C.O.R Dog Training

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C.O.R Dog Training Confident Owners. Obedient Dogs. Reliable Training. Teach dog owners the fundamental skills they need. Qualified Dog Trainer.

Based in Bendigo, working all over Regional Victoria.

Socialisation is about much more than letting your dog meet people and play with other dogs.At its core, socialisation i...
10/09/2026

Socialisation is about much more than letting your dog meet people and play with other dogs.

At its core, socialisation is the process of helping your dog learn how to experience the world around them — including people, dogs, environments, sounds, surfaces, movement and unfamiliar situations — without becoming unnecessarily worried, overwhelmed or over-excited.

A big part of this is habituation: learning that something can exist in the environment without needing a big response to it.

Your dog doesn't need to greet every person they see. They don't need to play with every dog. They don't need to investigate every new thing.

Instead, we want them to learn:

🐾 “I can notice that person without approaching them.”
🐾 “I can see another dog without needing to play.”
🐾 “That strange noise happened, and I'm okay.”
🐾 “Something unexpected happened, but I can recover and keep going.”

This is also why how your dog experiences something matters just as much as what they experience.

Too little exposure can leave a dog uncertain about unfamiliar things. But flooding them with too much, too quickly can also create negative associations or increase arousal and frustration.

Good socialisation is therefore not about seeing how many experiences you can expose your dog to. It's about finding the right level of challenge, allowing your dog to process what they're experiencing, and gradually building their confidence.

And remember: socialisation isn't something you finish.

Dogs continue encountering new people, places and situations throughout their lives. The skills they develop early on can give them a much stronger foundation for handling those experiences later.

The goal isn't a dog who loves everything.

It's a dog who can experience the world, cope with it, and still function within it. 🐾

Separation Related Behaviour (SRB)Does your dog bark, howl, destroy things, pace, toilet inside or try to escape when yo...
05/09/2026

Separation Related Behaviour (SRB)

Does your dog bark, howl, destroy things, pace, toilet inside or try to escape when you leave?

While these behaviours can occur with Separation Related Behaviour, they don't automatically mean your dog has it.

SRB occurs when a dog experiences significant distress when separated from a person, animal or, in some cases, another attachment figure. The behaviours we see are often the dog's response to that distress rather than an attempt to be “naughty” or deliberately destructive.

One of the important things to look at is what happens around the separation.

Dogs with SRB may show signs before their owner even leaves, such as following them around, becoming restless when departure cues appear, or attempting to prevent them from leaving. Once alone, they may vocalise, pace, destroy items or doors, attempt to escape, toilet indoors despite being house-trained, or show physical signs of stress such as panting, trembling or excessive salivation.

Importantly, one behaviour on its own isn't enough to identify SRB. A dog that barks when left alone might be reacting to noises outside, boredom, frustration, territorial behaviour or something else entirely. Looking at the whole picture — including what the dog does before, during and after separation — is essential.

The good news is that separation-related problems can often be improved. Depending on the individual dog, this may involve:

🐕 Gradually teaching the dog that being alone is safe
🏠 Making changes to the environment and daily routine
🧠 Providing appropriate enrichment and opportunities for relaxation
⏱️ Carefully managing the length and difficulty of absences
💊 In more severe cases, working with a veterinarian regarding medication alongside behaviour modification

The goal isn't simply to teach a dog to “put up with” being alone. It's to help them become comfortable and confident when they don't have access to their attachment figure.

If your dog is showing signs of distress when left alone, don't assume they're being destructive, stubborn or attention-seeking. Understanding why the behaviour is happening is the first step towards helping them. ❤️

Why is engagement so important in dog training?Because your dog is constantly making choices about what is worth paying ...
28/08/2026

Why is engagement so important in dog training?
Because your dog is constantly making choices about what is worth paying attention to.

Other dogs.
People.
Food.
Toys.
Scents.
Movement.
The environment around them.

And sometimes, you aren't the most valuable thing in that moment.
That isn't necessarily an obedience problem.
It can be a value problem.

If your dog sees another dog as incredibly valuable, but engaging with you has very little history of being rewarding, asking them to immediately disengage from that dog and focus on you is a difficult choice.

This is where engagement training becomes so important.
Through play, movement, food, interaction, exploration and other forms of reinforcement, we can build a history of:
"Engaging with my person is worthwhile."

Over time, that can increase the value of interacting with you — meaning you become more relevant when competing distractions are present.
And this isn't just useful for dogs who struggle with recall.

It's valuable for all dogs.
🐕 Excitable dogs can learn that engaging with their handler is an outlet for their energy and excitement.

🐕 Reactive dogs can develop an alternative way of responding when something difficult appears in their environment.

🐕 Fearful dogs can learn that their handler is a predictable, rewarding and relevant part of their environment.

🐕 Puppies can learn that their person is worth checking in with even when the world around them is incredibly interesting.

🐕 Highly distracted dogs can learn that paying attention to their handler doesn't mean missing out on everything else.

And that's an important distinction:
The goal isn't to make the world less interesting.
I don't want your dog to stop sniffing, exploring, playing, watching other dogs or enjoying their environment.

I want you to become valuable enough that your dog can choose to engage with you when you need them to.
Because you don't need your dog's attention every second.
You need to be able to get it when you need it.
That is what makes engagement such a powerful foundation for training.

# 🐶🐶

Community Dog Walk – Sunday 16th August 🐾Do you enjoy the idea of getting out, meeting new people and doing something so...
13/08/2026

Community Dog Walk – Sunday 16th August 🐾

Do you enjoy the idea of getting out, meeting new people and doing something social, but sometimes find it difficult to actually take that first step?
I know that feeling, and that's part of why I started these Community Dog Walks. 😊

They're a relaxed way for local dog owners (and dog lovers!) to meet people, get out of the house and enjoy some time with their dogs — without the pressure of a big social event.

📅 Sunday 16th August
🕚 11:00am
📍 Lake Weeroona – meet near the Boathouse

You don't need to know anyone beforehand, and you don't need to be particularly confident or outgoing. The idea is simply to walk together, have a chat when you feel comfortable, and hopefully make some new connections along the way. 🐾

It's also not a formal training class or a dog park meetup — just a calm, friendly community walk. Dogs will remain on lead throughout.

Whether you've seen my previous posts about the walks or this is the first time you've come across them, you're very welcome to join us!

If you'd like to come along, please comment below or send me a DM to RSVP so I can get an idea of numbers. 😊

Hope to see some familiar faces and meet some new ones too! 🐶🐾

🐾 Resource guarding: what is your dog actually trying to protect?Resource guarding is often misunderstood as a dog being...
11/08/2026

🐾 Resource guarding: what is your dog actually trying to protect?

Resource guarding is often misunderstood as a dog being “dominant”, possessive, or trying to control their owner. But from a behavioural perspective, there is a much more useful way to look at it.

A dog who resource guards is concerned about losing access to something they value.
That resource could be food, a bone, toy, bed, sleeping area, a particular room, or even a person. The dog may use behaviours such as freezing, stiffening, staring, growling, snapping or biting to communicate that they want the person or animal to move away.

There can be a genetic component to resource guarding, which means some dogs may be predisposed to the behaviour from a young age. However, a dog's experiences can also influence how guarding develops.
For example, imagine a puppy has a delicious chew and someone repeatedly takes it away whenever they approach. The puppy may begin to learn:
“When someone comes near my chew, I might lose it.”

Over time, the dog may start trying to prevent that loss before it happens.
This is why repeatedly taking things away, confronting the dog, or trying to “show them who is boss” can actually make the problem worse. If approaching humans consistently predicts the loss of something valuable, the dog has little reason to become more comfortable with people approaching.

Instead, behaviour modification aims to change that association:
“When someone approaches my resource, good things happen — I don't automatically lose it.”

This is where appropriate management, desensitisation and counter-conditioning can be incredibly valuable.

Remember: resource guarding isn't limited to food bowls. A dog can guard toys, chews, spaces, beds, people and many other resources.

If your dog is showing aggression when someone approaches a resource, don't test them by repeatedly taking the item away. Give them space, manage the environment to prevent incidents, and seek professional guidance to address the underlying behaviour safely.

Understanding why a behaviour is happening is often the first step towards changing it. 🐾

🐕 Two dogs fighting... it can happen in seconds.Whether it's over food, toys, redirected frustration, pain, or something...
11/08/2026

🐕 Two dogs fighting... it can happen in seconds.
Whether it's over food, toys, redirected frustration, pain, or something you never saw coming, a dog fight is one of the most stressful situations a dog owner can experience.

Unfortunately, many of the reactions people instinctively have in those first few seconds can actually increase the risk of injury—to themselves and their dogs.

That's why I created this guide.
Inside you'll learn:
✔ Common mistakes that can make things worse.
✔ Safer ways to intervene.
✔ What to do once the fight has stopped.
✔ How to check both dogs for more than just visible wounds.
✔ How to understand why the fight happened.
✔ How to move forward in the safest way possible.
One of the biggest messages I hope people take away is this:
Success doesn't always mean the dogs becoming best friends again.
Sometimes success means rebuilding.
Sometimes it means careful management.
Sometimes it means permanent separation.

The right outcome is the one that keeps everyone safe and gives both dogs the best possible quality of life.
I hope you never need this information—but if you ever do, I hope you've read it before the emergency happens.

💛 Save this post so you know where to find it if you ever need it.

16/07/2026

🐾 You're invited to our FREE Community Dog Walk this Sunday! 🐾

Whether you're bringing your dog, a friend, or simply yourself, we'd love to see you there!

You don't need to have a dog to come along. If you'd simply like to enjoy a walk around Lake Weeroona, meet some friendly local people, or grab a coffee afterwards, you're more than welcome.
🐶 Dogs are welcome.
❤️ Dog lovers are welcome.
👫 Friends and family are welcome.

Our walks are relaxed, friendly and open to everyone. If you have any questions about your dog's training or behaviour during the walk, I'm always happy to have a chat.

📍 Lake Weeroona Boatshed
🕚 Sunday at 11:00 am

03/07/2026

🐾 Community Dog Walk Reminder 🐾
Just a reminder that our first C.O.R Dog Training Community Dog Walk is happening this Sunday, and we'd love to see you there!

📅 Sunday 5th July
🕚 11:00am
📍 Lake Weeroona – meet near the Boathouse

The aim of these walks is to bring local dog owners together in a relaxed, dog-friendly environment where we can enjoy a walk, meet new people, and help our dogs experience calm social outings together.

At this stage, the walk is still going ahead as planned. If the weather changes significantly, I'll post an update here.

We'll meet at 11:00am and spend around 10–15 minutes near the Boathouse so everyone has a chance to arrive, say hello, and meet one another before we head off together.

If you'd like to come along, feel free to comment below or send me a DM so I can get a rough idea of numbers.
Looking forward to seeing everyone this Sunday! 🐶🐾

🐶 Mouthing & BitingOne of the most common concerns puppy owners have is mouthing and biting. While it can be frustrating...
25/06/2026

🐶 Mouthing & Biting
One of the most common concerns puppy owners have is mouthing and biting. While it can be frustrating (and painful), it's important to understand that mouthing is a normal part of canine development.
Puppies use their mouths to explore the world, interact with their environment, play with others, and learn social skills. In fact, a puppy's mouth is one of its primary tools for gathering information about the world around them.
The issue isn't that puppies mouth—it’s what they learn from it.
From a behavioural science perspective, dogs repeat behaviours that are reinforced. Reinforcement simply means a behaviour results in an outcome the dog finds rewarding. If mouthing leads to attention, play, movement, laughter, physical interaction, or access to something desirable, the behaviour is likely to increase over time.
This is why many owners unintentionally strengthen mouthing without realising it. Pushing a puppy away, waving your hands, pulling clothing back, talking to them, or engaging in a tug-of-war style interaction can all become part of the reinforcement history that maintains the behaviour.
Neuroscience also plays a role. Young puppies have immature impulse control systems and are still developing the neural pathways responsible for emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, and self-control. Just like children, puppies require guidance and repetition to learn appropriate ways of interacting with the world.
Mouthing commonly occurs during:
• Play
• Excitement
• Attention-seeking
• Exploration
• Teething
• Frustration
• Overstimulation
Rather than focusing solely on stopping the behaviour, we should focus on teaching an alternative.
✔ Redirect onto appropriate toys and chews
✔ Reward calm interaction
✔ Teach impulse control
✔ Ensure puppies are getting adequate rest
✔ Consistently reinforce appropriate play
Mouthing is normal.
What matters is whether the puppy learns that using their mouth on people works—or whether they learn better ways to engage with the world.

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Bendigo, VIC
3551

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 8pm
Wednesday 10am - 8pm
Thursday 10am - 8pm
Friday 10am - 8pm
Saturday 10am - 8pm

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