EpicDog

01/06/2026

I ran my first sled dog race recently, and I got some comments and messages from people who had no idea it existed in South Australia.

It got me thinking about how much is out there for our dogs, and how little of it most people know.

Sled dog racing, dock diving, noseworks, agility, IGP, obedience, group classes, herding.

Play. Hiking. Open water swimming spots. Training.

Some of it can be done in your own backyard. Some just down the road. Some of it is a community you didn’t know existed until someone mentioned it.

Your dog has one life, and there is so much more of it available to them than the same walk every day. These aren’t extras, they’re what a full life with your dog actually looks like.

So I want to hear from our community; what is something you do with your dog that others might not know about? Or what’s something on your list to try?

31/05/2026

If I were starting out as a dog trainer tomorrow, I’d do things differently.

After more than a decade in this industry, I’ve seen what the conventional path costs both trainers, and dogs.

So here’s what I’d do instead.

And if you’re trying to find your footing in this industry and want someone to talk it through with, my door is always open.

We work better when we work together.

30/05/2026

Cora’s my go-to girl when working with clients struggling with their dog’s reactivity. She doesn’t mind being the sacrifice 😂

27/05/2026

Bastian is a dog that could have slipped through every crack. He could have been stuck in the rescue system for far too long, or possibly even euthanised because of his behaviour.

But fortunately for Bastian, he landed with and was fostered by Lily , a skilled dog trainer and member of our EpicDog community.

On paper, Bastian’s list of behavioural concerns is long. Separation anxiety. Resource guarding. Dog aggression. Intense prey drive. No boundary he won’t test. Clothes ripped off backs and shoes pulled from feet if you tried to leave him alone. A muzzle punch rivalling Mike Tyson.

But the thing is, Bastian isn’t a difficult dog. He’s actually a really easy dude and hasn’t been an issue at all since he’s been here with me. He’s just a dog who lacked fulfilment, purpose, structure, and a relationship where someone took the time to actually understand him. He had energy with nowhere useful to go and no one who’d yet shown him how to use it.

Lily reached out when the resource guarding and dog aggression moved outside her scope, not because she’d failed, but because she was honest. And that honesty, combined with her skill, is exactly what gave Bastian his best shot.

Through two trainers collaborating, Lily put in work that brought Bastian two weeks ahead of where he would have been walking in the door otherwise. Because of that, we’ve been able to skip straight to the deeper work he needed, and do it with ease.

And Nameless Angels didn’t write him off as a dog that was ‘too hard’. They trusted their foster carer, invested in his training, and chose the harder road because it was the right one for him.

That kind of selfless, clear-eyed work is rarer than it should be in this industry.

This is what we mean when we talk about collaboration over competition. Trainers doing what they can, then passing the baton. Rescues choosing rehabilitation over the ‘easier’ alternative. Foster carers being honest about where their limits are, and rescues respecting that.

Bastian has a ways to go. But now he has people in his corner who are paying attention.

26/05/2026

Snoopy Update ☺️

A little update from Snoopy in SA ❤️🐾
Hello Jill

How are you?

I'm wondering if you could pass on my thanks to the wonderful people who helped with the donations for Snoopy and his training with EpicDog?

Snoopy is doing really well, and we are continuing with his training at home. He is working on his recall with distractions as we have lots here at home. Snoopy loves his crate, and he's happy to chill in his special corner of the lounge room that is set up just for him.

He walks really well on the lead, and loves walking in the back paddock and watching the goats and sheep go about their day.

Snoopy is learning that our two female Jack Russells just want to play with him. He actually initiated play with our youngest girl, Ava which was lovely to see.

Snoopy loves nothing more than lying next to me on the lounge, having a cuddle. He is so affectionate.

Again, please let everyone know that he is doing amazing, and we all love him to bits!

Regards

Terri xx

24/05/2026

Most dog owners love their dogs deeply. That part’s rarely the problem.

But love and connection aren’t the same thing, and the gap between them shows up in ways that are easy to miss if you’re not looking, or don’t know where or how to look.

For every dog I work with, whether they be fosters or training clients, I am always searching for these signs that there’s a relationship gap. The fact is, if you’ve got a great relationship with your dog, training comes so much easier. Foundations built on trust and connection will always be stronger than foundations built on bribes and performances.

Swipe through and be honest with yourself. And if something lands, think of it as a starting point, not a judgement.

🔗 epicdog.au

24/05/2026

Over the weekend, Cora & I joined up for the South Australian Sled Dog Club Race 1 Comp.

Total entries over the weekend included:
2 x 2.4km Scooter Race
2 x 2.4km Canicross

We managed to score ourselves 2nd Place Dog Sled Novice. Not bad for a couple first timers.

If you have been thinking about getting involved in the sport or had absolutely no idea about it, I highly recommend going and watching and/or having a go yourself. Everyone is super supportive and happy to loan out equipment so you can try it out with your dog.

Be advised that trying it out might lead to you and your dog having so much fun that you can’t stop at one race and result in a drained bank account. I take no responsibility for such outcomes 😜

20/05/2026

“Bad dog.”

It’s such a small phrase for such a heavy thing to put on an animal who is acting the only way they know how.

Every dog we’ve worked with who came in wearing that label or something similar had a story underneath it.

Maggie was bored, conflicted, and her spirit dulled by medication.

Stanley thought that he needed to protect anything he valued.

Snoopy was confused, alone, and didn’t feel safe.

Zali was neglected, her instincts and energy spilling out in any way it could.

Those are just our recent fosters. There’s been many more, and there will be more in the future.

They haven’t been bad dogs. I’m yet to meet one of those.

They just haven’t had someone ask the right questions and look deeper than the surface.

That’s where we come in.