Every Day We See Progress — The Reality Behind Beau’s Pawsitive Dog Training

— Every Day We See Progress —

Every day, we see progress. Real, meaningful progress.

Working with a group of young rescue dogs is never going to be a silent, instant process—but it is a deeply rewarding one.

At Beau’s Pawsitive Dog Training, we are seeing steady, meaningful progress in our dogs every single day.

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— Who These Dogs Are —

These are rescue dogs.

They are all related—Namaya and her nine puppies—and they have grown up together as a family. Because of this, they are extremely bonded—to each other, and to me as well.

They are also part of a deeply devoted forever sanctuary, where their care, safety, and wellbeing are a lifelong, 24/7 commitment.

The dogs are Namaya, and her puppies—Moon, Luna, Ziggy, Habibi, Aura, Xingxing, Prana, Soleil, and Fleur.

And each one of them is an individual.

Living with them is like living with ten different little people. They each have their own personalities, sensitivities, needs, and challenges. My role is to understand each of them for who they are, and to support them in the way that suits them best—every single day, 24/7.

They are Formosan Mountain Dogs, a very old landrace type believed to go back around 10,000–20,000 years. They are highly intelligent, agile, and naturally independent thinkers.

This connects directly to how we train.

At Beau’s Pawsitive Dog Training, our focus is on decision-making, choice, and self-regulation. We are not simply controlling behaviour—we are helping the dogs learn how to think, process, and choose appropriate responses for themselves.

They are also very young. The puppies are only one year old, and their mother, Namaya, is still young herself at around two years old.

They are still developing emotionally, still learning about the world, and still building the skills needed to respond calmly in different situations.

This is not something we ignore. It is exactly what we are training.

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— Learning to Self-Regulate —

A key part of our work is helping them learn how to regulate their instincts, emotions, and perceptions.

We spend a lot of time allowing them to think, to make choices, and to learn from those choices.

Not every choice will be the right one—and that is part of the process.

Because learning what is the right choice takes time, consistency, and experience. It is not something that can be achieved instantly or overnight.

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— What We Are Doing Responsibly —

Alongside this, we are taking every responsible step:

• Clear signage is in place asking people to ignore the dogs and pass calmly

• The dogs are clearly identified as anxious/nervous to manage expectations

• Visual barriers are in place in higher-stimulation areas

• The space is secure, enclosed, and designed for training

• We work with experienced behaviourists and trainers

• Training is structured, consistent, and ongoing

• We actively teach self-regulation, calm responses, and decision-making

• The dogs are regularly walked in smaller groups outside the training space to reinforce real-world behaviour

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— What They Are Like Outside the Fence —

Outside of the training space, the dogs are walked in smaller groups, including in Sandringham Estate, where they are calm, can be off-lead, and have good recall.

That is the reality of their behaviour beyond the fence.

This contrast is important.

Because what happens at the fence is not only about the dogs. Dogs respond to what they perceive in front of them. There are many situations where there is no reaction at all—and others where a reaction does occur, depending on the individual person, the energy they bring, or the dog they are with.

It is very much a two-way interaction.

I have spent over 25 years working in research and development across different fields, and I bring that same mindset into my work with the dogs—observing, learning, and adapting.

I am also deeply inspired by the work of Jane Goodall, whose approach to understanding behaviour through observation has shaped how we learn about animals.

Living with ten dogs makes one thing very clear: behaviour is not fixed—it is contextual, responsive, and constantly evolving.

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— Understanding Scale and Perception —

Because we have ten dogs, everything is naturally amplified.

From a behavioural perspective, what people often witness at a fence is not a single behaviour, but a social response pattern. Dogs are social animals, and in a bonded group—especially a family group—responses can become synchronised.

This is known as social facilitation: when one dog reacts, it increases the likelihood of others responding as well. This is a normal group dynamic, particularly in young dogs who are still learning emotional regulation.

The fence itself also plays a role. Barriers can increase arousal because they create a sense of restriction while still allowing visual and sensory input. This can heighten alertness and vocal responses.

So what may appear as “ten dogs reacting” is often a combination of:

• Group dynamics

• Environmental factors (such as the fence)

• The specific stimulus on the other side

If the same behaviour were expressed by a single dog, it would likely pass unnoticed. In a group, it becomes more visible—and therefore more easily judged.

This is where perception can differ from reality.

What we are working on is not just reducing noise, but helping each dog learn to process stimuli calmly, make better decisions, and remain regulated—even within a group.

And that takes time.

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— The Support We Receive —

The overwhelming majority of people—truly 99.99%—are kind, supportive, and understanding.

To everyone who walks past, who offers a smile, a wink, a kind word, a chat, or even just a quiet thumbs up—thank you.

It means more than you may realise.

Those small moments of encouragement carry a great deal of weight, and they far outweigh anything negative.

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— Gratitude, Balance, and Protection —

At the same time, it is important to speak honestly.

While negative interactions are very rare, they can still have an impact. And part of sharing this is not about dwelling on them, but about being transparent and protective—of the work, of the space, and most importantly, of the dogs.

Because this is something built on care, responsibility, and devotion.

And these dogs deserve to feel safe.They deserve the space to learn, to grow, and to continue progressing.

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— The Reality of a Forever Sanctuary —

Running a forever sanctuary is a significant commitment.

This is a 24/7 responsibility, caring for ten individual dogs with different needs, personalities, and challenges.

We are still building towards a future eco-sanctuary where they will have their own permanent space.

Right now, this is run by one person, and every bit of support makes a real difference.

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— The Bigger Picture —

So it’s important to share the full picture:

• We are a rescue and sanctuary

• The dogs are young and still developing

• They are a bonded family group

• We are actively teaching self-regulation and decision-making

• We are managing the environment responsibly

• And the dogs are progressing

There is no quick fix in this kind of work.

But the direction is clear.

And it is all PAWSITIVE