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.

Australian Beaches That Work for Australian Shepherds

Australian Shepherds at the beach present a particular set of circumstances that don’t always align with what owners expect. Over years of observing these dogs in coastal environments across Australia, certain patterns emerge about which beaches genuinely accommodate their needs…

Teaching Australian Shepherds: What Actually Works

Teaching Australian Shepherds: What Actually Works

Australian Shepherds are built to think independently. They were bred to make decisions about livestock movement without constant direction, which means they’re naturally inclined to problem-solve on their own terms. This trait makes them rewarding to work with, but it…

Rally Obedience and the Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds bring something distinct to rally obedience. After years of running dogs through rally courses, I’ve noticed that Aussies don’t just perform the exercises – they seem to anticipate them. Their herding background wires them to read movement, respond…

Australian Shepherds and Obedience Sports

Australian Shepherds and Obedience Sports

Australian Shepherds show up to obedience trials with an obvious advantage: they were built for work that requires attention, responsiveness, and the ability to read subtle signals. I’ve watched hundreds of them move through obedience rings over the years, and…

Treibball Training for Australian Shepherds

Australian Shepherds and treibball tend to find each other naturally. I’ve watched enough of these dogs work with the large inflatable balls to know that something in their breeding – that herding instinct, the way they read movement and respond…