Dog Training Tips

Existential Feeding

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:11:11 GMT

Why Feeding From a Treat Pouch is a Game-Changer for Training and Your Relationship

Mealtimes don’t have to be just a quick bowl on the floor and they shouldn't be, especially if you are having behaviour or relationship issues with your dog.

By feeding your dog’s meals from a treat pouch during short training sessions, you’re doing more than saving food for later — you’re combining feeding and training into one powerful routine.

When you use your dog’s daily food as training rewards, every bite becomes an opportunity to practice manners, obedience, and focus. Instead of a few minutes at the food bowl, you get multiple short, positive interactions throughout the day. This approach strengthens your bond, because your dog learns that listening to you and engaging with you is the most rewarding part of their day.

You can also starts addressing common behaviour problems before they grow into big issues. Jumping, barking, pulling on lead, or ignoring cues can all be worked on in tiny bursts while your dog earns their meal.

Training through mealtimes also prevents overfeeding and keeps motivation high. You’re not adding “extra treats,” you’re just using their existing diet in a smarter way.

The result? A calmer, more attentive dog who sees you as their source of fun, guidance, and security.

Feeding through a treat pouch sets you both up for success — your dog gets the nourishment they need, while you build good habits, trust, and teamwork every single day.

When you work with us at the DEC, we set you up for success the quickest way possible and this is the best way to start.

The Decline of Canine Resilience

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 08:13:50 GMT

A generation of weak dogs- where are we going wrong?

In today’s world, we are seeing an alarming rise in dog bites, behavioural issues, and overall weaker dogs.

But this isn’t just a coincidence—it’s a direct result of the modern approach to dog ownership. A lack of boundaries, over-pampering and the rise of the "force free" training ideology paired with an over-reliance on medication to "fix" behavioural problems, is creating an upward trend of unbalanced, unstable dogs.

This trend isn’t just dangerous; it’s morally corrupt.

Boundaries Build Stability

Dogs, by nature, thrive on structure and leadership. Without clear rules and expectations, they become anxious through the lack of predictability and control and reactive to unfamiliar stimuli. Left unchecked, this continues to escalate. Yet, many dog owners today shy away from setting firm boundaries, fearing it will harm the human-animal bond.

Why?

Because unscrupulous people in the animal industry are profiting off this misinformation and rage bait.

Instead of reinforcing structure, predictability and calm behaviour, they enable problematic behaviours—jumping, excessive barking, resource guarding—until these issues escalate into something far worse. When a dog doesn’t know where the limits lie, it will push until it finds them, sometimes with its teeth.

Medication: A Quick Fix?

Rather than addressing the root causes of behavioural problems—lack of training, poor socialisation, and insufficient mental stimulation—many turn to pharmaceuticals as the solution.

While medication has its place, it is now being handed out too frequently as a band-aid for issues that often require proper training and leadership.
Medication alone DOES NOT fix behaviour issues. If used, it needs to be in conjunction with a robust behaviour modification plan focused on building resilience and internal strength and predictable structure and clear consequences, both positive and negative.

The Rise of Weaker Dogs

A dog that is not taught how to manage frustration, impulse control, and social interactions is a dog that is unprepared for life. Over time, this lack of mental and emotional resilience creates dogs that are fearful, reactive, and more prone to aggression.

Couple this with generations of poor breeding practices that prioritise appearance over temperament, and we’re left with dogs that lack the physical and mental robustness they once had.

This isn't even beginning to mention rescues "saving" backyard bred dogs with poor temperaments and rehoming them to loving but inexperienced owners.

A Moral Responsibility

We owe it to our dogs to provide leadership, structure, and training, not just medication and excuses and "my dog is a rescue' stories.

Every time a dog is euthanised or re-homed due to behavioural issues without proper training and guidance, we have failed that animal. (with the exception of truly dangerous animals not fit for society. This topic is for another post).

True compassion and love isn’t about indulging a dog’s every whim—it’s about guiding them to be their best selves.

If we want to reverse this trend, we need to step up as responsible owners.

Train your dog.

Set boundaries.

Stop looking for shortcuts.

Our dogs deserve better.

Raising puppies

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 00:53:58 GMT

Raising Puppies the right way- Why it's important

The Key to a Well-Behaved Companion: Properly Raising Your Puppy

Bringing a new puppy into your home is an exciting and joyful experience. As puppy parents, it's our responsibility to lay a solid foundation for their future. By correctly raising a puppy, we not only nurture their development but also prevent behaviour issues in the long run. At Dog Education Centre, we understand the importance of early education, which is why we offer a one-of-a-kind puppy school led by qualified trainers. Additionally, our follow-up intensive "Super-Pups" day-train provides continued support for your furry friend's growth and well-being.

Start Early: Puppyhood Matters

The first few months of a puppy's life are crucial. This is the time when they are most receptive to learning and adapting to their environment. By enrolling your pup in a reputable puppy school, such as the one at Dog Education Centre, you ensure they receive the necessary socialisation and basic obedience training. Early exposure to different people, animals, and environments helps build their confidence and minimises fear or aggression issues later on.

Positive Reinforcement: The Key to Success

Positive reinforcement training is a highly effective and humane approach to puppy education. By rewarding desired behaviours you establish a clear communication channel with your pup. This method encourages them to repeat those behaviours, gradually shaping their understanding of what is expected of them. Our qualified trainers at Dog Education Centre specialise in positive reinforcement techniques, ensuring a happy and harmonious learning experience for your puppy.

Consistency and Routine: Building Structure

Puppies thrive on consistency and routine. Establishing a structured daily routine helps them feel secure and confident in their environment. From meal times and potty breaks to playtime and training sessions, consistency in expectations and schedules helps puppies understand boundaries and reduces anxiety or disruptive behaviours. At Dog Education Centre, we emphasise the importance of a consistent routine as part of our puppy school and follow-up programs.

Continued Learning: The Super-Pups Program

At Dog Education Centre, our commitment to your puppy's long-term development doesn't end with basic puppy school. We offer an exclusive Super-Pups program, an intensive follow-up day-train course designed to build upon their foundational training. Our qualified trainers provide specialised guidance tailored to your pup's unique needs, addressing any behaviour challenges that may arise. Through this program, we ensure a smooth transition into adulthood, setting the stage for a well-mannered and well-adjusted adult dog. We also offer intermediate and advanced classes for ongoing education.

Raising a puppy correctly is a proactive investment in their future well-being and happiness. By enrolling them in a reputable puppy school, like the one at Dog Education Centre, and continuing their education through the Super-Pups program, you are providing them with the tools and skills needed for a lifetime of good behaviour.
Remember, the early months are critical, and with positive reinforcement, consistency, and ongoing support, you can nurture a strong bond and prevent behaviour issues long term. Start your puppy's journey on the right paw with Dog Education Centre, where we are committed to creating super pups that grow into exceptional companions.

How to help a new puppy settle in at night

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 02:30:48 GMT

Easy tips to help you survive those first few nights

You're excited, You've bought a new puppy and it's his/her first night at home. You crawl into bed feeling that blissful feeling that only a new puppy can create, when it starts. The blood curdling howling, barking, crying.

You think you will just wait it out and surely it will stop but somehow that sweet little innocent puppy has transformed into the spawn of satan with the going down of the sun.

Don't worry. This is completely natural and we are going to give you some tips to get through it.

So with that, here are some things to remember.

Your puppy has most likely just come from a home with a few litter mates, it's mum and it's human family. Each night it would have been snuggled into it's siblings feeling warm and comforted and safe. Moving to a new family is a HUGE adjustment for your little pup and you are going to need to exercise some patience.

Now unless you plan on having this puppy in the bed with you forever, we do not advise that you put it into bed with you on the first night to stop the crying. What the puppy will see is that it was upset, it cried, you came and put it into a warm cosy place. The next night, guess what your puppy will expect? When you try to be tougher, guess what your puppy will do? It will escalate the crying until you can't take it and again bring it into the bed so you can get some sleep. It's a vicious circle.

Here are some basic steps you can take to help settle your puppy in with minimal fuss.

Ensure your puppy spends some time daily on it's own working for some high value food. You want to create the feeling of ease when separated from you. Start independence training early.
Give your puppy a warm bed free from draughts. Sounds simple but it's something that a lot of people forget.
Crate train your puppy from day one.
Ensure your puppy is tired before going to bed at night. This means exercise, training and habituation. A tired puppy will settle more easily.
Noise. Sometimes a radio can help. Classical music has been shown to help settle dogs.
Adaptil spray. This is a synthetic pheromone that *may* have calming effects. You can spray this on your puppies bed 10 mins before sleep time.
Be consistent. Changing the rules creates a confused puppy.
Be patient. If you have implemented all of the above, the crying will stop. The more you ignore it, the quicker the behaviour will disappear.

Enjoy this special time!

Keeping our kids safe from dog bites

Sun, 12 Jul 2015 05:06:00 GMT

We’ve all been taught the common signs to look out for when a dog is going to bite. Everyone knows to avoid that dog that is growling, or lungeing on the lead or snarling and backing away. Nobody seems to be taught the silent signals. The ones that aren’t as obvious but mean the same

One of the recent school talks I saw was teaching children to hold their hand out and approach the dog to let it sniff their hand and then to immediately pat the dog. I was horrified. There was no education about how to tell if the dog actually wanted the child to approach. Just because the owner says it’s ok, doesn’t mean that the dog is feeling the same way and our kids need to be taught this. Just because the dog isn’t growling, doesn’t mean that the dog is happy to be approached.

Becoming very still is a sign that is often misunderstood as a signal that the dog is ok to approach. Becoming very still is a dogs very clear way of communicating that it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes it can be accompanied by licking of the lips , sometimes it will be accompanied by the turning away of the head and a ‘moon eye’ . Sometimes the dogs mouth will suddenly appear shorter in length and sometimes this can even be directly after the dog has been wagging it’s tail because guess what, a wagging tail does not necessarily equal a happy dog.

One very clear way to tell if your dog would like to interact is by asking the child to hold still and put out their hand. Without putting pressure on the lead, gesture to your dog to move forward to the child, if your dog doesn’t move forward, DON’T make it!

There is no rule that says that your dog has to interact with a child just because the child or you or anyone else wants it to happen. Don’t be afraid to stand up for your dog and tell the other parent or child that your dog doesn’t want to be patted today. Don’t be afraid to hurt the childs feelings by saying no, because guess what, a dog bite hurts a lot longer than a “no” ever will.