INTERVIEW
Adriana Milne - Pet Pals -answers few of your questions about Puppy School, Dog Classes
& Dog Walking
Q: How old does a puppy have to be to attend Puppy School?
Adriana: Pet Pals Puppy School from 8 weeks of age up to 16 weeks of age.
Q: I got my puppy at 6 weeks of age. Can it come to the class?
Adriana: No dog breeder/ pet shop should sell puppies at 6 weeks of age.
They need this time to spend with their mother and to learn essential living skills with her.
Mother will nurture, feed the puppy, lick it, develop a bond with it andpuppy will start interacting
with its litter mates. This is a vital period in the puppy’s life development and it shouldn’t be shortened,
unless the mother has serious health issues, mother died or so forth. Many times a good breeder
starts already training puppy in toileting, what they all should do.
Q: Does my puppy need to have had all 3 vaccinations before coming to Puppy class?
Adriana: Most puppies have 2 vaccinations by the time they come to Puppy School.
The 3rd one they usually receive before the end of the course. Puppy owner needs to be aware that puppy
shouldn’t go to dog parks, grassed areas where other dogs might have been or to venture too far from the
front footpath outside of the house until puppy has had all 3 vaccinations, because puppy isn’t fully
immunized as yet and it could catch something.
Q: How do puppies react when they see each other during puppy play?
Adriana: It depends on the puppy. Some are more confident, others a bit shyer, others get very excited at
the sight of another puppy and want to play with it all the time.
During puppy play it’s important to allow time for them to relax, get comfortable in the new place and
with different people around them, not all puppies play at the same time, puppies are matched per
temperament and sizes. We want good interactions and play to be enjoyable for both puppies involved,
we guide them while playing, no pinning each other on the ground, no puppy play when puppies
are on lead – only off leash play, not much arousal escalating without any breaks, sometimes we
interrupt them while they are still enjoying it and we don’t let puppies become frustrated if they get
interrupted neither.
We use special techniques to achieve what I mentioned and we do exercises with them as well.
You need to attend class to learn it.
We want a great experience for all involved, so they associate other puppies with good positive things
in their lives and they learn bit by bit to focus for brief moments on its owner when called.
Puppies have very short attention span at this young age but they learn incredibly fast while young.
Q: Is Puppy School enough for the dog’s education?
Adriana: I honestly don’t think so but it’s the perfect head start. I do believe that the ideal would be a 5 or
6 weeks Puppy School followed by a 6 to 8 weeks Level 1 Basic Manners course- both courses taught
by a Delta Society qualified dog trainer.
If you think about it, it’d represent only 3 ½ months in the dog’s life.
But what a difference it’d make! The owner by the end of it would have so many strategies on how to
deal with the most varied aspects involving dog ownership, what to do when faced with dog’s most
various behaviours, great knowledge of dog equipment to use-including leads, walking harnesses,
head halters and what works for his dog and what doesn’t. A great road to success really.
If the owner is left to its own devices to work things out or go asking to most varied people out there, the
tendency is he/ she will get lots of different answers and dog and owner would end up confused and
frustrated apart form spending a lot of money buying too many things at a pet shop that don’t work for
that particular dog.
So by the end of a Level 1 Basic Manners course the dog will be less than 1 year of age and well
socialized, and owner and dog will be a great team together.
It’s giving the chance for a dog to be the best partner they can be to a human.
So why not to get it right from the start instead of trying to fix the dog’s bad habits later on?
Then, if they still would like to continue their training education there’s the Level 2 Intermediate & the
Canine Good Citizen award to do after it, both levels taught by Pet Pals in 2011 as well.
Q: Do you allow reactive dogs to attend your Juvenile/ Adult class?
Adriana: Dogs with aggressive issues, over excitement around other dogs (the ones that can’t stop barking
when they see other dogs) are seen privately in a Private Consultation.
Some very excited dogs after few private visits may be able to join a group class. And aggressive issues
are referred to a Vet Behaviourist.
Q: What is a Vet Behaviourist?
Adriana: A Veterinarian with specialization in animal behaviour- a Pos Graduate, Masters in Animal
Behaviour. Some specialize in dog behaviour only, others in cats, dogs, horses, mammals, birds of prey
and others. Yes, a Vet Behaviourist and a dog trainer can learn a lot from training and being exposed to
different animal species. The Operant Conditioning (Positive Reinforcement) training methods are
essentially the same for different species.
They are used by animal trainers at the Zoos, same principles apply. To train different animal species can
contribute to your dog training skills enormously. On the last APDT dog trainer's conference I attended in
Sydney all the main speakers have trained many different animal species but today they choose to focus
mainly in dog training and behaviour.
Q: So it’s not your regular Vet down the road.
Adriana: Definitely not your local vet, unless he/ she has done specialization. Vets don’t learn as part
of their Bachelor of Veterinary Science curriculum at University dog/ animal behaviour in depth.
They are animal health practitioners.
Q: Which dog cases would you refer to a Vet Behaviourist?
Adriana: Severe separation anxiety issues - you have to get to the root of the problem, some may need to
receive a small dosage of medication if case is severe, very traumatic events in a dog’s life may cause
severe phobias and traumas, aggressive dogs, neurological disorders & inherited conditions may
need further examination.
Q: How many dogs attend each of your classes?
Adriana: Puppy School (class) has a maximum of 6 puppies present and I prefer to have a maximum of 5
dogs in my Level 1 Basic Manners and Level 2 Intermediate. If too many dogs present it’s hard to give
enough attention to all and to observe what’s happening with people and their dogs during class.
You need to observe all participants and their dogs at all times. So if you think going to a dog school that
has many dogs in a class, like 12 dogs plus per instructor, it’s far too many and it shouldn't be allowed.
Person won’t be able to get enough out of the course and won’t be properly guided by instructor during
practice exercises. It can be a far too overwhelming experience for some types of dogs, that may be a bit
too shy for that sort of busy environment or far too excited to be put in such a busy place and can’t
concentrate and focus on exercises, making very hard for dog owner to get something out of it in the end.
Q: How can someone find a good dog trainer in their area?
Adriana: Have a good look under the Delta Society Australia website: www.deltasociety.com.au
There you’ll find a list of qualified Delta dog trainers in your area and you can contact them directly.
In regards to vet clinics running Puppy Classes only if the person running it is qualified in dog training
or/ and behaviour - so the person has a Cert III or Cert IV in Dog Training and/ or Behaviour or above.
Some vet clinics don't have enough space for it. Puppies need to have at least a 1 meter spacing in
between each other in the class venue. Puppy classes shouldn't be run in confined spaces and by
inexperienced or unqualified people. A lot of damage could happen, not appropriate.
I personally work a 60 hour week plus with dogs and I have done it for the past 10 years.
The industry isn’t regulated as yet but we hope things will change in the near future. Our Delta Society
Cert IV Companion Animal Services CGC - Dog Training course provided us with 700 hours course
tuition - practical and theory. We all had initially to observe qualified Delta trainers teaching Puppy
Pre-School and Level 1 Basic courses, then we started assisting them while they ran their classes
and being observed and assessed by them until many months after we started running our own classes.
Even then we were assessed by our course instructors and had to submit competency assignments.
We did a lot of industry research as well. It was a tough course and not everyone passed in the end.
Q: What about Pet Pals dog walking, how can my dog benefit coming out with you?
Adriana: In many ways, if the dog lives alone, I’d come on the appropriate days and take him out. If he’s
very excited with other dogs I’ll spend some quality time working on ‘how to meet other dogs politely
first, then do some introduction with another dog, if all go well, to take the 2 for a lead walk together
on neutral ground and progress from there.
It may take a while for some to go out with other dogs and to travel in the van together, depends on
the dog. But many of them do make all the way and they have a fantastic time going out with their
buddy friends and playing at the off leash park. They learn to travel well and calmly inside car. On the
days I’m due to come to pick them up they are waiting at the gate anxiously for their outing. So much
fun! On top of it they burn a lot of energy and they become calmer and less destructive in the backyard.
I put some fun activities out for them when I leave their house. It’s the dogs that never see other dogs,
that only get walked in the same places or not walked at all, that tend to display problem behaviour
towards other dogs, people and neighbours. The ones that go out and meet and greet others and that
are well exercised are at their prime.
PREVIOUS INTERVIEW:
Adriana from PET PALS interviews Vickie Davy - Director & founder of PetRescue
www.petrescue.com.au
QUESTIONS:
1) How did the idea to create PetRescue come about?
Vickie - PetRescue began in 2003, when three friends got together over a quiet pint to discuss their day.
We were all working in 'real' jobs but were volunteering at various local shelters. We were struck by how
many happy, healthy 'normal' dogs were being euthanased because there weren't enough adopters.
And conversely how many people didn't adopt because the idea of going to a shelter was too sad, or
they believed all the dogs came with issues.
When people think of rescue pets, they will most often think of the RSPCA or AWL, but there are hundreds
of rescue groups who operate foster care networks, saving pets by placing them in temporary homes until
a new home can be found. These groups had very few ways to promote their pets for adoption, and many
missed out on homes because adopters didn't know they were there.
The idea was simple, we'd provide a website, free to all rescue groups, to list their pets for adoption, to
help break down some of these barriers.
What started as a website, has now grown into an organisation that provides rehoming programs and
resources to over 600 rescue groups and has helped find new homes for over 50,000 pets.
2) Were you previously involved with animal rescue via any other organisation?
Vickie- I had initially come from a background in adverting and marketing, but retrained in Dog Behaviour.
I've worked as a behavioural trainer in RSPCA shelters in VIC, SA and QLD.
3) Do you think in regards to dogs - that people spend any time researching the best dog breed or which
pet would be suitable for their family situation? And if not, how could that be changed?
Vickie- We find that breed is not necessarily the problem. Often families may choose a breed they think
suits their family, but do so with the idea that this is a guarantee to personality or behaviour. For example
we see hundreds of adolescent Labradors in rescue. The breed may have matched well to the family on
paper, but a 2 year old Labrador, with limited training no longer matches the families expectation of their
perfect pet.
We actually encourage people to use breed only as a guideline but to focus on an individual dog's personality
and needs to find a perfect match for their lifestyle. This is the advantage of adopting a adult rescue dog
through a foster care group. Contrary to popular belief that a puppy is a clean slate and an adult an unknown
quantity; an adult dog's personality is fully formed, and the foster carers can tell you exactly how that dog
gets on with kids, how much exercise he needs, and what type of lifestyle he'll fit into.
We'd like to see more people using the services of a good rescue group to help them find their perfect match.
4) What's your personal opinion about puppy farms and pets been sold at pet shops.
Vickie- Every year over 250,000 pets are euthansed because homes can't be found, yet puppy farms churn
out hundreds of thousands of pups for the market.
(500,000 puppies are sold in Pet Shops each year according to the Pet Industry Association).
And so many of these pups suffer behaviour and health issues.
PetRescue runs an anti-puppy farming campaign called:
- 'Where do Puppies Come From' (www.wheredopuppiescomefrom.com.au) but sadly as puppy farming is legal
in Australia, we'll continue to see these poor dogs suffer. I would like to see puppy farms become illegal.
5) In England there's a proposal to introduce a certain test to check if potential pet owner has the skills and
knowledge to look after a pet properly, a type of licence to be granted to potential pet owner.
Do you think something like that if created here could help reducing large number of animals been surrendered
to shelters on an annual basis?
Vickie- Although the idea is almost irresistible to people like myself who see poor dog owners all the time,
legislation to create responsible pet owners just doesn't work. What does work is providing free or low cost
desexing and providing free (compulsory) basic pet dog training for all new owners.
Putting government money into positive, fun dog training programs for all would have an enormous impact on
reducing the number of dogs entering rescue.
6) Can any potential sponsor approach you for a much needed helping hand?
Are there different levels of sponsorship?
Vickie- PetRescue relies entirely on sponsorship and donations. We provide all our services free of charge to
rescue groups, so we rely on sponsorship to keep going. It costs $17.50 for us to help find a pet a home
through our website and rehoming programs, which doesn't sound like much, but with over 3000 pets listed for
adoption at any time, it's a huge amount!
We have both advertising on the website and tailored sponsorship packages available. This year we are looking
for sponsors to help us redevelop the PetRescue website. It's 5 years old now and has grown so quickly that
the old technology is just not holding up. We need a complete overhaul to keep up with demand but it's an
expensive business, so anyone out there that is interested in sponsorship - don't hesitate to contact me!
7) What are the main challenges PetRescue faces on a daily basis?
Vickie- The average day at PetRescue is hugely diverse. It's still just the three of us running the organisation,
so we have a lot on our plates. Today for example, I've organised a rabbit rescue group to go to a primary
school to help catch a stray bunny, I've spoken to a lady who needs help getting 12 semi-owned cats trapped
and desexed, I'm working with a group who are developing a new foster care program, I've organised to fly a
special needs dog to a new home and spoken to a group who are trying to put political pressure on a Melbourne
Shelter that has an appallingly high kill rate, and this afternoon I'll actually be doing some training.
Our main issues are time and fiance, there is so much more we could do, but with just a small team and limited
resources, we're never able to get everything done. In saying this, every year we keep building and improving,
so we do manage to keep a positive outlook.
8) How is PetRescue acceptance levels in the industry? Do you submit lists of pets for adoption to vet clinics,
media in general, updates on your website?
Vickie- We have really grown and become very accepted in past few years. Because the majority of our rescue
group members have very little ability to get media or publicity, we do a lot of promoting of rescue pet adoption.
We run in-store adoption events, where ethical pets stores (those that don't sell pets) team up with a rescue
group who brings pets for adoption instore for a meet and greet. We're running a campaign called Secret Cat,
which saw a poster being sent to every vet clinic in the country (you can check it out here www.communitycats.com.au), and we provide tools that can be accessed by any member of the public to help
'spread the word' eg: each pet profile has a printable poster, a icon to automatically list a pet on your Facebook
or Twitter profile and 'send to a friend'. We receive a lot of support from the media and have even appeared on
TV several times.
9) How can we dog trainers and pet industry workers help you?
Vickie- Anyone in the pet industry who is prepared to offer some help to rescue groups are greatly appreciated.
Trainers especially can make an enormous difference by getting involved in rescue. Some of the best ways to
help are to become involved with our foster care groups. Becoming an adviser, someone willing to answer simple
training and behaviour questions, or offering to take a once a month class for foster carers, covering the
basic's in recognising body language and how to teach some basic behaviours are great ways to help.
And of course becoming a foster carer themselves and offering to take on dogs with basic behaviour issues
(most often these are just bouncy untrained adolescence dogs!)
If anyone is interested in volunteering please feel fee to contact me.
10) Talk a bit about your pets. How many pets do you have and how did they come into your life?
Vickie- I have 3 dogs, 1 cat and 2 goldfish. Everyone always comment's how understanding my husband is
putting up with so many pets, but I love to point out that he was responsible for each one being brought
home!. We have Wiz Bang Wallop, our Koolie. My husband bought Wiz from an inner city pet shop at christmas!
This was before I had any knowledge or experience about dogs, let alone animal welfare. Wiz changed all that.
She had enormous behavioural issues and lead me down the path to trainer, working in rescue and and becoming
a vehemently anti-pet-shop campaigner.
Floyd is a Border Collie x Jack Russell mix adopted from a shelter when he was 12 weeks old, and has been the
perfect dog ever since.
Mikalla is a Ridgeback x Red heeler. I was working as a trainer in an RSPCA when Mikalla came in with a broken
pelvis and numerous other injuries. She was 4 months old and spent the next two years at the shelter while
we waited for her owners to be prosecuted. Mikalla is a fantastic example of role of genetics in behaviour.
She is the happiest most well adjusted dog you can imagine but because of her injuries she wasn't legally
allowed to be adopted out. Once my husband heard this he made it his mission to bring Mikalla home.
Cosmo our cat came from a crazy cat lady with kittens in ever draw, once again my Husband was on the scene
to bring him home. And even our goldfish are part of the family, when we moved interstate, Humans and Dogs
drove for 4 days, Cat and goldfish flew!
11) Are you involved in dog training? If yes, at which level?
Vickie- I love working with dogs and I still take on private clients, although only a few a month due to the
pressures of PetRescue. I'm also involved in advising on training and behaviour for rescue groups and PetRescue
itself.
12) About the future. Do you think if more responsible pet ownership programs were introduced to the general
public that would create a more responsible and educated owner and better living conditions for our pets?
And maybe put a stop to pet impulse buying? Any other suggestions?
Vickie- I believe there are a small amount of absolutely terrible pet owners out there and a small amount of
really great pet owners out there, but that there is a huge amount of 'good' pet owners and theses are the
ones that we can reach and turn into 'great' pet owners! Rather than the 'big stick' legislative approach, if
Councils and governments put money into things like free, fun basic training, free behaviour advice lines, help
and support to pet owners who were struggling, we would see a significant improvement in the welfare of pets.
Positive training for dog owners as well as dogs!
PREVIOUS INTERVIEW
Gypsy 6 yo Border Collie
My name is Gypsy and this is my story...
I ended up at the local shelter when I was 5 yo. I don't think my owner liked me. I was always in trouble
with him.
I spent most of my days tied up in the backyard. I hardly ever got walked. He never played with me and I
wasn't allowed to come inside the house. I lead a very sad and lonely life. On the rare occasions he walked
me I got so excited whenever I saw another dog but he'd scream at me to be quiet. I don't know why.
Whenever I saw other dogs while out, I started getting tense on lead and wanted to lunge at them.
Then 1 day he put me in the car and dropped me off at this strange place and I never saw him again.
This place had other very noisy dogs and I couldn't sleep at night. They barked too much. I was frightened
and I didn't know where I was. I didn't feel like eating neither. Would I ever see him again? Were was I?
Different people used to come by to take me walkies up the road, to the vet next door. Others used to come
by my yard and stare at me. Was I in trouble again?
1 of the girls there was nice. I saw her everyday for a while...She used to pat me before feeding me and talk
nicely to me. I hadn't had a cuddle for so long... Then one day this lady came by and spent a long time looking
at me. She was saying things I couldn't understand but she seemed nice. My girl came to take me walkies, I
thought, but instead I went to a separate area where the other lady was waiting for me.
I stayed with her for a while.
I must have charmed my way into her heart because the very next day the lady came back and took me home
with her.
I was very quiet in the beginning. I didn't know if I could trust someone ever again. She started letting me
inside the living room while she was watching TV. She fed me yummy things and the occasional dog bone.
I even got toys to play with and a comfy bed to lay around the room. She talked lots to me and gave me
lovely cuddles. I was starting to relax a little.
But when I went walkies with her, I remembered the times I was walked by my previous owner and I wanted
to lunge at any dog I saw and to bark hard at them. The lady didn't scream at me tough. She was patient.
The following week another lady came to see me and the 3 of us went out. The second lady was a dog trainer
and this was my introduction to Dog School. After few more of these visits other dogs of different sizes came
to walk with us, 1 at the time.
Initially they were well further apart but little by little on the following weeks they slowly got closer to me.
My owner started to give me cookies whenever I saw a dog and I was calm around them. So in the end I was
starting to enjoy these dog meetings. Even the big friendly Greyhound I wasn't scared of anymore.
I was having friends for the first time in my life...
And then I started attending local Chelsea Dog School. There were another 3 dogs in class. I got a bit excited
and barked a little but we did some fun activity things and exercises that distracted and relaxed me.
I graduated with good marks. I cannot go off leash but I am not afraid anymore. I am still with my lady owner
and she and I have a lot more confidence now. Dog training made a lot of difference to us.
It changed everything for the better.
I haven't seen my other owner anymore. But this is home now. And I am very happy...
WOOF ! WOOF !
Gypsy