffness in the forelimbs
• Neck , collar or head shyness
• Changes in posture such as roaching or swayback
• Reduced willingness to move or play

What can you do?

✅ Put runners or rugs on slippery floors. Better grip makes a huge difference and it’s advice that’s often overlooked.

✅ Keep your dog’s nails at an appropriate length.

✅ If nail trims are stressful, seek help from a qualified trainer, groomer or your veterinary team.

✅ If your dog is showing muscular pain, stiffness or movement changes, see a Canine Massage Therapist trained in the Lenton Method of Neuromyofascial Release through the Canine Massage Guild. They’re trained to assess and treat muscular dysfunction associated with orthopaedic conditions, injury and poor posture using an evidence-based methodology.

🐾 Healthy movement starts from the ground up.

Save this post for your next nail check and share it with someone who needs to know this.

16/06/2026

Responsible Dog Ownership: It’s Not About Loving Your Dog, It’s About Managing It

Let’s start with an uncomfortable truth.
Most people love their dogs.

Far fewer people are responsible for them.

Now before anyone starts clutching their lead like it’s a life raft, hear me out.

Because responsible dog ownership isn’t measured by how much money you spend on your dog.

It’s not measured by how many photos of your dog you post online.

And it’s certainly not measured by how often you tell people your dog is “your baby.”

Responsible dog ownership is measured by one thing:

How your dog behaves in the real world.

Because the real world doesn’t care how much you love your dog.

The real world only experiences the consequences of your dog’s behaviour.

And that distinction matters.

Love Is Easy. Responsibility Is Hard.

Most owners are brilliant at the love part.

They buy expensive beds.

They buy designer harnesses.

They buy gourmet dog food that sounds like it belongs in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Meanwhile the dog can’t walk politely on a lead, has no recall, jumps all over strangers, and drags the owner through the park like a ski lift.

The dog is loved.

The dog is not managed.

And those are two very different things.

The Recall Test

Here’s a simple test.

If your dog doesn’t come back when called every single time around distractions, your recall is not finished.

It’s that simple.

I know some people don’t like hearing that.

“But Simon, he comes back 95% of the time.”

Fantastic.

Would you accept a car with brakes that worked 95% of the time?

Would you board a plane if the pilot announced:

“Ladies and gentlemen, good news. We expect to land successfully 95% of the time.”

Of course not.

Yet people happily unclip leads and gamble with everyone else’s safety based on exactly the same logic.

If you’re not sure your dog will come back, the lead stays on.

That’s not punishment.

That’s responsibility.

“He’s Friendly”

The most dangerous words in dog ownership.

“He’s friendly.”

Wonderful.

The problem is nobody else knows that.

The elderly lady walking towards you doesn’t know that.

The child who was knocked over by a dog last year doesn’t know that.

The person carrying a traumatic experience from a previous dog attack certainly doesn’t know that.

And their dog doesn’t know that either.

Your dog’s friendliness is irrelevant if somebody else feels intimidated, frightened, or uncomfortable.

Responsible owners understand that not everybody loves dogs.

And that’s okay.

The world wasn’t built exclusively for dog owners.

If Somebody Is Worried, Put The Lead On

This shouldn’t even be controversial.

If another person looks uncomfortable around your dog…

Put the lead on.

If another dog owner asks for space…

Give them space.

If somebody says they’re nervous around dogs…

Respect it.

The aim isn’t to prove your dog is harmless.

The aim is to be considerate.

The funny thing is that truly confident dog owners rarely feel the need to prove anything.

It’s usually the owner shouting:

“DON’T WORRY, HE’S FRIENDLY!”

while chasing their loose dog across a field that creates all the concern.

Picking Up Dog Mess Is Not Optional

Let’s address the elephant-sized poo bag in the room.

Picking up after your dog is not an achievement.

It’s the bare minimum.

You don’t deserve a medal.

You don’t deserve a standing ovation.

You certainly don’t deserve a social media post praising your commitment to society.

You are simply cleaning up the mess your dog produced.

That’s called being an adult.

The number of access problems dog owners create through failing to pick up after their dogs is staggering.

Landowners get frustrated.

Farmers get frustrated.

Councils get frustrated.

Members of the public get frustrated.

And eventually restrictions start appearing.

Then everybody wonders why dog owners get a bad reputation.

The Muzzle Myth

Here’s another uncomfortable truth.

If your dog has a bite history, a muzzle should not be viewed as an insult.

It should be viewed as responsible management.

A muzzle doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

A muzzle doesn’t mean your dog is evil.

A muzzle means you’ve recognised a risk and taken sensible steps to manage it.

That’s what responsible ownership looks like.

The truly irresponsible owner isn’t the one using a muzzle.

It’s the one pretending a problem doesn’t exist.

Your Dog Is Your Responsibility

Not your trainer’s.

Not your behaviourist’s.

Not your neighbour’s.

Not society’s.

Yours.

If your dog jumps on people, that’s your responsibility.

If your dog runs up to strangers, that’s your responsibility.

If your dog chases livestock, that’s your responsibility.

If your dog bites someone, that’s your responsibility.

Owning a dog comes with legal responsibilities.

But more importantly, it comes with moral responsibilities.

The dog didn’t choose to live in human society.

You chose to bring the dog into it.

The Problem With Modern Dog Ownership

Somewhere along the line, many people started confusing ownership with entitlement.

They believe their dog should be allowed everywhere.

Allowed to greet everyone.

Allowed to approach every dog.

Allowed to do whatever it wants because “it’s just being a dog.”

No.

Being a dog explains behaviour.

It does not excuse behaviour.

A dog chasing a sheep is being a dog.

A dog stealing food is being a dog.

A dog barking at strangers is being a dog.

Your job isn’t to be shocked by these behaviours.

Your job is to manage them.

What Responsible Ownership Actually Looks Like

Responsible ownership means:

* Training recall before relying on recall.
* Using a lead when appropriate.
* Respecting other people.
* Respecting other dogs.
* Picking up after your dog.
* Using a muzzle if required.
* Managing known risks.
* Being honest about your dog’s limitations.
* Continuing to train throughout the dog’s life.
* Taking accountability when things go wrong.

Notice what’s missing?

Ego.

Because responsible ownership isn’t about proving your dog is perfect.

It’s about recognising that your dog isn’t.

And managing that reality appropriately.

Final Thoughts

The best dog owners I know are rarely the loudest.

They don’t spend all day telling everyone how amazing their dogs are.

They don’t argue endlessly online.

They don’t make excuses.

They don’t blame the breed.

They don’t blame the weather.

They don’t blame the lead.

They simply take responsibility.

And that’s the difference.

Because responsible dog ownership isn’t about having the perfect dog.

It’s about being the kind of owner your dog deserves.

The dog can only make canine decisions.

The human is supposed to make the sensible ones.

Courtesy of Simon Chapman
https://k9manhuntscotland.co.uk/

11/03/2026

With extremely high temps reaching into the 40° zone today, we want to remind everyone that hot weather can be fatal for pets and people so tell your dog walker to stay at home!
It only takes a few minutes in the heat and sun to cause heat stroke or distress. To keep your pets safe, limit outdoor time, and keep pets inside rather than outdoors or in a hot garage. Make sure they have plenty of water. Some breeds are more susceptible to heat stroke such as (but not limited to) English and French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Shih Tzus, Boston Terriers and other “flat-faced” dogs. Please monitor all your pets for signs of distress and seek vet care immediately if you notice signs. Avoid walking on pavement during peak sun/heat hours to avoid paw burns. And never, EVER leave your pet in a car. More information below. Share this to help spread the word on keeping your pets safe in the heat!

07/03/2026

Your Dog Needs More of YOU

Most people think great dogs are made through training. Commands. Repetitions. Rewards. But the real secret? It’s not about what you teach—it’s about how you connect.

1. Training Controls the Body. Connection Captures the Mind.
A trained dog will sit when you say.
A connected dog will watch your every move, waiting for your next cue—because they trust you, not just your commands.

2. Training is Telling. Connection is Understanding.
Anyone can teach a dog to navigate an agility course.
But a connected dog? They’ll clear it with confidence, because they feel your belief in them.

3. Training is Following Rules. Connection is Following YOU.
A trained dog obeys when it’s easy.
A connected dog chooses you over every distraction—every single time.

4. Training Wins Trophies. Connection Wins Hearts.
Titles, medals, and trophies come from training.
But the dogs that leave a legacy? They’re the ones who move in sync with their handler, like two souls speaking a secret language.

5. Training is an Expectation. Connection is the Difference Between Good and Unforgettable.
Every dog can be trained. But the ones who make people stop, stare, and say, “Wow, that’s special!”
Those are the ones who are truly connected to their human.

Great Trainers Don’t Just Teach Skills—They Build Unbreakable Bonds

Create a relationship so strong that the dog chooses you—over distractions, over stress, over instinct.
Best handlers shape mindset—building confidence, drive, and engagement that no cue can replicate.

1. Be More Than a Trainer—Be Their Teammate
Your dog isn’t a machine. They don’t perform for points or podiums. They perform for YOU. If they don’t believe in you, their work will always be mechanical. If they love working with you, they’ll push past limits you never imagined.

Engage with them outside of training. Play. Explore. Have fun.
Let them see you as their greatest source of motivation—not just a dispenser of commands.

2. Train With Emotion, Not Just Precision
A technically perfect exercise means nothing if your dog isn’t mentally engaged. The best dogs in the world don’t just execute—they work with intensity, joy, and conviction.

Match their energy. If you want drive, show excitement. If you want precision, be clear and calm.
Celebrate small wins. When your dog feels your enthusiasm, they’ll fight harder for every point.

3. Teach Your Dog to Problem-Solve, Not Just Obey
Obedience isn’t robotic. The best dogs think, adjust, and respond—because their handler has taught them how.

Reward effort, not just perfection. Build resilience.
Put them in situations where they have to figure things out—then be their guide, not their micromanager.

4. Control the Energy—Before You Control the Behavior
A dog that isn’t emotionally balanced can’t perform at peak levels. Before focusing on ex*****on, focus on state of mind.

Teach them how to handle pressure before they’re in a high-stakes scenario.
Create rituals that shift them into focus mode—so when they step on the field, they’re mentally locked in.

5. Make Your Presence the Reward
Food, toys, and markers are tools—but they should never replace your personal value.

The best competition dogs aren’t working for a ball—they’re working for their handler.
When your presence, praise, and engagement are more rewarding than any external reinforcer, you’ve unlocked real motivation.

Courtesy of Iwona Golab

21/01/2026

You’ll often see this posture misread as fear.
Tail tucked low, held close to the belly.

In Border Collies, that is very often something else entirely.

When a Collie is stalking, observing, or anticipating something, a low tail is usually a sign of full focus. Brain switched on. Information being processed.

What you’re seeing here isn’t fear.
It’s excitement, readiness, and anticipation.

These dogs are moving through important emotions, but they are controlled emotions. The kind that precede action, not avoidance.

This is why “knowing dogs” isn’t always enough.
When it comes to some breeds, especially working breeds, understanding their original job and their natural behaviours really matters.

If we generalise everything to “every dog”, we risk misreading what the dog is actually communicating.

Context matters.
Breed traits matter.
And behaviour never exists in isolation.

10/01/2026

“No matter how close we are to another person, few human relationships are as free from strife, disagreement, and frustration as is the relationship you have with a good dog. Few human beings give of themselves to another as a dog gives of itself. I also suspect that we cherish dogs because their unblemished souls make us wish - consciously or unconsciously - that we were as innocent as they are, and make us yearn for a place where innocence is universal and where the meanness, the betrayals, and the cruelties of this world are unknown.”
― Dean Koontz

09/01/2026

Early signs your Border Collie puppy is starting to think about movement.

One of the most important things to understand when raising a Border Collie puppy is recognising the moment their brain starts connecting movement in the environment with the instinct to control it.

This does not suddenly appear as full-blown chasing, car fixation or herding behaviour.
It starts much earlier, and it often starts quietly.

For many puppies, especially those from strong working lines, this has nothing to do with fear. It is not anxiety, trauma or reactivity. It is simply instinct switching on before the puppy has the maturity, skills or emotional regulation to cope with it.

What you are seeing is the working brain waking up.

What this behaviour actually looks like
The first thing most people notice is the stare.

Not a quick look.
Not curiosity.
But a hard, fixed stare that feels almost impossible to interrupt.

You might call your puppy’s name and get no response.
You might make noises, clap, move away.
You might offer food that your puppy would normally take without hesitation.

And suddenly, nothing works.

Their eyes are locked onto something moving. A car. A dog running. A cat. Sheep in a field. A child on a scooter. Even people jogging past.

Alongside the stare, the body starts to change.

You will often see the weight shift forward onto the front legs.
The puppy may lean into the lead or pull towards the trigger.
The head drops lower.
The tail lowers or stills.
The body crouches slightly.

This is the classic Border Collie posture.
Eye, stalk, control.

The puppy is not being defiant or ignoring you on purpose. Their brain has switched into a different mode, one designed to control movement. Once they are in that state, thinking and learning stop.

These behaviours tell you that your puppy is starting to notice movement in the world and that their instinct is beginning to shape how they respond to it.

Why this can escalate so quickly
The issue comes when these moments are rehearsed over and over again.

Every time your puppy locks on, pulls, stalks or tries to rush towards movement, their brain gets a surge of excitement and adrenaline. Even if they are on the lead and cannot reach the thing they want to control, the internal experience still happens.

That rush is powerful.

And once the working brain has felt it, it wants to repeat it.

This is why behaviours like car chasing, dog chasing or herding people can appear to “come out of nowhere”. In reality, the groundwork was laid weeks or months earlier.

Rethinking walks and exposure
This is where many well-meaning owners accidentally create the beginning of their problems.

If your puppy is still very young and already showing strong interest in movement, it is important to rethink:
• How much you are walking them
• Where you are walking
• What is happening during those walks

Busy roads, traffic, runners, cyclists, dogs playing and unpredictable environments are often far too stimulating for a young Border Collie brain.

Your puppy is learning to practice controlling them.

If every walk involves repeated staring, pulling, freezing or frustration at the end of the lead, that walk is not helping your puppy. It is strengthening the behaviour you will later try to undo.

Sometimes the best decision is less walking, not more.

That might mean:
• Shorter, calmer outings
• Avoiding traffic-heavy areas
• Choosing environments with minimal movement
• Delaying “normal walks” until the puppy has more skills

If your puppy is very young, structured lead walks are not essential. What matters more is the quality of the experience, not the distance covered.

Finding better ways to meet your puppy’s needs
Your puppy still needs movement, exploration and freedom, but it needs to happen in a way that does not constantly trigger the herding brain.

This might mean:
• Safe, enclosed spaces
• Quiet fields or private land
• Controlled environments with predictable movement
• Opportunities to sniff, explore and move without pressure

Freedom without emotional safety often creates problems.
Freedom with the right foundations creates stability.

The importance of foundation work at home
What you do at home is just as important as what you do outside.

At home, your puppy should be learning:
• That paying attention to you is valuable
• That responding to their name matters
• That disengaging is reinforcing
• That their instinct can be channelled into games, food, toys and interaction with you

This is the foundation of my puppy training.

We do not suppress instinct.
We do not punish focus away from you.
We teach the puppy where to put that focus.

When a puppy has strong engagement, good response skills and a history of choosing you, they are far better equipped to cope with movement in the outside world.

If you are noticing these early signs in your puppy, do not panic.
But do not ignore them either.

Early awareness and small changes now can prevent a lot of frustration later.

This is exactly why I talk so much about foundations, engagement and thinking before exposure.

01/01/2026

NEW YEAR'S DAY - LOST & FOUND

It is irksome and annoying to say the least to read through the various news feeds and note the amount of lost and missing animals due to the fireworks and revelry of last night.
But don’t get this wrong. It is not those that partied last night that are incurring my wrath. It is you, who have lost your small domestic animal due to the fireworks, that I find myself annoyed at.
Unless your circumstances were dire, i.e. you were visiting a dying relative in hospital and your pet couldn’t accompany you or you were involved in a car crash or something equally heartbreaking, there was no excuse for your pet to be anywhere but in your home last night.

And this despite:

1. The welfare organizations going to extreme pains to make the public aware of animals’ reactions to fireworks, but as a pet owner, you should have known this in any event.
2. You, as an adult human, would have had years of experience of the revelries of New Year’s Eve. Unless you have been living under a tree in a desert oasis somewhere, you would have known that fireworks will be prevalent on a night such as last night.
3. You have had 364 days of 2025 to prepare your pet for the fireworks of last night. New Year’s Eve celebrations could not possibly have caught you by surprise.

So why is your pet missing this morning? Why were there oodles of volunteers pulled away from the care of their own animals last night to have to take care of yours? Why are the already overflowing kennels having to deal with your animal this morning?
Not because of the fireworks – no no no.
The answer to all those questions is - Because you were careless.

Oh. And for those who haven’t quite figured this out yet. In 364 days, there will be fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Just giving you a heads up!

29/12/2025

Dogs Learn in Pictures, Not Paragraphs. Why Your Dog Knows What’s Happening Before You Do.

Dogs don’t sit around weighing up options, debating outcomes, or thinking, “Well, statistically speaking…”
That’s us.

Dogs learn through association. Simple, fast, and brutally efficient.
They don’t reason their way through life, they link things together. One thing predicts another thing. That prediction becomes a picture. That picture becomes reality.
And once a picture is formed?
Good luck un-teaching it without some effort.

Your Dog Is a Walking CCTV System.
Dogs are phenomenal observers. They notice things you swear you didn’t even do.
You might think:
“I just grabbed the lead.”

Your dog thinks:
“Lead + keys + boots + jacket = BIG WALK.”
Change the boots?
“Oh… hiking boots. This is not a walk. This is an event.”
Add the car keys?
Now the dog is emotionally halfway up the hill before you’ve locked the door.
It’s never just one cue.
It’s a collection of cues, time of day, your movement, what you’re wearing, the noises in the house, even your mood.
Dogs don’t read the script.
They read the pattern.

When the Picture Takes Over.
Here’s where owners often come unstuck.
If the sight of the lead turns your dog into a vibrating mess of enthusiasm, spinning, barking, whining, launching themselves at you like a furry missile, that’s not “excitement”.
That’s anticipation without regulation.
The picture has become so powerful that it overrides:
• Calm behaviour
• Impulse control
• Any semblance of manners
At that point, you’re not leading the situation.
The picture is.

Changing the Picture (Without Losing Your Sanity).
If the lead has become the starter pistol for chaos, the solution isn’t shouting “CALM!” louder.
It’s breaking the association.
Pick up the lead.
Put it down.
Nothing happens.
Pick it up again.
Walk into the kitchen.
Make a cup of tea.
Dog is disappointed. That’s fine.
Clip it on.
Unclip it.
Dog wears it around the house.
Still no walk.
Eventually, the lead stops meaning anything on its own.
And that’s the point.
The walk only happens when you decide, not when the picture demands it.

The Same Rule Applies Everywhere.

The Crate.
If the crate only appears when:
• You’re leaving
• The dog’s “in trouble”
• You’ve had enough
Congratulations, you’ve built a portable resentment box.
But if the crate means:
• Calm time
• Food
• Chews
• Switching off
Now it’s a safe space, not solitary confinement.
Same crate.
Different picture.

The Car
Vet only?
Dog hates the car.

Vet, woods, beach, nowhere in particular?
Dog tolerates or even enjoys, the car.
Dogs don’t hate objects.
They hate predictable bad outcomes.

The Dinner-Time Psychic Phenomenon (Explained).
Feed your dog at 5pm every day and watch the magic unfold.
4:30pm – pacing
4:45pm – staring
4:55pm – intense eye contact
5:00pm – “I summoned this.”
No.
You rehearsed it.

Light levels, sounds, your habits, cupboard noises, all stacked into one very reliable picture.
This is why:
• Mixing up feeding times helps
• Hand-feeding builds engagement
• Enrichment feeders calm expectation
It breaks rigidity and builds flexibility.
You Are Painting Pictures All Day Long

Every interaction, routine, and habit creates a picture.
If a behaviour keeps happening, it’s because:
• The picture exists
• The dog believes it leads somewhere worthwhile
That “somewhere” might be:
• Attention
• Relief
• Excitement
• Avoidance
• Control
Dogs don’t repeat behaviours for fun.
They repeat behaviours that work.

Better Pictures = Better Dogs

Want:
• Calmer lead manners?
Start before the door.
• A relaxed crate?
Make it rewarding, not reactive.
• A solid recall?
Stop making coming back the end of fun.

Training isn’t just cues and corrections.
It’s environmental storytelling.
You are constantly teaching your dog what matters, what predicts what, and what’s worth getting excited about.

Final Thought

Dogs don’t overthink.
They over-associate.
Once you understand that, training becomes less emotional, less frustrating, and far more effective.

You stop arguing with the dog…
…and start editing the picture.
And when you control the picture,
you control the behaviour, calmly, clearly, and without the chaos.

28/12/2025

An increasing number of people are giving up their dogs because they can't cope. However, this seems to be because they do not have an idea of what "normal" is and have a rather fantasy idea of what a dog should be.

Dogs are not people, however much we love them and it is important that this is realised.

The following things are all normal and any new dog owner needs to understand this:-
Puppies do not come ready trained and it is down to the new owner to work hard for a couple of years to do that training.
Puppies (all breeds) "bite" - it hurts.
Puppies chew stuff up. If you leave it lying around it will get eaten.
Puppies take a while to get house trained. The owner has to stand shivering in the garden at bedtime until the results happen. This can last for months.
Puppies - and indeed dogs - need to sleep a lot and should be left alone whilst doing so. They are not toys to be constantly carried around and petted.
Brain training toys do not make up for positive interaction and training with their owner.
Dogs rarely need clothes and wearing them indoors (except for very old dogs or single coated dogs in the cold weather) will make skin problems more likely.
Dogs don't necessarily like other dogs. They squabble can growl at each other and even fight. This is normal.
Bi***es come in season and can have phantom pregnancies. These are normal body functions and should not cause anxiety.
Dogs and bi***es hump each other and objects. Not socially acceptable to humans but perfectly normal.
Dogs do not do spiteful or dominance or deliberate naughty or lots of other emotions people put on them They live for the day and can't differentiate between your new shoes and their toys.
If you spend your money in soft beds they will explode. The dog does not care how much it cost.
If a dog is bored or anxious it will chew stuff - this includes your sofa if you are daft enough to leave him unattended with it.

Dogs need exercise, love and attention and lots of training. They don't always get it right. If you can't accept all these normal things about a dog, please don't get one as the numbers being given up for normal behaviour is heartbreaking.

Happy Hounds K9 Academy - The Urban Shepherdess

15/07/2026

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