Blog

11 February 2025

Top Ways to Spoil Your Dog This Valentine’s Day

At Canine Evolution, we believe that the purest form of love often comes with four paws and a wagging tail. As behaviour specialists and training experts, we’ve witnessed countless times how pet...

21 January 2025

Australia Day Foods: What’s Safe and Unsafe for Dogs

Australia Day is a time to gather with friends and family, enjoying classic Aussie dishes. If you’re a dog owner, it’s essential to be aware of which foods are safe for your canine compani...

27 November 2024

The Best DIY Summer Treats to Keep Your Dog Cool and Happy

Summertime is great for outdoor fun, but it’s essential to ensure your dog stays cool and hydrated during the warmer months. Whether your dog loves running around or prefers relaxing in the shad...

27 November 2024

Top Tips to Calm Your Dogs During Stormy Weather

At Canine Evolution, we know how challenging storm season can be for dogs and their owners. Drawing on our expertise in dog training and behaviour, we’ve seen how preparation and the right strategie...

4 November 2024

Dog Grooming for Health: How Regular Pet Grooming Contributes to Your Pet’s Well-being

Dog grooming isn’t just about making your furry friend look adorable—it’s a key part of keeping them healthy and happy! Regular grooming helps maintain your dog’s hygiene, preventi...

31 October 2024

5 Essential Commands Every Dog Should Know

Training your dog is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have as a pet owner. It not only strengthens the bond between you and your furry friend but also ensures their safety and well-being ...

31 October 2024

Adopting vs. Buying: What to Consider When Adding a New Pet to Your Family

When deciding to add a new pet to your home, you have two options: adopt a rescue creature or purchase a pedigree from a breeder. Each choice has advantages and disadvantages, which must be carefully ...

24 September 2024

Managing Pet Spring Allergies: Essential Tips for Pet Owners

Spring is a beautiful time of year, marked by blooming flowers, warmer temperatures, and longer days. While many of us look forward to this season, it can be a difficult period for our pets. Just like...

13 September 2024

The Importance of Mental Stimulation for Dogs: Games and Activities to Try

As dog training professionals, we know that mental stimulation is just as important for our pets as physical activity! This starts from a very young age, and giving their young minds stimulation is cr...

10 September 2024

Understanding Canine Body Language: What Your Dog is Trying to Tell You

As dog training professionals, we know that canine body language is vital for anyone who owns or interacts with dogs. Dogs communicate primarily through their body language, making it essential to int...

10 July 2024

Dog Training For Families: Tips For An Excellent Bonding And Learning Experience

Imagine the excitement as a family brings home their new puppy—a furry bundle of joy with bright eyes, a wagging tail, and an insatiable curiosity about the world. From the very first moment, everyo...

5 July 2024

How To Stop Your Dog’s Chewing and Destructive Chewing

Our furry friends bring so much joy to our lives, but sometimes their playful habits like chewing and digging can turn our homes into a bit of a mess. Dogs naturally chew to explore their world and so...

24 April 2024

Puppy School: Laying the Foundation for a Well-Behaved Adult Dog with Puppy Training

Introducing a puppy into your household is an exhilarating event packed with joy, affection, and playful bonding with your new furry family member. This delightful period also introduces the significa...

20 April 2024

Puppy School or Home Training? Understanding the Benefits of Puppy Training Methods

Deciding on whether to enrol your puppy in a puppy school or to opt for training at home is an initial dilemma for many new pet owners. This decision is pivotal in shaping your puppy’s behaviour...

10 April 2024

Debunking Dog Training Myths: Insights from Industry Experts

It’s widely believed that older dogs can’t learn new tricks, but this is simply not true. In reality, many misconceptions exist about dog training, including the idea that dog obedience tr...

16 January 2024

Make Early Intervention of Behaviour Issues Your New Year’s Resolution

Make Early Intervention of Behaviour Issues Your New Year’s Resolution A large part of our workload is dealing with aggression and other behaviour problems; many of which have been known problems fo...

24 November 2023

Barrier Aggression and Fence Fighting

Barrier aggression is a great point of stress for many dog owners and their neighbours. Sometimes, barrier aggression issues result in noise complaints and neighbourhood disputes. These behaviours, wh...

30 October 2023

Choosing the Appropriate Training Aids for Your Dog

Choosing the Appropriate Training Aids for Your Dog When it comes to training your dog, selecting the appropriate training aids is a crucial step in achieving positive results. From the classic flat c...

3 October 2023

“My Dog Reacts Without Warning!”

“My dog reacts without warning” is a common phrase we encounter at Canine Evolution when our services are being sought in relation to aggression and reactivity in dogs. However, it’s...

12 September 2023

How to Get Your Dog Comfortable with Grooming

Grooming your furry friend is an essential part of responsible pet ownership. It not only keeps your dog looking their best but also promotes their overall health and well-being. However, many dogs ca...

24 August 2023

Making Vet Visits a Positive Experience for Your Dog

A Comprehensive Guide to Making Vet Visits a Positive Experience for Your Dog Going to the vet can sometimes be a nerve-wracking experience for many Australian dogs. The unfamiliar surroundings, combi...

10 August 2023

Dishing the Truth: Exploring the Link between your Dog’s Diet and Behaviour

The adage “you are what you eat” applies to dogs too. Often, we overlook the relationship between a dog’s diet and its behaviour. Research now indicates that a dog’s nutrition ...

27 July 2023

Post-Pandemic Pooches: Tips for Managing Canine Behavioural Issues

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about unprecedented changes in our lives, affecting not only us but also our beloved pets. With more people working from home and spending increased time with their furry...

13 July 2023

Hounding Houseguests: Tips on Reactivity

If you have a canine companion who exhibits behaviours such as whining, barking, or aggression when the doorbell rings or guests arrive, it’s likely a sign of dog reactivity. This behaviour can ...

2 June 2023

Leash-Free Areas: Promoting Canine Welfare and Community

Leash-free areas offer dogs and their owners a valuable space to explore, socialise, and enhance overall well-being. These areas provide physical and mental health benefits by allowing dogs to exercis...

16 May 2023

Puppy Socialisation and Habituation: How it can Shape your Puppy’s Life

Puppy socialisation and habituation are two essential factors that contribute to their overall well-being. Socialisation involves introducing a puppy to different experiences, people, animals, and env...

2 May 2023

Sharing is Caring: Understanding and Managing Resource Guarding

Resource guarding is a prevalent behaviour observed in dogs and other animals, characterised by the aggressive protection of objects or spaces they consider valuable. This behaviour can encompass guar...

11 April 2023

Dog Bite Prevention Week: Raising Awareness

Currently the USA is observing Dog Bite Prevention Week, but in Australia, there is no equivalent event. However we are using this occasion to raise awareness in our community. Canine Evolution conduc...

27 March 2023

Indiscriminate Chewing And Property Destruction

Indiscriminate chewing can be a frustrating behaviour, particularly with puppies and adolescent dogs. Chewing is a natural behaviour for dogs; we just need to ensure the dog is chewing the right thing...

22 February 2023

Benefits of Muzzle Training

Using a muzzle when training a dog has many benefits and can help to ensure a positive and safe experience for both the pet and the owner. A muzzle is a device that fits over a dog’s snout, prev...

The Coopers

00:56 21 Jan 25

When our dogs went from best friends to not getting along, we were desperate for help. Lee from the Terrigal branch came in with a professional yet empathetic approach, giving us the hard truth to set our expectations and set us up for success. His honesty was exactly what we needed, and it was delivered in a way that made us feel supported rather than discouraged.By the end of our session, we had a clear plan on our next steps and actionable strategies to improve our dogs' relationship and our everyday living. Lee’s passion for dogs is undeniable, and it's clear he genuinely cares about helping owners and their pets succeed. If you're looking for a dedicated and knowledgeable trainer, we highly recommend Lee.

Catherine Batiste

05:54 22 Dec 24

I was initially hesitant getting my two maltese x shitzu's trained, however I am glad that I bit the bullet and did. I got them trained when I went on a holiday. Lee Brown, has been excellent in executing the training of my dogs Kenny and Ella. When I picked them up they where better behaved, listening more to commands, and most importantly I can now walk the dogs on their leads without them pulling and so can my 8 yr old daughter. However I have been finding the home training more beneficial. The dogs are reducing their barking when visitors arrive, they are working well with create training. Lee has such a great demeanour and patience with the dogs, my daughter and I. Every lesson, there is great progress. We are all putting our learnings into practice. Thank you Lee for making our lives just that bit easier for humans and fur babies.

Leah Bennett

01:02 25 Nov 24

Our 2 pups have been having a fantastic time while learning their manners. This has been great for us as it gives our dogs time to socialise with other dogs in a safe space and get some extra exercise.

Becky Steenkamp

05:36 15 Nov 24

We had left our dog Tommy with Pet Resorts Terrigal and had 10 days stay and train with Lee from Canine Evolution, we cannot recommend Lee enough and the Education and care Tommy received was outstanding, 10/10 Service. Thank you Lee.

Susan Chapman

05:15 28 Oct 24

Lee's training has been amazing!! The change in my dogs behaviour (and mine) has made such a difference to the harmony in my home, after introducing a puppy. I'm no longer at a loss on how to ensure my puppas are happy, safe and fulfilled. Lee's guidance, instruction and support has been the driver. I can't thank him enough for his awesome training lessons. I only wish I had of engaged Canine Evolution earlier. Thank you!!!

Michael DAVY

22:41 08 Aug 24

Canine Evolution has been working with my Great Dane for a while now, and we are very happy with his progress. April is very patient and great trainer, and we look forward to working with her into the future. I highly recommend Canine Evolution for all you dog training. Cheers

Marguerite M

00:58 04 Aug 24

I have an OES who was at times reactive to other dogs in public whilst on lead. Walks were becoming stressful and not enjoyable. After she spent time in training I have noticed a massive improvement and was thrilled to see her playing and socialising with other dogs in photos sent to me after every session. The phone call updates, photos and SMS’s were a delight to receive. Thanks so much Canine Evolution with special thanks to the amazing Lee who has been great.The results really do speak for themselves.

JUDY CHEN

03:27 25 Jul 24

My dog is a 2-year-old male German shepherd, friendly and well-trained. One time when we were not at home, some workers who were doing renovations for us accidentally left the door open while carrying heavy materials. My dog saw a person walking their little dog and ran out. Despite all the evidence we provided, the council still declared my dog to be menacing.I highly recommend Canine Evolution for providing very professional Behavioral Assessment for my dog. It is crucial that council officers who in charge such role might need a professional adviser. It is unreasonable to expect a dog to stand at an open door and watch other dogs pass by without reacting.

Susan Austin

22:26 15 Jul 24

Since we have moved from our 1/2 acre yard to a retirement village, my two girls, Rosie (Sheltie) and Coomalie (Parson Russel Terrier) LOVE playing with their friends at Doggy Day Care. It is so nice to know they are happy and have the freedom to run and play. Coomalie is learning SO much from her training sessions too. Thanks to all our kind and caring friends at Canine Evolution.

Nikki Tod

02:45 03 Jun 24

Steph conducted a private lesson with our puppy at our home and I couldn't be happier. She went through the techniques required to address the 2 areas of concern and took great care and time to teach me properly, whilst being super encouraging. It's set us up to continue working with our pup and improving. Highly recommend Steph and Canine Evolution.

Emily M

22:15 07 May 24

Lee from Canine Evolution has been training our dog and we have noticed such a massive improvement with him and his behaviour! We always receive photo and video updates which is really nice and helpful too. Highly recommend.

Kevin Summerson

22:53 13 Apr 24

Scruffy, who is a terrier, has benefited greatly from his training with Canine Evolution. He obeys most commands and now walks a lot better on the lead.

Darren Hunt

09:59 23 Mar 24

Today for the first time I went to Canine Evolution for some much needed training for my dogs, but more importantly for ourselves. We had ''Verity" as our trainer and help with "Lee", great people skilled trainers, this training complex came with recommendations and did not disappoint at all. The detail in training was so clear and calm and in the middle of a little hassle with one of the dogs in a strange environment was rectified so well, with a more settled dog. We went to learn basic principles and got a lot more, introduced to a prong collar and never really wanted to use one because of our understanding, but now trained correctly what a great system to make a safer environment for our large dogs to be able to lead them safer and have better control, they respond well and seem to be rather happy. So glad we went here for the professional training. Good work guys we will be back.

Jennifer Youll

05:12 07 Mar 24

My puppy Teddy of 13 months just finished a week's training with Lee at Terrigal. I am delighted with the results. He was a handful prior to attending but is now a confident, well mannered puppy. What he has learnt in one week is incredible. Lee was extremely helpful with the training tips on our departure which I am finding very useful and getting results! We will be back in few months for another week. Again, thank you Lee and also Tiarne for organising it.

Simon Morris

08:53 27 Feb 24

Thank you to Lee and staff at Canine Evolution Terrigal, they have worked closely with the boys each week to help overcome their nervous and behavioral problems so they can now enjoy doggie daycare with all their friends. Highly recommend.

Lisa Bailey Hamilton

09:34 15 Jan 24

Lee and Verity gained the trust of a scaredy dog (that for its 18 mths would not let anyone outside our family near him) in ONE day. Their calm confidence and competence translated into all of our dog's enjoying their training and time with them so much they almost forgot who we were! 😆

Laina Buxton

08:33 28 Nov 23

Our puppy has just graduated preschool with Tim and it has been a fantastic experience. Very knowledgeable and doesn't mind answering a million questions. Highly recommend!

Jasmine Forman

23:15 11 Nov 23

Wouldnt go anywhere else for dog training. Their staff are well trained, friendly and get results.

Gillian Anderson

01:45 03 Nov 23

Darcy Worne

09:04 11 Sep 23

Enjoyed a one on one session with our 6 month groodle. Our trainer was brilliant. Couldn't believe we could get through so much in such a short time. Thank you.

Samantha Coates

05:51 24 Aug 23

Ziggy, my little rescue kelpie had a brilliant first training session with Tim at Canine Evolution Townsville yesterday. Great instruction, good energy, really helped me to work out my part in helping Ziggy to become the goodest boy and we received a follow up email with more details and what we’re focusing on now. Loose lead beach walk this morning and Ziggy nailed it. Thank you Tim, five star rating from me and a five paw rating from Ziggy.

Brittany

04:08 18 Aug 23

We have just done a handful of sessions with Nina as the onsite trainer for Pet Resorts and we are so pleased with our experience. Nina paid a lot of attention to our needs from start to finish and was extremely thorough with her communication and handover. We felt completely supported with her and we are confident enough at this stage to implement the tools we have learnt at home. Bruno will miss his sessions, I'm sure :)

Milton Samios

06:36 12 Jul 23

My Shi-ba Inu, Leo, stays at Pet Resorts Terrigal on a regular basis. Whenever I book him in I also ensure he is getting some refresher training which is provided by Canine Evolution. They do a wonderful job and im very happy to recommend them. Not only are they experienced dog handlers but they provide a very professional service in terms of training updates. Each week I receive an email which explains what exercises he has completed as well as photos and/or a video which show his level of accomplishment. I can't fault Canine Evolution and when Leo returns home he's got a better temperament and is more engaged.

Cathy Tropiano

09:42 04 Jul 23

LuLu stayed at Pet Resort Terrigal for 7 days & was booked in for 5 days training. Nick Dalton was wonderful with her. He provided video updates of their training sessions plus a follow up training session for her humans which was most helpful indeed. He also forwarded us a summary pack of their training time together. It was obvious from my first conversation with Tiarne that they love & understand & respect dogs & I felt confident that LuLu was in excellent, safe hands. They even had the foresight to room her with one of their gentle older training dogs so that LuLu’s first experience of sharing with another dog was a lovely & positive one for her! I cannot recommend them high enough! LuLu will be back!! Thank you!

Antonia Francis

06:53 04 Jun 23

Our mini spoodle Frankie did a one week stay and train where the Canine Evolution team, particularly Steph, spent their training time taking Frankie through general obedience including preparing for a new baby like walking with a stroller which was above and beyond what we asked for - such wonderful service! We noticed an immediate difference when we took her home after this, as have our friends and family so we are very very happy with the outcome. It was also very hard to be away from our fur baby for the week but the team were so good with giving us little updates along the way that kept us reassured that she was having a great time and enjoying her time there, even though we were missing her so much!Since then, we have continued her training on a regular basis as she has a weekly session with Trainer Lauren when Frankie is at daycare. Frankie just loves Lauren and you can see how much she loves the training sessions too in the photo and video updates that get sent through, and we can see how well she is responding to them through her behaviour as well.Couldn’t recommend the Canine Evolution team enough for all your doggy training needs. They not only get results but actually care about your dog and treat them with love which is very important to us :)

Ariana Van Wyk

12:42 30 May 23

My very excited 2 year old Lab has learnt so much and is very well looked after by the Cainine Evolution team in Terrigal. Their information and communication is great and has allowed us continue her training at home and maintain consistency with training methods. I am impressed with the progress she has made in such a short time.

Ann

10:13 30 May 23

Owning a reactive cattle dog can be a challenge however our trainer, Nina, has made a massive difference to Wally’s training in only a few days. And a massive difference in my knowledge and ability to continue this training. I cannot recommend Canine Evolution training enough!

Briony Nicoll

00:17 24 May 23

We have seen an enormous improvement in the past 6 months for our Rottie girl, Freja, all thanks to the incredible trainers (shout out in particular to Steph, as well as Verity and Nick). Through the private lessons and a three week stay and train, we’ve seen Freja become much more confident in many areas, including socialising with other dogs and keeping focused when walking on a lead. We highly recommend the Canine Evolution team - Freja will definitely enjoy coming back for any refresher training! Briony & Jon

Rikki-Lea Sloan

23:36 23 May 23

We've had great success with the trainers at Canine Evolution and our nervous rescue.Cricket is much more confident in all situations and they also helped us to become more confident handlers.We started with a 3 week stay and train and we now get regular top up sessions when our pup goes to daycare.We received videos of the training sessions with Cricket as well as as detailed notes so we could continue her training at home.Special shout out to Verity for all she has done to help us and Cricket. She has become one of Crickets most favourite humans.We highly recommend using canine evolution for any help you need with your pup.

Samantha Cook

06:12 15 May 23

The private training session i had with my 2yr old Cavoodle today was incredibly valuable. Nick was thorough, explained and demonstrated everything and then had me practice the skills too. He further developed a plan to target our goals and sent additional and detailed information in an email. I would absolutely recommend Canine Evolution.

Belinda Brown

11:44 10 May 23

My girl is Luna and she is a beautiful German Shepard and has been attending Canine Evolution training for the whole entire 3 years of her life and she enjoys every bit of of it, the trainers are wonderful and my girl just absolutely loves them they are caring and have taught my girl to have such wonderful manners

Col Burrow

02:02 25 Jan 23

These guys were great to deal with. Our Labrador Lilly Grace is so full of beans. They gave us great tips and tricks to help with this.On going training is the key to Miss Lilly and they will be giving her another round on our next holiday when Miss Lilly stays at the Pet Resort. It just makes sense and helps her along the way. Thank you Nick and Verity.

Alana Goddard

22:45 14 Nov 22

Thanks Nick for looking after Harley so well for us while we were away.Overall we can see a definite improvement in his ability to keep calmer by sitting longer and ignoring distractions. A few great examples so far have been we were able to do the lawns, including the blower, whilst Harley just sat next to me outside without reacting. The second been we live very close to several retirement villages and nursing homes and Harley has been sitting calmly if we come across one of the residents to wait for his pat. One of the older males even said to me yesterday “he has to be the most placid dog I have ever met, I just want to bundle him up and take him home”. Whoever would have thought someone would say that about crazy Harley!!!He had a great walk down the beach yesterday and his recall had definite improved.Thanks again so much.

Meredith Byrne

19:37 14 Mar 19

My Labrador pup spent a week here to learn some manners. They worked on his bitey behavior, how to walk properly on a lead, as well as basic commands like sit, stay, and wait. It’s obvious that the trainers adore the dogs, and are constantly praising them and rewarding them with treats. I also got my own training session with his trainer at the end of his stay so I could be consistent with commands at home. Whitby loved his stay here, and even though I missed him terribly he was so much easier when he got home. Highly recommended.

Heidi Vasilevskis

09:11 18 Mar 18