Treat To Train

16/05/2026

We’re honestly so excited to finally share this with you!

Hidden away in Groenkloof (Pretoria), we’ve found a beautiful little nature spot: Eugene Marais Park. And we’re officially opening it for private hiking sessions. Over the years, we’ve worked with so many dogs who don’t actually enjoy busy parks or street walks.

The crowds, off-leash dogs, noise, and constant activity can be really overwhelming and finding somewhere to go where you don't need to worry about that is really hard. We've always wanted to create a space where dogs can be dogs without the worries that come with public parks. Here at our private hiking park, dogs can sniff, explore, move at their own pace, and simply enjoy being dogs ❤️

Each visit is perfect for:
- Reactive dogs
- Decompression walks
- Nervous or sensitive dogs
- Sniffy enrichment adventures
- Training sessions

IMPORTANT:
This is a nature reserve, so it is STRICTLY ON-LEASH ONLY due to ground nesting birds and wildlife. Protecting the space and respecting the animals that live there is incredibly important to us. It is a privilage for us to be able to share this space.

- To celebrate the opening, we’re offering private 45-minute sessions for ONLY R50 for the first month!
- And great news, we’ve got weekday and weekend availability.

📩 WhatsApp us on 0721107231 to book. Bookings are essential and your booking means you’ll have the secure park space to yourself.

04/05/2026

If you haven’t subscribed, our weekly newsletters are jam packed with behaviour info, training and enrichment ideas.

Link in the comments below 💅

26/04/2026

When working on loose leash walking, the first thing I recommend is using a longer leash.

This allows a dog to be able to move more freely and sniff along the path that you're walking AND it prevents pulling behavior from being rehearsed.

Sometimes, dogs just need a little extra room to sniff and they don't feel the need to pull. You don't necessarily need to buy one though...

18/04/2026

We’re so happy that Diego has been adopted!

Diego is a mixed breed dog that didn't have any distinguishing feature or a name. Through being fostered, he found his way to a forever home.

15/04/2026

I can't highlight how important it is to give dogs appropriate outlets. In many herding dogs, we see struggles like chasing, fixation and over-arousal. In many cases, it is because needs aren't met.

But how do you meet herding needs without getting a few sheep?

Introducing THE HERDING GAME. It is one way to play with your herding dog using a few cones and a ball.

That's it! No sheep required to make your herding dog happy and satisfied.

The game gives you a way to:
- channel chasing and herding behaviour into something appropriate (instead of things like cars, children, etc.)
- teach control within excitement (we LOVE games with mental and physical stimulation)
- meet your dogs herding needs without creating more chaos or getting sheep

The best part?
You don't need loads of equipment or a massive setup to get started. If your dog loves herding thing, this is the game.

Email me ([email protected]) or WhatsApp for details on the Herding Game webinar (Thursday, 28th of April 2026) and the DIY guide.

14/04/2026

Have you seen 👀❤️

The link to the magazine is in the comments. Definitely have a look.

PS. My “Happier Vet Visits” article (part 2) is also in this issue.

Meet the "Why" behind the Bark 🧠🐕

Angelique and her incredible team at Treat To Train focus on science-based, positive reinforcement to help guardians navigate everything from the "Puppy Foundations" to those complex, "supernatural" teenage challenges. 🦸‍♂️🐾

Why we love the Treat to Train approach:

🎓 Qualified Expertise: Angelique is a qualified animal behaviour consultant (DipCABT C.C.A.B.) who is currently furthering her studies in Animal Behaviour and Welfare.

🚫 No "Quick Fixes": She rejects methods that suppress behaviour. Instead, her team focuses on meeting a dog’s individual needs and empowering owners with sustainable, kind skills.

🌈 Variety of Fun: It’s not just about "sit" and "stay"! They offer everything from Scentwork and Hoopers to specialized courses for reactive dogs and cooperative care.

We love that Treat to Train provides a non-judgemental platform where owners can learn the "why" behind their dog's actions. Whether you’re in Pretoria, Jo'burg or looking for online support, they are dedicated to helping your pets thrive.

What is one thing you wish your dog could "tell" you in plain English?

Check out the Full Spotlight in the April issue
Link in the comments

09/04/2026

I recently had another article published in We Love Pets magazine. This is Part 2 and all about making vet visits less stressful.

In it, I share some practical tips like how to reduce stress while waiting, simple training exercises that make a big difference, building positive associations and what to do when training alone isn't enough.

Here's the magazine link (its free): www.welovepetssa.co.za/magazines

31/03/2026

Would you be interested in a webinar on the Herding Game?

06/03/2026

This post is a little late but we had the best time at Kitty and Puppy Haven last month. Michelle said all the pups were so happy and relaxed after the visit.

Let us know if you’d like to join our next visit 👇

06/03/2026

When Miley first started coming to the vet, our goal was simply to have fun.

These are what we call “happy vet visits.”

Instead of going straight into handling or procedures, we started by just letting Miley enjoy being there. No vet. No vet nurse. No pressure.

We played food games, hid treats for her to find, did little scent searches, and sometimes just played with her favourite toy. Some sessions were 5 minutes, some were 15 or 20. It always depended on how she was feeling that day.

Once she was comfortable just being in the clinic environment, we moved into the exam rooms and did the same thing — still no vet yet. Just building positive associations.

Then we slowly introduced pieces of the experience she might encounter later:
• a stethoscope
• gentle handling
• mimicking what a vaccination might feel like

Only after she was comfortable with all of that did we start introducing the vet and the vet nurse — and even then there was no pressure to interact.

At first the vet would simply be in the room chatting while we continued our games. No staring at the dog. No approaching.

Eventually the vet would toss treats on the floor for Miley to find, or join in with a simple pattern game like ping-pong. We avoided direct feeding at first because having food appear on the floor and moving away from the vet often feels safer for dogs.

The whole goal was simple:
build great associations with the vet environment.

Happy vet visits aren’t just for dogs who are already scared.

They’re actually one of the best preventative things you can do, especially for puppies or young dogs. It only takes one overwhelming experience for a dog to learn that the vet feels unsafe, so setting them up with lots of positive experiences beforehand can make a huge difference.

If you have a nervous dog, take it slow and focus on making the vet clinic a place where good things happen.