Ex-Army Dog Handler: The First Thing to Teach Your New Puppy

Ruby, a beautiful Jack Russel, was rehomed at around 10 months old for barking, pacing and prey-driven reactivity. Today she's a working service dog, and proof that a "problem dog" is often just an undeveloped one. On this episode of 10K Dogs, Nath sits down with Matt, a Walky's trainer, ex-Army explosive detection dog handler, former Assistance Dogs Australia trainer and 2009 Sydney X Games rollerblader, to talk about how he got into dog training, the dogs who shaped his career, and the rescue Jack Russell he built into his service dog. Matt's path into dog training is anything but typical. He went from breaking in horses at a riding-for-disabled centre, to working with greyhounds, to handling explosive detection dogs in the Army, to training puppies at Assistance Dogs Australia, to joining the Walky's team after Nath handed him a copy of the Vision Book at their very first meeting. Along the way, Matt breaks down what most dog owners never get told about dog behaviour, puppy training and building a calm dog. In this episode: The first thing Matt would teach any puppy (hint: it isn't sit). Why "my dog needs fixing" usually means "my dog is doing exactly what I've taught it", including the jumping they get unknowingly rewarded for How Matt built a service dog out of a rescue Jack Russell, and why "jacket on, jacket off" matters What military working dog handlers do differently: clear and calm communication Why high-drive dogs like Malinois and Jack Russells struggle as companion dogs (the "unemployed working dog") Crate training, place training and doorway manners for a calmer home life Why foundations matter, and why so many owners end up "backwards training" Why you should ask "is it the right time for my dream dog?" before you buy a high-drive breed If your dog feels like too much right now, this episode is definitely for you. 🐾 Part of the 10K Dogs mission — to save 10,000 dogs from unnecessary behavioural euthanasia. We’re working towards creating better dogs, better lives, stronger families and brighter futures.