Dog Lovers Book Club - January 2019

The January 2019 Dog Lovers Book Club is out with a selection of ten new book releases for dog lovers of all ages! Whether you're looking for an easy read by the pool or at the beach or need inspiration to kick off your year, we hope you'll find something of interest!

A DOG'S WAY HOME  
by W. Bruce Cameron

From the author of the beloved bestseller and major Hollywood movie A Dog's Purpose, comes this charming tale that explores the unbreakable bond between us and our pets. 

Lucas Ray is shocked when, while attempting to rescue stray cats from an abandoned building slated for demolition, an adorable puppy jumps out of a crawl space and into his arms. Even though the apartment he shares with his mother, a disabled veteran, doesn't allow dogs, Lucas can't resist taking Bella home. Bella is inexplicably drawn to Lucas, even if she doesn't understand the necessity of games like No Barks. 

As it becomes more difficult to hide her rapidly growing presence from neighbours, Lucas begins to sneak Bella into the veteran's hospital where he works. There, the happy-go-lucky dog naturally brings joy and comfort where it is needed most. 

After Bella is picked up by Animal Control for being a pit bull, a breed banned in Denver, Lucas has no choice but to send her to a foster home until he can figure out what to do. But Bella, distraught at the separation, doesn't plan to wait. With four hundred miles of dangerous Colorado wilderness between her and Lucas, Bella sets off on a seemingly impossible and completely unforgettable adventure home. A classic story of unwavering loyalty and incredible devotion, A Dog's Way Home is a fantastic and exhilarating journey of the heart.

Paperback, 336 pages
Publisher:  Pan Macmillan Australia, 11th December 2018

RRP: $17.99 from www.booktopia.com.au 

WILL YOU LOVE ME?

The Rescue Dog that Rescued Me - A Foster Tails Story

by Barby Keel

A starved and neglected dog on the brink of death, and the love and kindness of the woman who gave him the chance of a new life.

Late one night, as she checks on the animals in her care before bed, the peaceful silence surrounding Barby Keel's animal sanctuary is shattered by the sound of a van screeching into the driveway before roaring off into the distance.

Hurrying to the front of the sanctuary, Barby is horrified by the sight that greets her. In her many years caring for neglected and mistreated animals, Barby has seen the worst of what people can do to the creatures in their care, but the sight of the dog in front of her shocks her to her core.

As her torch beam sweeps the trembling body of the greyhound that has been dumped on her doorstep, she can see every rib and every bone through the patches of matted hair. Badly beaten, it's clear that the dog is only hours from death.

A year into her second cancer diagnosis, Barby puts all thoughts of her own health aside as she throws herself into caring for the Greyhound, whom she names Bailey. Can Barby save Bailey's life? And who will care for the animals at the sanctuary if Barby doesn't survive her second cancer diagnosis.

Paperback, 256 pages
Publisher: Orion Publishing Co, 27th December 2018

RRP: $22.99 at www.booktopia.com.au

BEGINNER'S DOG GUIDE
Your Dog’s First Year
by Dr Rachele M. Lowe


Thinking of buying or adopting a new dog, where do you start?

Firstly, you need to know what pet will suit you and your family.This guide gives you step by step advice on where to find a good breeder, what to expect from your vet, puppy proofing your home and how to maintain a happy healthy dog. There's also a Q&A section with a list of 100 of the best dog breeds.

This is the ultimate guide to starting your journey with a new fur friend.

Paperback, 176 pages
Publisher: New Holland Publishers, 3rd December 2018


RRP: $19.99 from www.booktopia.com.au


DETECTOR DOG
A Talking Dogs Scentwork Manual
by Pam Mackinnon

Turn your dog’s favourite pastime into your favourite hobby and have fun together!

As a drug detector dog handler with HM Customs & Excise, Pam Mackinnon searched all over the UK, from oil rigs to cruise ships, postal depots to airports, and vehicles to houses. Combining her detection skills with her work as a dog training and behaviour consultant, Pam developed the UK's most successful scentwork training programme that teaches all dogs to become detector dogs.

Pam takes you through each stage of scentwork, beginning with introducing your dog to a specific scent, through starter searches, and on to advanced work, indoors and out. Aided by illustrations and full colour photographs of many different breeds at work, this manual will open up a whole new world of activities that you and your dog can enjoy together at home. We can’t wait to get started!

Paperback, 112 pages
Publisher: Hubble & Hattie UK, 15th April 2017

RRP: $38.99 at www.booktopia.com.au

DOG-FRIENDLY GARDENS - GARDEN FRIENDLY DOGS
by Cheryl Smith

Do you need some inspiration to create your own sensory garden for your dog's mental enrichment?

People love their dogs. They also love their gardens. But sometimes these two passions seem to be in conflict. Let Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs show you how to design your garden with your dog in mind and be your guide to dog-friendly landscaping and training efforts.

Every part of this book shows you how garden design and traditional gardening tasks can blend harmoniously with dog ownership. 

Not just one more dog training book. Just like a dog can be trained to respect your indoor living space, so too can she be trained to respect the garden and its many features. 

Learn how the breed of dog (or mix of breeds) can affect garden behaviour. Find out how boundary training, creative use of outdoor equipment and directed digging and elimination can prevent problems before they occur. The author suggests materials that work well with dogs as well as plant selections that can withstand even the most energetic canine. 

E-book, 191 pages
Publisher: Dogwise Ebooks, 2004

Special Price: $5.00 at www.dogwise.com

BOOK CLUB – KIDS CORNER

PIPPA'S ISLAND: PUPPY PANDEMONIUM
by Belinda Murrell

Life can be hard when you’re crammed into a tiny caravan with your noisy family. Pippa’s looking forward to moving into their new home above the Beach Shack Cafe, but it’s taking forever! Money is tight, too, and Pippa has her eye on a gorgeous new swimming costume. 

Luckily, Pippa has her Sassy Sisters to help. Together they come up with a plan to make some cash: Pippa’s Perfect Pooch Pampering! Before long, Pippa has her hands full with adorable but pesky pups.
What could possibly go wrong?

Paperback, 240 pages
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia, 3rd December 2018

RRP: $14.99 from www.booktopia.com.au


THE DOG WHO SAVED THE WORLD 
by Ross Welford

The astounding new novel from the bestselling and Costa-shortlisted author of Time Travelling with a Hamster, this is a story for everyone of ten and older who loves adventure, laughs and tears. 

When eleven-year-old Georgie befriends an eccentric retired scientist, she becomes the test subject for a thrilling new experiment: a virtual-reality 3D version of the future.

But then a deadly disease threatens the life of every dog in the country and Georgie's beloved dog, Mr Mash, gets sick. And that's only the start of her troubles.

Soon, Georgie and Mr Mash must embark on a desperate quest: to save every dog on earth, and maybe even all of humanity … without actually leaving the room.


An extraordinary quest with the biggest stakes of all, and a huge idea at its heart, this is time travel – but not as you know it.

Paperback, 416 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, 17th December 2018
For Ages: 8+ years old

RRP: $14.99 from www.booktopia.com.au


THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF GROVER MCBANE, RESCUE DOG
by Claire Garth

The Amazing Adventures of Grover McBane, Rescue Dog brings together the five classic stories about this inspirational dog into one book for the first time!

✔️ Grover Finds a Home (shortlisted for the Readings Children's Book Prize 2017) 

✔️ Grover's New Friends  

✔️ Grover, Benji and Nanna Jean

✔️ Grover, Stretch and the Broken Leg

✔️ Grover and Squeak's Farm Adventure 

The Grover McBane series proudly supports the work of the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home.

Paperback, 472 pages 
Publisher: Black Inc., 3rd December 2018

RRP: $24.99 from www.booktopia.com.au


CORKY THE WANDER DOG
A New Family Member
by Janet DiLeo Wade

Most people love dogs. And luckily, most dogs love people. But sometimes that love can cause problems.

In her book Corky the Wander Dog: A New Family Member, author Janet DiLeo Wade shares stories of her family's dog, Corky. He immediately makes himself at home, not only at his new house, but all over the neighborhood. Before long, he's a fixture here, there, and everywhere. Wander with Corky through his many adventures in his New Orleans neighborhood. 

His fun-loving spirit and friendliness get him into a bit of trouble before he learns there's no place like home!

Format: Paperback. 24 pages
Publisher: iUniverse, 22nd November 2018
For Ages: 8 - 9 years old

RRP: $33.99 from www.booktopia.com.au


100 DOGS
by Michael Whaite

100 dogs in one perfect picture book! This hilarious rhyming read-aloud (doggy) treat is a celebration of all things canine, jam-packed with funny, furry friends.

Small dog, tall dog, playing with a ball dog, big dog, dig dog burying a bone . . .

Can there really be 100 dogs doing 100 doggy things packed into the pages of this picture book? Follow the bouncy rhyme as it weaves its way through an array of hilarious hounds (from petted pugs to silly sausage dogs) and find out . . .

This silly celebration of dogs is bursting with funny details to spot and crazy, characterful dogs to fall in love with.

Note: this book is causing a huge divide because it shows the very negative image of a Bull Terrier being scary. However it could be used for a discussion at home or in the classroom to educate children about not judging dogs (and people) by their looks only ...

Paperback, 32 pages
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd, 15th October 2018

RRP: $14.99 from www.booktopia.com.au

Disclaimer: Australian Dog Lover is a participant in the Booktopia affiliate advertising program, designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.booktopia.com.au 

How to Create a Sensory Garden for your Dog

We always seem to focus so much what's dangerous for dogs in our gardens but what if we decided to use these spaces to enrich their lives instead? We spoke to Fiona De Rosa, an Adelaide-based urban planner who combined her unique skills and experience in urban planning and dog behaviour to plan and design spaces for dogs and their owners.

"Let me tell you my story of creating a sensory garden for my dog, Eb. I lived with Eb, a Kelpie cross, on a small suburban block in Adelaide for 15 years. Instead of buying her lots of toys for entertainment, I wanted to create a garden to enrich her everyday experiences. 


I wanted a garden where she could sniff, explore and linger during the day and night, and I looked to nature for inspiration.

The garden was her sanctuary. A place where she could smell, explore and heal. I wasn’t much of a gardener but having a dog made me see the garden differently - through a pet lens. I continued to develop different spaces within my garden for her to experience, from lush grasses to cool spots under ferns. Eb is no longer with me, but she lives on in the garden. 

What is a Sensory Garden? 

A sensory garden is designed to stimulate or heighten the user’s senses through the garden: 

✔️ Smell
✔️ Sight
✔️ Sound
✔️ Taste
✔️ Touch

Sensory gardens are generally established for people e.g. sensory gardens in schools for children with autism or as healing spaces in aged care facilities for people with dementia.

However, there are a few examples of sensory gardens designed for dogs, such as:

1. The Dogs Trust [1], Bath Cats Dogs Home, Mayhew Animal Home (United Kingdom)
2. Paws-itive Canine Sensory Garden (United Kingdom)
3. Busselton Snuffle Gardens (Western Australia) 
4, National Animal Welfare Trust, Cornwall Sensory Garden (United Kingdom)

Creating a Sensory Garden for Dogs

You don’t need a big backyard or a big budget but you do need to design the garden with your pet in mind. Start small and let it evolve. 

I am currently working with an animal centre in Australia to create a sensory garden and trail for shelter dogs. The vision is to create a relaxing environment where dogs can engage in naturalistic settings providing relief from their individual pens.

Where can you create a sensory garden for dogs?

Sensory gardens and trails for dogs can be created in a range of public and private settings such as:

• Private gardens – back and front yards and apartment balconies 
• Street verges – along quiet streetscapes 
• Fenced dog parks – in a dog park or on the approach to a park 
• Animal rescue shelters 

How did I start? 

#1. Power of Observation 

I started by observing how Eb used the backyard. I wanted to see where she would go to capture the sun, the shade and the places she liked to explore.

She had a morning ritual where she traversed her nest, and then headed to the back of the garden to explore the plants and smells that may have come in during the night.

She was a digger and liked to hide in the garden, sit on top of tussocky plants, and make nests in the garden. The nesting areas were where she would go to hide, be alone and heal. In the last two weeks of her life, she spent most of her time in her favourite nest.

These insights helped me create a garden with her behaviours in mind. I wanted to give her special spaces to explore, sensory trails through plants and natural places to linger.

#2. Plants, Features and Ephemeral objects

I experimented with different plants and herbs including thyme, catnip, chamomile, wheat grass, marigolds, violets and rosemary. Wheatgrass was Eb’s favourite: she would sniff the plant, stick her nose in the middle, and graze on the grass which became part of her morning ritual.

I created a bamboo forest. This was one of Eb’s favourite spots for sniffling, digging and exploring. She liked the bamboo leaves resting on her face.

I collected objects for the garden such as seaweed, feathers, and pine cones. I changed these elements over time to see how Eb would interact with different things.

Simple Tips and Ideas

If you want to create an enriching and sensory garden for your dog, here are some simple tips and ideas to get you started:

1. Design with your pet in mind

o Observe how your dog uses the garden. Then, you are in a better position to design the garden to your dog’s behaviours. If your dog is a digger allocate a dedicated space for digging e.g. a sandpit in a shady spot and train your dog to use that area.

o Provide opportunities for your dog to run around. For example, you could have formal paths and informal trails around the garden creating a circuit to explore. Try different surfaces such as sand, crushed aggregate or mulch to add texture.

2. Think about your setting

o Whether you live on a large or small block or in an apartment with a balcony, there are opportunities to create sensory spaces.

o If you don’t have a backyard, think about creating a sensory garden on the street verge. Streetscapes can provide interesting elements, not only for your dog but for other dogs and people walking by.

o Try putting plants and herbs in containers if you have limited space such as a balcony.

3. Use a combination of plants

o Use a combination of robust plants like tussocks with medicinal herbs suitable for dogs. I used rosemary, thyme and basil near walkways to give off a fragrance when brushed against.

o Space the scented plants/herbs around the garden, so they are not overpowering in one area of the garden. 

o If you have ‘no go’ zones for your dog in the garden, consider using raised garden beds, or sensory hedges such as rosemary or lavender to direct the dog away.

o Try putting delicate plants in pots or recycled tyres for protection. Recycled tyres may work better on street verges and in larger areas.

o Avoid plants that are poisonous or toxic to dogs and plants with invasive seed heads that may become lodged in their ears and other body parts. Seek advice from your vet and other reputable source to select suitable plants for your dogs.
See Resources (at the end) for suitable plants and herbs for dogs.

4. Stimulate the senses

Create opportunities for your dog to engage with different senses:

Smell – Try planting medicinal herbs in the garden. Some of the herbs used in the Bath Cats and Dogs Home Sensory and Enrichment Garden included plants for dogs to self-select such as Catnip, Chamomile, Peppermint, St John’s Wort, Wheatgrass and Valerian.

Sight – Experiment with visual elements such as rocks and logs, and varying heights for dogs.

Sound – Try plants that rustle in the breeze (bamboo), running water and wind chimes.

Taste – Plant herbs that are appropriate and non-toxic to dogs e.g. medicinal herbs.

Eb's mate Winston is enjoying his time in the sensory garden!

Touch – Experiment with different textures for paths and plants. 

“Valerian is a favourite with dogs as is thyme and lemon. They love bamboo, they get their head right in.”

(Pat White, Paws-itive Canine Sensory Garden, pers comms, 18/11/2018)

Let dogs smell, explore and linger!

Remember, you don’t need a big backyard or a big budget. But you do need to design the garden with your pet in mind. Give your dog choices and let them smell, explore and linger.

Start small and let it evolve. My sensory garden still develops although Eb died on 22 October 2018. In memory of her, I still maintain her favourite nest and tracks in the garden. My journey continues in the design of sensory gardens for dogs."

Why not start planning yours today?

written by Fiona De Rosa, December 2018 for Australian Dog Lover (all rights reserved).


About the Writer

Fiona De Rosa is an Adelaide based urban planner and dog trainer. She has her own business - Balancing Act Adelaide. Fiona blends her unique skills in urban planning and dog behaviour to plan and design spaces for dogs and their owners.

She gained an Urban Planning Degree with honours from the University of NSW, a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Adelaide and a Diploma in Canine Behaviour and Science Technology from the Companion Animal Sciences Institute.

About Balancing Act Adelaide

Balancing Act Adelaide is a small award-winning consultancy specialising in ‘pet-friendly’ planning for public spaces, dog parks, aged care facilities, and medium to high density living. Fiona works with local and state governments, residential developers, aged care providers and animal shelters.

For more information, please visit www.balancingactadelaide.com.au or contact Fiona through her website.

Resources

• Dogs Trust, Glasgow and Harefield (London) Rehoming Centres developed the first pet-friendly garden at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show (2016).
• O’Kane, Nicole (2009) Poisonous2pets, Plants poisonous to dogs and cats 
• Elliot. J & Bloomer, K. (2006) Whole Health for Happy Dogs: A natural health handbook for dogs and their owners 
• Bath Cats and Dogs Sensory and Enrichment Garden
• Paws-itive Canine Sensory Garden
• Busselton Snuffle Gardens 

Last updated 3 May 2023

Related Stories:

Common Plants Poisonous to your Dogs

Tips for a Pet-friendly Garden and Plants

Detector Dog Pups Urgently Need Foster Carers

50 years protecting Australia’s borders ...

Next year the Australian Border Force Detector Dog Program (DDP) is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Since 1969, Australian Border Force (ABF) detector dogs have played an important role in protecting Australia from prohibited imports and exports.

The DDP has evolved significantly since its inception and is continually striving to improve its breeding, development, training and deployment methods.

The Program began with two black Labrador Retrievers in Sydney in the late sixties. The Labradors were followed by two German Shepherds. German Shepherds were used up until 1978 when a review found that using only German Shepherd puppies was too expensive and slow, so they were replaced by trained abandoned dogs from dog pounds and animal shelters.

The first DDP training unit was formed in 1979 and worked out of an empty wool shed in Barton, Canberra. In 1984, a special DDP training centre was built in Fyshwick, Canberra, and in the early nineties Labrador Retrievers became the dog of choice for the program. In 1993, a pilot breeding program was developed in partnership with the University of Melbourne and Royal Guide Dog Association.

In December 2011, the DDP took up residence at the newly built National Detector Dog Program Facility located in Bulla, Victoria. The facility is the headquarters for the Detector Dog Program, providing breeding, juvenile dog development, training and the management of the quality assurance process. The facility ensures that the Detector Dog Program will be able to continue to service the needs of the Australian Border Force, as well as domestic and international agencies, well into the future.

Today, ABF detector dogs are trained to detect drugs, currency, explosives, firearms and tobacco.

The Breeding Program

The breeding program began in Melbourne in 1993. In excess of three thousand pups have been bred and developed to be trained as detector dogs. 

The founding stud dog was named Ajax. Ajax worked as a detector dog for three years before becoming the founding stud dog of the breeding program. A statue of Ajax stands proudly at the front of the National Detector Dog Program Facility in Bulla, Victoria.

Breeding pairs are carefully selected in order to produce a dog that is highly driven, bold and outgoing, possesses a strong hunt drive and thrives on play reward.

The focus is on balancing the need to breed a dog that has all the genetic traits that are required to produce a quality detector dog, whilst minimising the risk of any hereditary medical conditions that may be passed on to future generations.

Early Puppy Development & Socialisation

The early pup development program covers pups from birth to 9 weeks of age. This is a crucial phase of their development and is the foundation of their learning experiences.

During this critical period pups are exposed to age appropriate social and environmental experiences set to develop and challenge their learning. 

Development activities include hunt and retrieval games, manual handling conditioning and exposure to different sounds, surfaces and sights.

These development and assessment activities are designed to provide each pup with the best possible opportunity to reach their genetic potential as detector dogs.

The Detector Dog Foster Carer Program

The Detector Dog Program has a network of over 200 volunteer foster carers who are integral to the development of our future detector dogs.

Pups are fostered out to safe and loving homes from nine weeks of age. Foster carers enjoy the rewarding experience of raising a pup, providing them with social and environmental experiences which grow their confidence and independence in preparation to become working dogs.

Many foster carers who join the Program are repeat carers or foster multiple dogs. Narelle and Meg are currently fostering their sixth pup. 

Detector Dog Program Foster carers – Narelle and Meg Riley with ‘Olson’ and ‘Obama’ 

The Detector Dog Program is always searching for foster carers in Melbourne. There are specific criteria required to become a foster carer. All the details and the application form can be found on the Australian Border Force website at abf.gov.au/detectordogs

Detector Dog Juvenile Development

Teaching Australian Border Force (ABF) dogs the skills required to become a working dog is a process that begins long before the commencement of a formal Detector Dog Training Course. The development program for our juvenile dogs consists of regular assessments by our team of Development Officers, in combination with all the work performed by our foster carer community.

By the age of 12 months, all our dogs will have developed basic detection capabilities that enable them to systematically search for and detect a learned target odour.

There is a focus on environmental conditioning, allowing dogs to train and work assuredly, in a wide range of challenging situations. This foundation training is vital for their future as working dogs.

Only the dogs with the strongest temperament and drive will go on to become ABF Detector Dogs.

Training the Top Detector Dogs

Australian Border Force detector dog training is a highly technical and challenging course. Each detector dog team requires approximately 8 months of formal and on-the-job training before becoming operational resources. It takes more time for these dogs to become fully proficient as they continue to expand their search and detection capabilities.

During the formal detector dog course, which runs for 12 weeks, dogs are trained to detect a range of target odours including drugs, explosives, firearms, currency and tobacco.

The training focuses on developing independent search and decision making abilities. Fully trained dogs have the capacity to work in a wide range of work environments, and the independence to follow their own instincts.

Operational Detector Dogs

Operational detector dogs work in a variety of dynamic and challenging environments. 

They make regular detections in our airports, sea ports and postal gateways. They work collaboratively with domestic law enforcement agencies and the ABF across a range of domestic locations.

Last year ABF detector dog teams achieved over 2400 detections, preventing the illegal importation of thousands of kilograms of illicit substances and prohibited imports.

Some of the detections in 2018 included: 

• Drugs: More than 310kg in sea freight, resulting in numerous arrests worldwide, 50kg in air freight and 12kg in international mail. 
• Currency: $800,000 passenger export (aircraft). 
• Tobacco: Multiple detections between 10kg and 2,500kg across freight, mail and passenger environments. 

National and International Relations

Many of the dogs that are bred and developed through the ABF Detector Dog Program find work with other agencies, both within Australia and abroad.

Some of our local partner agencies include:

• Australian Federal Police 
• Department of Agriculture 
• State and Territory Police and Corrections Services 
• Australian Defence Force 

In 2018, the ABF Detector Dog Program also supplied dogs to Japan Customs, New Zealand Customs, Singapore Police and Indonesia Customs. Supplying dogs to these countries helps improve international relations, as well as increasing border security and crime prevention throughout the region.

Health and Wellbeing

The Detector Dog Program maintains the health and wellbeing of each pup throughout their entire journey within the Program. The veterinary staff onsite provide medical attention to all dogs at the facility and care for pups out in foster carer homes. 

Each year the Detector Dog Program places pups with foster carers in the Melbourne area. Foster carers are responsible for maintaining the pup’s health and wellbeing, including daily feeding and exercise and conducting regular health checks to identify any arising health problems. Any health issues and associated costs are covered by the Detector Dog Program. 

Vet Team

The National Detector Dog Program Facility employs qualified veterinarians and nurses to work onsite.

The veterinary team perform an extensive range of functions including consultations, vaccinations, surgery and anaesthesia procedures. They perform many exams and procedures, which include x-rays, de-sexings, eye procedures, wound repair and caesarean births. 

The veterinary team oversee the general health and well-being of the entire ABF canine colony and provide support and guidance to the staff within the Detector Dog Program and to foster carers raising ABF pups in their homes.

Animal Attendant Team 

The animal attendant team plays an important role in ensuring the dog population on site at the National Detector Dog Program Facility are well looked after. A Kennel Manager who is responsible for overseeing the daily activities of the kennel complex, and upskilling new and existing team members in animal welfare practices, leads this team. 

This team consists of full time and casual staff members who cover day and afternoon shifts, 365 days of the year. Their duties include cleaning, feeding, administering medication and exercising dogs.

A significant part of each shift is spent tending to the needs and welfare of each dog at the facility from not only an animal husbandry perspective but also providing enrichment and socialisation to the dogs.

Animal attendants are based around the country to support regional ABF detector dog units.

The National Detector Dog Program Team

The National Detector Dog Program operates from a state of the art purpose built facility located in Melbourne, Victoria. 

This facility incorporates the Program’s Management team and the Capability and Resource Management team. It is also home to the operational Victorian Detector Dog Unit and the breeding, development and training cells of the Program.

The DDP has operational Detector Dog Units in the major ports and some small ports around Australia. As a deployable, flexible workforce the Program is able to respond to tasking requests to all points of the country at short notice.

The DDP employs 85 full-time ABF staff and approximately 25 contractors, all contributing to ensure the best product is working on the frontline to protect Australia’s borders. 

written for Australian Dog Lover, December 2018 (all rights reserved)

For more details, visit www.abf.gov.au/detectordogs or call 1800 664 106 (Monday to Friday: 7.30am–4.30pm)
For enquiries, please email: foster_carers@abf.gov.au

2019 Delta Institute Dog Behaviour Conference - Feb 16 &17

Take the Lead: Exploring the Relevance of Dog Emotional Health in Training ...

The Delta Institute will be hosting their 2019 Delta Institute Dog Behaviour Conference 'Take the Lead: Exploring the Relevance of Dog Emotional Health in Training' on Sat 16 - Sun 17 February 2019. The topic will be focused on emotional health and wellbeing in the training of canine companions. 

Dr Sarah Heath - a specialist in behavioural medicine from the United Kingdom - will speak exclusively for the Delta Institute and will engage with all attendees of the conference.

This conference is specially tailored to trainers, vets and vet nurses, rescue and shelter workers, and anyone involved in the pet industry who understands the importance of emotional health in animals.

Experienced dog owners who would like to know how understanding dog emotional health can help them take their training to the next level will also find the conference engaging and helpful in creating a healthy and stimulating training environment for their canine companions.

Topics covered will include:

● Emotional Motivational Systems and How to Improve Canine Learning
● The Role of the Trainer in Geriatric Care - How to Improve Quality of Life for the Geriatric Dog
● The Importance of Emotional Relaxation and How It Differs from Physical Stillness
● Rehabilitation Training and Emotional and Physical Health in Animals
● The Effects of Emotional Illness on Behavioural Responses
● The Benefit of Teamwork between Veterinary Behaviourists and Rehabilitation Trainers
● Dogs, Cats, and Kids - Positives and Potential Problems and Household Management

When: Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th February 2019.

Where: Mercure Sydney International Hotel, 22 Levey St, Wolli Creek, NSW, 2205.
Located close to Sydney Airport and public transport. Attendees can attend for one day or be part of the full two-day program. 

Cost: $695 (from 1.1.2019)

Well understood emotional health contributes to the overall well-being of dogs and plays a significant part in the bond between humans and dogs. 

For further information and the detailed program, please visit deltainstitute.edu.au/pages/the-program

About Delta Institute 

Delta Institute is the accrediting body for positive reward based trainers who have undertaken the national accredited training course conducted by the institute. The Institute's role is to provide support, recognition and accreditation as well as ongoing education and peer support for graduates of our course.