Geo Bay Dog Training: Busselton pet owners urged to train dogs to protect possums

Dog trainers in Busselton have urged owners to teach their dogs to avoid native wildlife such as possums ahead of warmer months. Fifteen dogs and 21 of their owners took part in possum avoidance training for dogs along the Busselton foreshore with expert trainer Asher Lindberg from Geo Bay Dog Training as part of GeoCatch’s Pets Away, Possum Play program. The workshop aimed to give participants the tools to manage their dog’s behaviour around wildlife, ensuring pets and local possums could co-exist peacefully. Trainer Asher Lindberg provided practical possum avoidance techniques to help dogs understand boundaries, which reduces stress for both the dog and local wildlife. Ms Lindberg said owners needed to dedicate time to training their pets to not attack or chase native wildlife. “Reducing harmful interactions between dogs and possums is possible if the owner is committed to putting the effort and time into training their dog to avoid possums,” she said. Responsible dog owners learnt distraction and “leave it” techniques with possum-scented items to help avoid interactions with possums. These techniques are able to be applied to other native wildlife. Training dogs to avoid native wildlife can also prevent injury from dangerous creatures more active in the summer, such as snakes. Project officer Nicole Lincoln said she was delighted to see the dogs learning new techniques. “It is encouraging to see so many dog owners willing to learn how to protect possums and wildlife in their backyards while also enjoying the benefits of pet ownership,” she said.