@Matthew Marsh

🐾 HELP YOUR DOG FEEL SAFE — NOT SCARED When a dog reacts to things like cars, bikes, skateboards, vacuums, people or unfamiliar objects, it can be easy to focus on stopping the barking, lunging or avoidance. But often, the behaviour we see is only the symptom of how the dog feels. This is where desensitisation and counter-conditioning come in. Desensitisation means exposing your dog to the scary thing at a low enough intensity or far enough distance that they can notice it without becoming overwhelmed. Counter-conditioning means pairing that trigger with something the dog values, food, play, praise or engagement, to gradually change the emotional response. Instead of: CAR → FEAR → REACTION 🚗😰 We want to build: CAR → NOTICE → GOOD THINGS HAPPEN → DISENGAGE 🐕❤️ The same process can be used with bikes, skateboards, household objects, noises and many other triggers. The important part is not rushing the process. If your dog is fixating, barking, lunging, trying to escape or refusing food they would normally take, they're probably too overwhelmed. Increase the distance and make the exercise easier. Confidence isn't built by forcing a dog to confront something they're frightened of. It's built through small, successful experiences where the dog feels safe enough to observe, think and make good choices. Distance → Positive Association → Repetition → Confidence 🐾 Go at your dog's pace. Small wins create big changes.

Here's a little snip one of Cas's usually best things , however not sure if its the heat, wind or what but he doesn't have his big listening ears on today🤣 So we are going for a little drive, windows down so he can watch the world🙂 (slide for 2nd photo, gee I only just found out that's how you do it. What have I been missing🤦‍♀️)

I am so happy to announce the first three winners of our 7 DAY SHOW UP CHALLENGE! Congratulations to; Day 4 @Kayla Campbell Day 5 @Lynette Stanbury-Waters Day 6 @Brittany Hardie Please shoot me a DM to finalise you prizes! Keep showing up.

On Saturday 31 October, we’re walking the Blue Mile together and finishing at Diggies for coffee, with our dogs settled calmly under the tables. That’s the finish line. Getting there takes six weeks, six skills and six rounds, starting Monday 14 September. But we decided that simply helping everyone build better dogs wasn’t quite competitive enough... So we’re putting something far more important on the line. 🔥 NATH vs MATT. 🔥 Bragging rights. And unfortunately for one of us, there will be witnesses. When you commit, you’ll be randomly drafted into one of two packs: 🐺 THE WILD DOGS with Nath 🦊 THE JACKALS with Matt You don’t choose your pack. You can’t swap. And once you’re drafted, you're no longer on your own. But this isn’t just you training your dog and sending in homework. Your Pack Leader is in this too. Nath and Matt will be coaching, competing, stirring each other up and doing everything legally permitted under Walkys law to make sure their pack walks into Diggies as champions. So yes, you’re working on your dog. Yes, you’re working with your pack. But you’re also carrying the hopes, dreams and incredibly fragile ego of your Pack Leader. No pressure. 😂 HERE’S HOW THE SIX WEEKS WORK. Every Sunday night, a new level drops as an online course for you to work through. Every Monday evening, your Pack Leader goes LIVE in Skool to break down the week’s challenge, answer questions and get the pack ready to earn that point. Then your private pack WhatsApp group takes over. Questions. Videos. Training. Struggles. Wins...... Trash talk. And when someone posts at 9pm on a Tuesday night because their dog just nailed something they couldn’t do a week ago, the whole pack piles on. Then Friday comes. 🏆 ONE DOG + HUMAN TEAM WINS THE WEEK. They take home a prize from Drifter Dog Gear and, more importantly, put a point on the board for their pack. Six rounds. Six chances to score. And on Halloween, one pack walks into Diggies knowing they won the 2026 Walkys Spring Challenge.