Walking & Training
Training
Yolanda and Zazu. Two times 1st place NZ National Rally O' Competition.
Zazu (11yrs old!) now has Rally O' Novice B. In this new field of dog sport Zazu is one of the first dogs to do so.
Dog training and teaching are the section of our business which Yolanda undertakes with a passion.
As a qualified trainer her history with dogs (and animal training in general) goes back more than twenty years. When Europe was discovering that a check chain could be thrown at a dog or even a bottle with stones (!!!) would achieve the desired results she was there but knew that it didn't feel right and there must be more. The domestic dog trainers in Europe progressed and learnt more and more about positive motivational training and other forms of training began to emerge and be utilised.
Bridge and Target training, Clicker Training, Reward Training are but a few methods used to achieve wonderful results.
Dominance based methods (see below) are frowned upon and seen as a lesser method to teach dogs. Sadly there is still a lot of it about. Training and teaching with positive motivations is the way to achieve great results with your dog. Yolanda is kept up to date with monthly European trade magazines and prides herself on her friendly dog methods.
She is an accomplished Obedience, Agility , Scent work / Tracking, Heelwork to music and RallyO'trainer.
Important Training news:
We do not see dogs as wolves but as domestic pets. Nor do we find it correct to work as a PACK leader, and ALPHA leader or most DOMINANT role player. These approaches have an intersting history and little or no recognised scientific background. The result to working from these parameters is creating a nervous, non-bonded and insecure dog. A most odd form of training indeed and very sad for dogs, as they are often ignored or removed from the group / family and put outside which is often termed ' exercising leadership'. Watch for those that employ these methods. We do understand the principles of "pack mentality" but this is not a trait displayed by domestic dogs and our attention is toward the domestic dog living in your home and the role it plays within this harmony.
Our Training takes place in your home and the duration is 2 hrs (except for dog under 6mnths, they tend to have a shorter attention span and training is thus shorter).
Rev in action with Yolanda.
Rev is loving the agility sport and shows how much a hobby can be enjoyed.
Ranked in his class in the top 20 NZ dogs. Achieved a 4th place at the nationals!
Walking
Another day at the office
Once we have met and been introduced to your dog we will take him/her along for a FREE intro walk. This is done for both the dog and the group into which they might join. It has to be fun for the dog and a positive first impression makes a world of difference to the whole bonding process. Dogs walked by us must be of a social nature.
Your pet will then be booked in. Picked up from home in our custom built van on the arranged day(s) and taken for a two-hour walk at varying locations. Afterwards your tired but satisfied pet is returned home. What we would like to achieve are groups of dogs who all know one another, this in turn creates harmony and stimulates socialisation.
Experience has shown that after a period with us, a dog will become evidently fitter and slimmer. All-round a better condition. This is not only due to "the walk", but also due to a happy environment in which the dog finds itself. He/she starts to look forward to its walking schedule. This sums up in short what Happy Dog walking service does. Still we all know that every dog is different and this is also taken into account. Aspects such as medical condition and/or age are watched closely, as is general physical condition. You will be informed directly should anything out of the ordinary be noticed.
Virtues of having the dog walked are:
- Socialisation of your dog in a group situation
- Fitness attained through the pleasures of running and playing with its own kind
- Boredom relief
- For a two hour walk is $30. --
- Two dogs from the same address is $50. --
Price :
Relax guys
Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in your car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear.
— Dave Barry
Alex, Paddy and Simba