Human Canine Enrichment

16/04/2026

This 👇🏼👌🏽❤️🐶❤️

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15qkDUcmV7R/?mibextid=wwXIfr

𝗜𝗧'𝗦 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗪, 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨'𝗟𝗟 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘

We've just come off an amazing weekend, where my dogs took home 8/10 qualifications on offer in Scent work, 6 of those with Belmont at Excellent level.

This weekend has had me reflect on the tough journey here because when you're in the midst of the tough, it's hard to acknowledge that you'll get there with time, persistence, and 3rd party help.

I imported Belmont from the Czech Republic; he came out of Quarantine at 13 months of age, full of p**s and vinegar, and also being a primative of a breed I had never had before.

I knew the road was going to be challenging to take this non-traditional sports dog breed down the road I wanted to go on, but I'm also pretty headstrong myself.

I understood there was a genetic bandwidth to what we could achieve and that he was not going to train or perform like a traditional sports breed, but I also didn't want to use that as an excuse....more so, an understanding and having reasonable expectations.

The Xolo is an incredibly smart breed, very trainable, but lacks biddability. They're quite sighthoundy in personality, and some have said they're like training a Huskie to be a people pleaser 😅 There are, of course, outliers who behave like Labradors!

The Xolo is headstrong, independent, and self-interested, and they want to see what's on offer. They also like to be aroused and can be sensitive to the environment and their humans' emotions.

I fkn love Xolos!!!! I think they're so awesome, quirky, sassy, and just so funny! They love to be silly, and they love to play, but they can also be moody like a teenager and cross their arms and say "no" 😅

I do have to say that Belmont's daughter, whom I bred and raised myself, whilst still Xolo in temperament, has been a joy to work with mostly 😂

The first year of Belmont was challenging; he did not want to be on the same page; he wanted to be his own person. He did not want rules and boundaries. He didn't want to train, and his mental resilience was low, so you couldn't even ask much of him.

I've always worked with professionals with my past dogs. I really enjoy private sessions and classes to advance your skills and have another set of eyes on the dog, especially in sports, and that's what I did with Belmont.

Sometimes you have to change professionals until you find the one that works best for you and the dog, and Belmont went through 2 scent work trainers until he got to one that had worked with a number of primatives before and really got him, and from that first session, he just blossomed. And that's not to say the first 2 weren't good, they were well regarded with other people I knew who worked with them.

The same for agility, although I don't really do much agility other than private lessons once a week - his current trainer really gets him, her own personal dog is a bit like him, so it was good to get her insight about how to work with him in agility, which required a lot of braining that he didn't want to do.

Then my good friend, who is an all-round trainer and has a really good head for tricky dogs. When I first started working with her, she'll remember this, I said "I don't think this dog is ever going to sit". It's not that he couldn't, it was because he did not want to. He didn't want to do a lot of things 😂 She was such a massive help in that first year in keeping me positive and on track and is still my sounding board today if I want another opinion on something.

Today, Belmont is a pretty cool dog, and a pretty easy dog these days.

Whilst Xolos had only been in the country for around 15 years, he quickly became the most accomplished Xolo in Australian history. He is the most versatile and the most titled, currently with 28 titles to his name.

Belmont is the result of a lot of hard work and a lot of time, but I've also learned to meet him in the middle.

If you're in struggle town at the moment, gather the people who know more than you around you, gather the people who want to see you succeed - I think that's the most important thing.

There will people that will try and minimise your success, focus on your failures rather than clap for you, but just let them motivate you to achieve even more.

Know that with time, persistence, help from friends and great minds.....and some grunt, you can reach your own milestones even when they seem impossible right now.

Get comfortable with the fact that failure is how we learn.

Lastly....allow yourself the years vs months to reach your goals, don't rush yourself or your dog.

Interested in Xolos? Join us at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/xolodownunder

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Photo: Ben

06/04/2026

Really worth listening to ❤️🐶

There's more to those beloved pouty-eyes than you might think. Join our Director of Sciences, Janna Levin, as she hosts experts Brian Hare and Alexandra Horo...

27/03/2026

Copper: *builds premium underground den*
Wet season: “No.”

Copper: “Excuse me, I ordered dry.”
Wet season: "Yeah, nah"

So… emergency renovations were required.

Introducing:
**Copper’s Deluxe All-Weather Den™**

• Elevated (no flooding)
• Weatherproof location
• Soft furnishings included
• Still meets dingo standards for “dark, enclosed, and mine”

Not originally part of the design brief…
but apparently approved.

Sometimes enrichment looks like meeting instinct…
and sometimes it looks like adapting when the environment has other plans.

Darwin Wildlife Sanctuary

24/03/2026

Multi-dog households aren’t just about shared space —
they’re about choice.

Choice to rest.
Choice to withdraw.
Choice to be near… or not.

One simple way to support this?

Have more resting spots than dogs.

Beds in different areas.
Different heights, textures, and levels of proximity to people and other dogs.

Not as a luxury —
as a way to reduce pressure within the social environment.

Because even well-matched dogs need space to regulate.

A crate, a raised bed, a quiet corner — these aren’t about isolation.
They’re about creating safe, predictable spaces where a dog can settle, recover, and opt out of interaction when needed.

Less competition.
Less tension.
More autonomy.

And often, more ease across the whole group.

21/03/2026

A sneak peak into the contents of Module 2 of the 6 month Canine Assisted Services Course running this weekend 😍🐶❤️ If you're not in the course already and this is something you're interested, contact now to go on the wait list for the next one

28/02/2026

When Lily tilts her head like this, it’s very tempting to say:

“She’s confused.”
“She’s judging me.”
“She’s being cheeky.”

That’s anthropomorphism — attributing human thoughts, motives, or emotions to dogs. It can deepen connection and empathy, but it can also blur accuracy.

Another lens is ecomorphism — understanding dogs in terms of their own sensory world, evolutionary history, and ecological design. From this view, a head tilt may be about sound localisation, visual alignment, curiosity, or better gathering information from the environment.

And then there’s animism — relating to the dog as a being with presence and agency, not just behaviour. Not human. Not mechanical. But alive and intentional in her own way.

Each lens shapes how we respond.

If I see “attitude,” I might react differently than if I see “orienting behaviour.”
If I see “stubborn,” I might miss “processing.”
If I see “naughty,” I might miss “curious.”

The photo stays the same.
The meaning changes with the lens.

Part of enrichment — and relationship — is learning which lens we’re using, and choosing it consciously.

Curiosity over assumption.
Understanding over projection.

And sometimes… yes, still enjoying the cute. 🐾

24/02/2026

A secure yard isn’t just about containment. It’s about nervous system safety.

When a dog knows their environment is predictable and secure, their body can soften. They can explore, rest, play, and regulate without the constant background pressure of needing to monitor for threat, escape, or uncertainty.

Security creates the foundation for wellbeing.

This means more than just fencing. It means:

• Boundaries that prevent accidental escape
• Visual and physical predictability
• Space to move, sniff, and express natural behaviour
• An environment where the dog can relax without needing constant vigilance

When dogs feel safe in their space, we see less hypervigilance, less anxiety-driven behaviour, and more calm, curious engagement with life.

Safety is not restriction.
Safety is what allows freedom to exist.

Building environments that support canine nervous system regulation is one of the most important investments we can make in their long-term wellbeing.

A secure dog is a calmer dog.
A calmer dog is a more resilient dog. 🐾

20/02/2026

Digging is one of the ways dogs experience joy.

It engages their senses, their body, and their mind all at once. The texture of the soil, the scent beneath the surface, the physical act of uncovering something — it’s deeply satisfying and naturally rewarding.

From a wellbeing perspective, digging is enrichment that supports positive emotional states. It allows dogs to express curiosity, agency, exploration, and accomplishment. These experiences build confidence and contribute to a more regulated, fulfilled nervous system.

You can support your dog’s wellbeing by intentionally creating opportunities for digging:

• Provide a sandpit or designated digging area
• Bury treats or toys for your dog to discover
• Use soft soil, sand, or mulch to make digging enjoyable
• Allow your dog time to explore and uncover at their own pace
• Celebrate their engagement and curiosity

When dogs have opportunities to do things that feel meaningful and rewarding to them, we often see more calmness, more contentment, and greater overall balance.

Wellbeing isn’t just about exercise.
It’s about giving dogs opportunities to experience joy in being who they are.

🐾

06/02/2026

In Canine Assisted Services at Human Canine Enrichment, dogs are autonomous beings, supported by sensitively attuned handlers.

The most effective CAS work happens when dogs are:
🐾 given genuine choice
🐾 listened to
🐾 protected through thoughtful welfare practices

When handlers prioritise canine wellbeing, the work naturally becomes calmer, clearer, and more meaningful for both dogs and humans.

Conscientious CAS is relationship-based, welfare-led, and carefully held — for both dogs and humans.

And yes… dogs feel the difference 🤍🐕




OneWelfare
DogWellbeing
HumanAnimalConnection
RelationshipBasedPractice
WorkingWithDogs

03/02/2026

Fully insured practitioners who incorporate animals into their work do so within clear professional, ethical, and safety frameworks.

Animals are intentionally integrated to support learning, therapy, or wellbeing goals — never as a substitute for professional expertise, but as a complementary support.

Practitioners carefully consider the needs of the client, the suitability and welfare of the animal, and the environment in which services are delivered.

This approach typically includes:
• Working within the practitioner’s existing scope of practice
• Including animals purposefully to support defined outcomes
• Ensuring appropriate training, handling, and welfare standards for animals
• Holding relevant professional indemnity and public liability insurance
• Applying robust risk management, consent, and safeguarding processes

When delivered by qualified, insured professionals, animal-assisted services can enhance engagement, emotional regulation, learning and connection — while maintaining the highest standards of care for both people and animals.

07/01/2026

07/01/2026

Ripping, tearing and chewing are fundamental behavioural expressions for doggos. Providing discarded cardboard boxes, egg cartons, toilet roles and any other non toxic cardboard shapes and containers can be really satisfying for a teenage pupper. Yes, it’s messy, and usually they don’t start chewing on things you don’t want them to if you provide alternatives 😍🐶🥰❤️