Category Archives: Animal Welfare

Bark Control Collars Linked to Aggression

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Marika S. Bell

I had a call this week from the owner of a small dog who had recently bitten him while he was trying to remove the dog’s collar. After some discussion I discovered the collar was a citronella bark control collar. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aggression, Animal Welfare | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment


Puppy Farms in New Zealand

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Marika S. Bell

I had a discussion with a women last night about puppy farms. When she found out what I do, she told me about the puppy she had bought her dog from a local pet store. I explained to her that … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Welfare | Tagged , , | 4 Comments


Wellington SPCA Appeal Month

Posted on June 10, 2012 by Marika S. Bell

For the last three years I have been working closely with the Wellington SPCA in  a variety of ways; from taking photos of the animals for the SPCA website, to training the dogs in the shelter, I have been donating … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Welfare | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment


Top Ten Misunderstood Behaviours Part 2: Hiding ‘Accidents’

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Marika S. Bell

Toilet training is one of those issues that, unless quickly solved, can  cause a lot of frustration. I have even talked to families considering re-homing their dog due to toileting in the house. I find that many people can get … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Welfare, Body Language, Communication, Training Methods | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment


Fear Factors or Is My Dog a Danger?

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Marika S. Bell

Understanding what drives a fear reaction can not only help us with a behaviour modification of the dog, but also with the behaviour modification of the clients. These are common drivers of fear across species according to Janis Bradley in … Continue reading →

Posted in Aggression, Animal Welfare | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment


Tyson! Dog of the Week!

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Marika S. Bell

If you are looking for a BIG HUNK of a dog, then you need to adopt Tyson. He is a Labrador, now 8 months old, with an enormous head! He is a really quick learner and he loves to clicker … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Welfare | Tagged , , | 1 Comment


Growling and Intimidation

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Marika S. Bell

Is growling at your dog or puppy an effective way of teaching them that you don’t like their behavior? Critical Thinking: ask questions! 1. How is growling used by other dogs to communicate? -Growling is used as a “distance increasing … Continue reading →

Posted in Aggression, Animal Welfare, Anthrozoology, Body Language, Canine Ethics, Communication, Ethology, learning, Methods, Training Methods | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments


Do No Harm…

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Marika S. Bell

‘Do No Harm’ is a good motto for life really. But  in this context specifically, for dog training. So much harm is being done by society against dogs. Some more jaded people may say, “Why should we worry about animals … Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Animal Welfare, Equipment, learning, Training Methods | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment


APDT Australia Conference Day 4: Dr Gabrielle Carter on Canine Cognitive Dysfunction and other age related problems

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Marika S. Bell

Dr Carter’s last lecture focused primarily on the types of disorders you would see in elderly dogs like; house soiling, aggression, increase or decrease in activity, decreased mental alertness, vocalization, fear/anxiety, and other existing issues getting worse that can be … Continue reading →

Posted in Aggression, Animal Welfare, Health | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment


APDT Australia- Puppy Preschool with Dr. Kersti Seksel

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Marika S. Bell

Puppy Preschool – Is it really tight for all puppies and when should you intervene So I was really surprised to find out that Dr Kersti Seksel is actually the owner of the brand name, “Puppy Preschool” in Australia (and … Continue reading →

Posted in Activites, Animal Welfare, Training Methods | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment