I love my dogs. I love them with all my heart. But they are old and they are pretty much beyond the phase in life where they do anything you could really call "Dog taining". BUT....... I am a dog trainer. I really really love training dogs. Of course I get to do that everyday, I live somewhat vicariously through others. Whether online or in person, hardly a day goes by where I'm not analysing a dogs behaviour, movement, action etc and thinking about the best way to manage, influence, strengthen or change it. But thats not the same as working towards something with your own dog. A project between the 2 of you. Challenges overcome and connections made. For the next couple of weeks I have a visitor with me. A really high powered, ultra fast, hyper intelligent dog who really needs concentrated and thoughtful training............. Which I'm super excited about doing. For me, the magic moments in Dogs rarely come from anything but the work. FOr the dogs I love the connection comes from the shared journey in training. That connection allows for level of communication I dont get any other way. Now i just have to decide what to teach him.

It’s a very rainy Saturday morning. The kind of rain that challenges even your gumboots and rain jacket and they struggle to keep up and do their job. It’s been a bit of a hectic week and the smell of petrichor is one of my most favourite things in the world. So I wanted to have joy with Pax in the rain. Mind you, most of our property is ankle to knee deep in water. So it’s messy. But Pax and I love a good mess at times. 😬 Our shared love language is not caring about how dirty or wet we get while we have a fun time outside playing sniff, retrieve and puddle games. But what Pax really loves, is coming into a warm house, where he then just can dry and snuggle up in front of the fire place. That’s his slice of heaven- having had his fun biological fulfilment, earned his brekky, and then being warm and cosy in a house with loved ones. I love hearing his little happy sighs when he drifts off in front of the fire place while I have a cuppa. It’s the most luxurious thing to me in the world. 😌 And I try to recognise it and let it really fill me up. It’s like I’m taking a snapshot with my heart and soul so I can look at it later when the day is more demanding. I have a challenging few days coming up… and I’m so grateful that I then can draw from these heavenly moments as I consciously archived them in my heart. Do you know what I mean? If not, let me know. So… tell me….what’s your slice of heaven with your dog? I’d love to hear about it 😍. And here is a pic of Pax as a puppy, getting ready for some wet fun 😁💧🌧️ Have a lovely day, Birdy and Pax 💛

This is a space for the quiet, sacred, soul-deep experiences we share with our dogs ... the kind that stay with you, long after the moment has passed. Here, we honour the moments that feel like whispers from something bigger: ✨ That deep look your dog gave you when words weren’t needed ✨ The way they found you when you were hurting ✨ A moment that made you stop and feel grateful ✨ A sign, a synchronicity, or a soft moment that took your breath away ✨ A dream, a ritual, a knowing Whether it’s big and bold or small and subtle, if it stirred something in your heart, it belongs here. You can share a short story, a photo, or just a feeling. Let this be a sacred thread of connection and presence. 🌟 To explore other spaces in the sanctuary, just click “Categories” above. Each one is a place to explore, share, and feel at home. This is a co-created space, tended with love. As we share and connect, the community grows with us, and hopefully we’ll create a space with happier dogs, happier humans, and a happier world. Your magic is welcome here. ✨ With love, Birdy & Pax (Canine Executive Officer) 💛

So today Pax kept throwing up this morning. 15-20 times. All over the carpets, on the leather couch, my bag and shoes. And after each bout he would come to me, press his weight against me, needing me to steady his presence. He had fear in his eyes. Confusion. That’s rare from him. And far out, the trust he has in me to be there for him was so humbling and I felt this burden on my shoulders to not let him down. But that was bittersweet magic. Such a deep, deep bond but also being worried for him. The thought of losing him scares me to the bottom of my heart. Thankfully he is feeling better now. I found a chicken bone in his vomit. We had a big family bbq last night and when I was cleaning up, he scored a chicken wing from the rubbish. Lightening fast. Pax is allergic to chicken. So yeah, good outcome as he is ok now. But we both knew in that moment when he was so unwell how precious our bond is. We are all on borrowed time. A dog’s love is a powerful teacher in teaching us presence and not taking time for granted. Go and hug your dogs and tell them how amazing they are 🙏💛

Losing Apache seven months ago broke something open in me. What continues to hold me is the puppies and dogs I’m honoured to work with. In every dog there is magic, and in the quiet moments, I feel it most. This is Frank the Tank, now ten months old. Such a character. His little Staffy huff while he melts into a massage cracks me up every time. Gentle moments like this are where the healing lives. 🤍🐾 Have to add… I feel like a bit of goof sharing this, but that’s ok 🙃🐶