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Cooperative Care | Fitness | Enrichment | Massage

Helping you make your dog's day better Are you puzzled by your dog's behaviour?

Cooperative Care | Fitness | Enrichment | Massage

Helping you make your dog's day better

Your Whole Dog is owned and operated by me, Annie Thorne, your Wellington-based canine wellbeing partner. Are you looking to enhance their physical wellbeing? Are you looking to advocate for your dogs' physical and behavioural health? I'm here to help you make your dog’s day better. We'll combine ethical rew

ard-based training, fitness, massage, and enrichment in an integrated approach. This approach, founded on the belief that a happy, healthy dog thrives

- when they are understood,

- when they are confident in their surroundings,

- when they are comfortable in their bodies,

- and when their needs are met. My mission is to strengthen the bond between dogs and their humans. We start by supporting your dog's emotional and physical health. Let's work together to create a harmonious household where both you and your canine companion will thrive! Professional qualifications:
Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP),
Family Dog Mediator (FDM)
Certified Canine Strength and Conditioning Coach (CSCC),
Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer (CPCFT),
Certified canine massage therapist, kinesiology tape practitioner and cold laser therapist. Fear Free Certified Professional (Trainer)
Low-Stress Handling Silver Certified. Professional memberships:
Association of Pet Dog Trainers NZ (full),
Pet Professional Guild (full),
International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (supporting),
International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork/Association of Canine Water Therapy

05/09/2026

3 things I'd never do as a canine fitness and conditioning coach...

- Hand you a plan I found on Instagram
- Skip the warm up
- Pick the flashy exercise over the effective one

And what I’d do instead...

- Plans written based on how your dog is moving and what they need
- We always start with a proper warm up. Less chance of injuries that way
- Use effective exercises that you and your dog can do. Flashy looks good on camera. Effective is what builds the dog (and holds everything together).

Written by me, Annie, a real-ass human who also uses AI to help me organise my jumbled brain.

08/07/2026

I've been having socialisation feelings ...

I keep hearing the same outdated advice doing the rounds - keep puppies home until they're fully vaccinated - and it's bugged me enough to finally do something about it.

There are two risks to manage in those early weeks, not just one.

Infectious disease gets all the airtime, but under-socialisation is just as serious, and it's the one not enough people talk about.

I've written a blog on it here, with some practical ways to get started safely (no waiting required): https://yourwholedog.co.nz/blogs/news/do-you-really-have-to-wait-for-vaccinations-before-socialising-your-puppy

And if you want to skip straight to the good stuff, I've also put together a free guide with PLENTY of actionable advice, and journal pages to help you stay on track: https://yourwholedogonline.newzenler.com/f/getting-out-there-puppy-socialisation

Wary of downloads because so many are an underwhelming 3 pages of advertising and not much practical use?

Yeah, me too. So, that's not how I roll!

Stay curious 🐾

- written by me, a human, who uses AI to help me organise my jumbled thoughts.

16/02/2026

😱 oh man, the weather ⛈️🌩️💨🌬️⛈️ 😱

Your Whole Dog HQ is currently weathering the storm, and without power.

I’m unable to pack up and send shop orders, and have limited admin capabilities.

Current estimates have things returning to normal for us some time on Wednesday.

I’ll be endeavouring to do some responses to emails and queries before that if I can safely access power and internet away from home.

The shop will remain open, and I'll be packing up and sending orders as soon as I can. Delivery times are likely to be longer than normal due to inevitable transport delays.

Please, stay safe.

thank you for your patience, and your support of my teeny tiny business 🐾

15/02/2026

So… my darling 15-year-old Wolly has accidentally become my latest case study. And, as I exploit his misfortune, I promise he’s being well paid for being blog fodder.

Wolly is currently rehabbing three injuries (yes, three out of four legs … gah … I admire his dedication to keeping me professionally humble - apparently I needed a refresher).

Our household currently runs on a strict schedule of rehab exercises, snacks, and my ongoing negotiation with him about both.

And he’s reminding me, in real time, of something I say to clients regularly: age isn’t a diagnosis.

When I saw increasing lameness, it would have been very easy to throw up my hands and say “well, he’s old.”

Digging into what’s actually going on - and supporting him with rehab and sensible management - means improvement is still absolutely possible.

Writing our senior dogs off as “just getting old” can cost them real quality of life.

I’ve written a blog about what this looks like in real life, and why senior dogs deserve more than a shrug and a stereotype.

I’ll pop the link to it in the comments.

28/01/2026

Facebook just reminded me that it’s two years since Wolly had his stroke.

We marked the anniversary by doing one of his favourite things: standing for snacks 😄 😂

This kind of simple strength and mobility work is one of my barometers for how he’s feeling. And, it’s a great example of basic, real-life, functional exercise that all dogs can benefit from.

It doesn’t need to be complicated or about lots of reps, and fancy exercises. Who has time for that?!

We’re all so busy hustling and trying to keep up… and I’m very much here for slowing down and doing less, which often ends up being more.

What matters is that it’s functional and supports the individual dog in their daily life.

Fancy gear optional!!

Yes, I’m using purpose-made equipment here, but I also routinely use less-fancy DIY props. My only criteria is that it’s safe, fit for purpose, and helps achieve the goal of the exercise.

The real value is in the task, the variation, and how the dog responds. Which is why we did the same exercise on three different sets of props.

Real dogs. Real life.

🐾 💪🧘‍♀️🍪🐾

20/01/2026

Nope, you're not imagining things!

If something feels ‘off’ about your dog - if their behaviour has changed in ways you can't quite explain - trust your instinct.

Maybe they're more reactive than they used to be. Or suddenly reluctant to do things they've always done easily. Or they just seem a bit uncomfortable and not-quite-themselves but you can't pinpoint why.

Dogs can't tell us when something hurts. But they DO communicate through their behaviour - and the subtle signs of pain usually show up long before the limping does.

I've written a comprehensive guide to help you recognise the signs your dog might be trying to show you.

I'll pop the link to the blog in the comments.

16/01/2026

CPD with a difference ...

I had a bit of a stomach-churning moment recently.

I saw a post claiming that the cure for imposter syndrome was… more education. More courses. More certificates. Handily, they also had a new certificate course I could enrol in to learn more skills in order to fix my imposter angst.

Immediate turn-off!

I'd guess that for most of us, the issue isn't a lack of information. It's not that we don't know enough.

Usually, what we're missing is confidence. Support. And the belief that we can actually apply what we already know. We need to believe we can do it well.

Sound familiar?

Which is why - oh, the irony! - I decided to enrol in a course 😂

But this one was different.

The Confident Practitioner Program with Lisa Ruthig of Power of Touch wasn't about learning more techniques or adding another certificate to the wall (although yes, I did get a certificate 😆). It was about developing practical nervous system skills to manage stress and self-doubt in the moment.

And here's the twist I genuinely didn't see coming:

The skills I learned for managing my own stress? They're exactly the same ones my clients need when supporting their dogs.

Not more instructions. Not more pressure to stay calm (- does that ever actually work?). Just practical ways to pause, ground, and stay present instead of spiralling. Fair to say, I’m still a work in progress.

Dogs don't exist in isolation from us. They read our stress, our tension, our hesitation. Often before we're even aware of it ourselves.

And when we feel more grounded, our dogs feel it too.

This learning has done more than help me. It’s changed how I show up for my clients. I'm not watching just your dog's body language anymore. I'm noticing where stress is showing up in you - and I have practical tools to share that can shift it in the moment.

Small shifts that help your nervous system feel safer. Which helps your dog feel safer too.

If you're feeling stuck with your dog right now and wondering if your own stress is part of the puzzle... it probably is. And that's okay. There are tools that can help.

Curious to read more? There's a blog linked in the comments.

14/01/2026

Flexiness Canine Fitness gear … pre-orders open!

Flexiness has been popular recently. If that’s you, thank you 🙌

And now I’m getting ready to put together my next Flexiness Canine Fitness equipment order to restock.

I already have some pre-orders in, and before I finalise the shipment I wanted to let people know that pre-ordering is available for items that aren’t currently in stock.

Pre-orders help me plan stock more accurately (small business realities 🙃😬😆), and they’re a win for you too:

- You’re guaranteed the equipment you want
- You’ll lock in current pricing (ever-rising import costs mean prices are likely to rise… again)

If you’ve been thinking about paw pods, balance discs, SensiMats, or any of the other fab fitness gear for your dog, now’s a good time to have a look.

Flexiness canine fitness equipment is extremely versatile and ideal for supporting strength, balance, mobility, and confidence in dogs of all ages.

If you’re unsure what might suit your dog, feel free to email me - [email protected] - I’m always happy to help.

13/01/2026

Okay, so it turns out I have more to say about floors 🙃

The last time I talked about slippery floors and mobility, it was: falls, injuries, senior dogs.

This time, it’s about slippery floors and behaviour: stress, learning, confidence.

Slippery floors don’t just affect how your dog moves. They affect how your dog learns, and how well they can cope with everyday life.

That anxious dog who won’t come into the kitchen?
The “disobedient” dog who won’t sit when you ask?
The puppy who freezes at the edge of the hallway?
The chaos when visitors arrive and dogs go sliding everywhere?

Spoiler: it’s probably not stubbornness.

And it’s not a lack of training.

When dogs don’t feel secure on their feet, what often looks like a behaviour 'problem' is more likely just a dog trying not to slip or fall.

Stress levels spike.
Learning becomes harder (imagine ice skating and then someone asks you to do a maths puzzle).
One slip can create fear or avoidance.
Excitement turns into chaos.

I always make sure Wolly & Tigg greet visitors outside or on carpet. Not because they’re 'naughty' (well… 🤔😬😆) but because excited dogs + slippery floors = chaos (or worse, injury).

If your dog struggles in certain rooms, shuts down during training, or seems 'out of control' in specific situations, the surface beneath their paws might well be a part of the puzzle.

👉 Link in comments to read the full blog

Photo: a perfectly calm Wolly and Tigg snuffling for scattered treats, which is how I try and set them up for when visitors arrive. And on a rainy day? Snuffle mats (on carpet) indoors!

01/01/2026

I was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Sarah Fisher.

I didn't know Sarah personally, but hearing her speak at the APDT Australia conference a couple of years ago was an enormous privilege.

I've since taken several of her courses, and learned something valuable every single time.

Her Animal Centred Education work has had a profound influence on animal welfare and on how many of us think, observe, and support dogs (and their humans).

Her words sit with me daily: "the dog is always right", "do less, watch more", "when we're curious, we learn", "ask more questions", "what do you see".

I carry those reminders into my consults. Often quite literally on my shoulder.

I'm deeply grateful for what she shared so generously, and for the ripple effect her teaching continues to have.

Thank you, Sarah 🐾 💔 🐾

Address

Horokiwi Road
Wellington
5016

Website

http://www.yourwholedog.co.nz/, https://bio.site/yourwholedog

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