Pls ensure you have watched the brief Origin Story Vista Viewer version on our homepage before reading on. https://raverdogs.com/
Raider got me through some very dark times and without her in my life, you are not reading this.
I’ve been training dogs since the age of 10 and trained Raider to completely stop when running full pace if I call the command. At top Staffy smashing speed for the last 6 and a half years, at the most random of times — when Raider least expects it — I rehearse for the moment that may save her life or cause serious injury to herself and others.
Raider is family. My best friend. Devoted companion. Loyal AF. And she loves me as much as I cherish her. Prioritising her safety is of utmost importance. Unconditional. Period.
Owning a dog — or two, or a pack of more (and I’ve had many over the years) — has taught me a lot.
But this incident shook me to my core and pushed me to seriously consider my values as a responsible K9 parent.
I have created my K9 Parental Values Tree — in words for the moment — revealing my core beliefs, values, and philosophy that I will add to every Raver Dog Tale.
Today you get the trunk, and two highest branches — plus the trees fruitful flower.
Respect is the trunk of my K9 parental values tree, with the top two branches spelling loud and proud:
- → MAXIMISE SAFETY
- → MINIMISE ANXIETY
Mutual respect between you and your bestie is the aim. The zenith. The perfect picture.
A dog can love you — but not respect you. I see this a lot, and it will be the focus of a future Raver Dog Tale (but I digress).
To earn and share in this mutual respect, maximising safety and minimising anxiety are steps you can take — learn if you don’t know — actions you can physically do — to create the beautiful flower of trust.
Trust is a feeling. A security. Intangible. Not easily attained — can vacillate at any time: be lost, and gained and lost again, hopefully present more than never, ideally forever.
Trust must be earned — and is essential to experiencing your dog at their full potential… and for your dog to really know you, more than you can imagine — if you are yet to share in this wonder.
Maximising safety is actually easy.
Minimising anxiety is a different beast — often goes hand in hand with K9 safety, is not as straightforward, definitely a must — and needs a longer conversation. I will address this in my next Raver Dog Tale (again, I digress).
Maximising safety and public awareness for my dog Raider after dark via an LED Night Collar is a no-brainer — compared to the alternative.
I never thought Raider’s near-death moment on Oxford Street would ever come. But it did. All those years of rehearsing “STOP” — that has annoyed her at times — proves the value of training is priceless, and the lesson unforggettable.
My lesson was learned without harm. It doesn’t always play out like this. So anything that will save the pain of lessons learned with harm — especially when it’s as simple as putting on a seatbelt, a pair of socks, or sunglasses — is not only worth it… and I never repeat myself when writing as i view it as lazy, especailly within the same paragraph but there is no simpler way to communicate and confirm my strong feelings than these four words…. it’s a no-brainer.
500 metres visibility is only one of the many benefits owners will love and adore when their pooch wears a Raver Dogs Halo™.
For more than two years I’ve been experimenting hardcore with LED collars — ramping up research and testing for the last 6 months as my Raver Dogs brand evolved.
My favourite benefit? It turns Raider into my K9 Comet — torching the night, brightening dark skies.
And when I first pulled out my iPhone to shoot… I discovered she is the perfect four-legged light painter — my roaming muse with a fuse.
We’d like to introduce you to Raver Doggyography.
A mix of long exposure, motion blur, trippy light-painted dog tails and light trails photography
Pls see our galleries in the K9-Hole.
