Sophie Bennett

Sophie Bennett

Sophie Bennett writes about dog behaviour, training, wellbeing and everyday life with dogs. She focuses on practical, thoughtful guidance that helps owners better understand their dogs and make informed decisions about care, training and life together.

Dock Diving with Australian Shepherds

Dock Diving with Australian Shepherds

Australian Shepherds take to dock diving with a naturalness that catches people off guard. You put most of them on a dock for the first time, and they don’t hesitate. The breed’s herding background – that constant motion, the desire…

Australian Shepherds in Water: What Actually Happens

Australian Shepherds in Water: What Actually Happens

Australian Shepherds have a complicated relationship with water. I’ve worked with dozens of them over the years, and the variation is striking. Some take to swimming immediately and with genuine enthusiasm. Others treat water like a minor inconvenience they’d prefer…

Running With an Australian Shepherd

Running With an Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds are built for work that involves constant directional changes, sustained focus, and responsive movement across variable terrain. When you run with one, you’re not simply moving forward at a steady pace. You’re managing a dog whose instincts pull…

Australian Shepherd Ear Care: What Actually Matters

Australian Shepherd Ear Care: What Actually Matters

Australian Shepherds have ears that sit somewhere between fully erect and semi-folded, which creates a particular set of conditions worth understanding. After years of working with this breed, I’ve noticed that ear problems don’t arrive randomly – they develop predictably…