Open 7 days

Author Archive

Comments Off on Deal with pests and diseases in August – Sue McDougall

Deal with pests and diseases in August – Sue McDougall

As the weather starts to warm up the gardens are coming to life; unfortunately so are the aphids. These small, sap sucking insects seek out gorgeous soft new growth, usually the prize rose shoots. There are many choices in controlling these small insects from simply squashing them and hosing off to spraying.  There are soap-based […]

Comments Off on Sit! Good dog! Karen Phillips

Sit! Good dog! Karen Phillips

A really useful behaviour to teach your dog is a ‘sit’ or ‘down stay’. A stay can be used to teach your dog control and more importantly it can keep your dog safe when out and about. I use stays all the time especially when I’m taking the dogs to the beach or park. If […]

Comments Off on Get Transplanting – Sue McDougall

Get Transplanting – Sue McDougall

Traditionally our wettest month, July is a time of celebration for gardeners.  They know the more rain that falls now, the better the gardens will be in spring. July is referred to as transplant month. All those plants that are in the wrong place have the best chance of survival if moved in July. The […]

Comments Off on Keeping my old dogs active and stimulated – Karen Phillips

Keeping my old dogs active and stimulated – Karen Phillips

It can sometimes seem like our dogs age overnight. For my older border collies over 10 years of age, it felt like we went from normal behaviour with them running around chasing the younger dogs to seeing them sleeping a lot more, wanting to be inside and having trouble getting up in the mornings, especially […]

Comments Off on Bears Den

Bears Den

ADDRESS: 26 Blue Wren Lane, Denmark PETS: Well behaved dogs welcome outside and inside (not on furniture).  Secure fenced area available for dogs. ACCOMMODATION: Cottage FACILITIES AVAILABLE: 3bed/2bath home, living, dining areas, laundry including iron, washing machine, linen supplied, huge outdoor entertaining area, barbecue , large garden, trees and lawn, secure fenced area for dogs, […]

June 24th, 2013
Comments Off on Shaping for good behaviour – Karen Phillips

Shaping for good behaviour – Karen Phillips

Lots of people come to agility classes in a last ditch attempt to provide their dogs with an outlet for boundless enthusiasm they are struggling to contain at home.  Agility is without a doubt a fantastic way to give our dogs extra mental stimulation but often classes are only once a week, so what else […]

Comments Off on Boost those Sandy Soils – Sue McDougall

Boost those Sandy Soils – Sue McDougall

It’s the time of the year to work on improving our sandy soils. Western Australian soils are some of the least fertile in the world and blood and bone is not only a safe fertiliser, it’s an effective soil conditioner. June is the time of the year when we can slip on the raincoat, celebrate […]

Comments Off on Stop! Don’t teach Your dog bad habits – Karen Phillips

Stop! Don’t teach Your dog bad habits – Karen Phillips

When bringing home a new puppy one of the exciting things is that you get to start with a clean slate.  Often we begin with all the best intentions teaching our puppies everything the correct way with the goal of ending up with the “perfect”, well behaved dog. This, of course, is easier said than […]

Comments Off on Gardening jobs for May – Sue McDougall

Gardening jobs for May – Sue McDougall

Ladybugs are one of the best aphid predators to live in the garden. Both the adults and nymphs seek out aphids to devour. In Western Australia there is a new Ladybug species on the block, the Hippodamia, which can be identified by its distinct black head with white markings and a flatter body. This species […]

Comments Off on My Favourite Dog Training Books – Karen Phillips

My Favourite Dog Training Books – Karen Phillips

As a dog lover and someone who gets great enjoyment from training my dogs, I get really excited when someone releases a new book or article on dog behaviour.  To get the very best out of my dogs requires me to have as great an insight as possible into how they think and to understand […]