Confident Canines NZ

Confident Canines NZ Human and Dog Educator - Helping you understand your dog better using humane methods & modern science

We use scientifically based positive reinforcement training methods to help you teach your to become a confident canine.

Today Myers came home.One week after leaving, she is back.Getting her ashes back has made it real. She isn’t at the vet....
08/08/2026

Today Myers came home.

One week after leaving, she is back.

Getting her ashes back has made it real. She isn’t at the vet. She isn’t outside. She isn’t snuggled under the blanket.

That flash of white I see out of the corner of my eye isn’t her.

There was something special about Myers. She was so sweet, so beautiful, so loving. I’m not sure there was anyone who met her who wasn’t completely taken by her.

I will miss her carefree moments that only I got to see.

I will miss her bristly kisses.

I will miss her velvety soft ears.

I will miss her love of piwakawaka.

I will miss her stopping to smell the flowers. Literally.

I will miss all her extra skin.

I will miss how proud she would get when she had done something massive — massive for her.

I will miss every single bit of her.

Before she got sick, I thought she would grow old. I expected her to be the most amazing old dog. I expected her to be around for at least another five years.

She was so healthy. So happy.

I wasn’t ready for her life to end.

So today, I am sitting in my pyjamas with Myers, watching TV.

Krueger and Loomis have decided that because I am sad, they need to sit with me too.

And I will sit with my grief.

I’m not wallowing.

I’m giving myself the time I need to come to terms with the loss of my beautiful girl. To come to terms with this life-changing event. To learn what life looks like without her in it.

I will sit with my grief until I learn to carry it with me.

Because I don’t think grief is something we get over.

It is something we learn to carry.

And today, I’m carrying Myers with me. 💜

A little personal update from me.Overnight I lost my beautiful Myers after she became suddenly and critically unwell thi...
31/07/2026

A little personal update from me.

Overnight I lost my beautiful Myers after she became suddenly and critically unwell this week. Despite the incredible care from our veterinary team, it wasn't enough to save her.

Myers wasn't just my dog. She was my companion, my teacher, and part of the reason I care so deeply about helping people understand and support their own dogs. She reminded me every day how precious the time we have with them really is.

As many of you know, Confident Canines NZ has always been built around the belief that our dogs are family, and today my own family feels a little smaller.

I won't be as present over the next little while. Replies to messages, emails, social media, and orders may take me longer than usual while I take some time to grieve.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and kindness. Please give your dogs an extra cuddle from me today. We never know when our last one will be.

Sleep peacefully, Myers. 10 years wasn't long enough. You were loved beyond measure. 💜

I've been a bit slack this week with replying to emails and messages, posting on social media, and packing orders.My bea...
29/07/2026

I've been a bit slack this week with replying to emails and messages, posting on social media, and packing orders.

My beautiful Myers has been very unwell, and at one point there were genuine concerns she might not survive. After 24 hours of vomiting and refusing food, we headed to the vet. Her blood tests, X-rays and symptoms didn't give us a clear answer. What was obvious was that she was dangerously dehydrated.

Today we finally have a diagnosis of pancreatitis, although a foreign body can't be completely be ruled out.

After two days of fluids, spending her days at the clinic and her nights with me, she's starting to feel a little better. Seeing her wag her tail again today brought tears to my eyes. Now my job is convincing her to eat!

This photo was taken, weirdly automatically by my phone, on Tuesday evening while we were waiting to see the vet. She rested her head on my chest and leaned into me as hard as she could. That's Myers. When she's scared or unwell, she finds comfort in being close.

The last few days have also brought back the trauma of losing Craven, so it's been an emotional week. Dogs really do put us through the wringer, but tonight the tears are mostly happy ones. 💜

Poor Myers!This is when being a guardian really counts. 💜Myers is feeling pretty miserable today. She's been vomiting, i...
27/07/2026

Poor Myers!

This is when being a guardian really counts. 💜

Myers is feeling pretty miserable today. She's been vomiting, isn't interested in food, and is definitely not herself. If she's no better tomorrow, we'll be off to the vet.

Being a guardian isn't just about the fun days. It's about noticing when something isn't right, making the decisions they can't make for themselves, and being there to keep them safe and comfortable.

Today that also means plenty of snuggles... and protecting her from being accidentally stood on by her siblings—especially Loomis—while she's tucked away safely under her blanket.

Here's hoping tomorrow is a much better day for my sweet girl. 💜

Why I use the term "dog guardian"For me, it isn't about trying to be politically correct, and it certainly isn't because...
26/07/2026

Why I use the term "dog guardian"

For me, it isn't about trying to be politically correct, and it certainly isn't because I see my dogs as my children. I don't call them "fur babies".

It's because the word guardian reflects the relationship I want to have with them.

The concept reminds me of kaitiakitanga—the responsibility of guardianship, stewardship, and care. I see myself as a kaitiaki for the dogs in my life: their guardian, protector, and advocate. My role is to meet their physical and emotional needs, make decisions that are in their best interests, and help them navigate a world that was built for humans, not dogs.

Legally, I understand that I own my dogs. That's simply how the law is written. But personally, the idea of ownership has never sat comfortably with me. To me, they aren't possessions—they are incredible, sentient beings who deserve respect, compassion, and someone who will always act in their best interests.

Perhaps we need to reframe the way we look at and speak about dogs. The words we choose can influence how we think about our relationship with them. For me, guardian better reflects the responsibility I have to protect, guide, care for, and advocate for the dogs in my life.

That said, I don't believe everyone has to use the same words I do. The intent behind the words matters far more than the words themselves. Whether someone says owner, pet, dog mum, guardian, or something else entirely, what matters most is how they care for and treat the dogs who share their lives.

This is simply the language that best reflects my values and the relationship I strive to have with my own dogs. 💜

If your dog could send you one text message right now... what would it say? 📱🐶💜I'll go first...Loomis: "Look what I foun...
24/07/2026

If your dog could send you one text message right now... what would it say? 📱🐶💜

I'll go first...

Loomis: "Look what I found for your hair! 🌿" (today was another usb charger!)

Krueger: "Where's my post-dinner cardboard?" 📦

Myers: "Can we get under a blanket now? I need a cuddle." 🥹

What would your dog's text say?

Share it in the comments—I can't wait to read them! 💜

There is no need to yell. Your dog can hear you.If your dog isn't doing what you've asked, it's usually not because they...
22/07/2026

There is no need to yell. Your dog can hear you.

If your dog isn't doing what you've asked, it's usually not because they're being stubborn or ignoring you. More often, they either don't fully understand what you're asking, or something is making it difficult for them to respond in that moment.

When we keep repeating cues, adding extra words, or raising our voice, our message often becomes less clear, not more. The important part of what we're asking can get lost in all the extra chatter.

Instead, pause.

Watch your dog. What are they telling you? Are they distracted? Worried? Confused? Overwhelmed? In pain? Simply not sure what you mean?

Our dogs are communicating with us all the time through their body language. If we take the time to listen, they give us valuable information about how they're feeling and what they need.
Speak less. Observe more.

Clear, simple communication helps your dog succeed. Listening helps you understand why they may not be able to respond.

Stop talking. Start listening. Learn to understand. 💜

Am I the only one?! Loomis is constantly leaving things in my hair. Today's offering was this stick... but the list has ...
22/07/2026

Am I the only one?!

Loomis is constantly leaving things in my hair. Today's offering was this stick... but the list has been endless: leaves, twigs, bits of plastic, chewed-up USB chargers... if she can carry it, there's a good chance it'll somehow end up in my hair.

It got me thinking about all the little quirks that make our dogs who they are.

💜 Craven used to bring me "treasures" all the time. Anything he found that he thought I might like, or simply wanted to show me. Every gift was given with such pride.

💜 Myers always seems to need to be touching me. And she has this funny habit of giving me "kisses" right on the lips... except they're not licks! She presses her closed, bristly little mouth against mine. It's very much a Myers thing.

💜 Krueger's quirk is that he never wants to be associated with his siblings when they're being "naughty." If they're doing something he thinks isn't allowed, he'll quietly leave them and come and sit with me, as if to make it very clear that he had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Every dog has their own unique little personality, and honestly, I wouldn't change any of it.

So tell me... what are your dogs' quirks? I'd love to hear the funny little things that make them uniquely them. 🐾

Dogs don't need to earn everything.Somewhere along the way, we've started believing that dogs should work for everything...
21/07/2026

Dogs don't need to earn everything.

Somewhere along the way, we've started believing that dogs should work for everything they receive.

Every meal. Every toy. Every treat. Every cuddle.

But here's the thing...

They don't have to.

Training is a fantastic way to build skills, confidence, and strengthen your relationship.

Enrichment can also be incredibly rewarding, giving dogs opportunities to sniff, forage, lick, chew, and solve problems.

But not everything needs to be earned.

Sometimes it's okay to simply hand your dog a chew because you want them to enjoy it.

Sometimes it's okay to put dinner in a bowl.

Sometimes it's okay to sit together on the couch and give your dog a cuddle, simply because they enjoy your company.

Dogs don't spend their lives trying to earn our affection—we shouldn't feel that every good thing they receive has to come with a task attached.

Enrichment should create opportunities, not obligations.

Training should be enjoyable, not a prerequisite for every reward.

The goal isn't to make life more difficult for our dogs.

The goal is to help them live rich, fulfilling lives while giving them choice, meeting their needs, and strengthening the bond we share.

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give our dogs isn't another challenge.

Sometimes it's simply kindness. 💜

Contrafreeloading.It might sound like a complicated scientific term, but the concept is surprisingly simple.Contrafreelo...
20/07/2026

Contrafreeloading.

It might sound like a complicated scientific term, but the concept is surprisingly simple.

Contrafreeloading is the tendency for animals to choose to obtain food through some form of effort, even when the same food is freely available.

That effort might include:
🐾 Sniffing out scattered kibble.
🐾 Solving a food puzzle.
🐾 Licking food from a Lickimat.
🐾 Emptying a KONG or Toppl.
🐾 Using their nose to search for hidden treats.

Why?

Because for many dogs, the process of finding or earning food is rewarding in itself. It allows them to express natural behaviours like sniffing, foraging, licking, chewing, and problem-solving—all of which can be mentally enriching.

This is one of the reasons enrichment is so valuable. It isn't about making your dog earn their food—it’s about giving them opportunities to engage in behaviours they naturally enjoy.

Of course, not every dog will choose to work for every meal. Factors such as age, health, pain, stress, fatigue, previous experiences, and the difficulty of the task all influence whether a dog wants to put in the effort.

Choice matters.

Some meals can simply be served in a bowl. Others can become an opportunity to enrich your dog's day.

Have you tried scatter feeding, food puzzles, scent games, or stuffed KONGs? I'd love to know which enrichment activities your dog enjoys most. 💜

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