Who we are,
Reviews & FAQ's
 

I have an Animal Management Certification, majoring in Canine Training and Behaviour. I am an Association for Professional Dog Trainers New Zealand (APDTNZ) member and certified with Fear Free Shelter programme.

I maintain a current Pet First Aid Certification and volunteer with the SPCA. I continue to develop my skills and am part of a community of like-minded trainers.

Animal trainers in New Zealand are not required to hold any certification to operate here. However, at The Dog Behaviour Academy, I believe education is critical to being better qualified to help guardians and dogs thrive.

I help and support pet parents to reduce reactivity and help fearful dogs. The approaches I draw on:

• Management for your dog, to reduce uncontrolled exposure to triggers and the practice of responses.

• Enrichment to fulfil your dogs needs and build well being.

• Pairing positive outcomes with safe and gradual exposure to triggers to shift your dog's emotional response.

• Teach your dog new behaviours, skills and responses.

This supports your dog using clear communication and reward based learning and games.

It is not ethical to guarantee specific outcomes, however I am confident in my training methods and committed to helping you build the relationship you want with your dog.

Many factors influence your dog's behavior and training progress, including:

• Genetics and breed characteristics

• Lifestyle and daily routines

• Home environment

• Your dog's age and health

• Consistency in applying what I teach

What I do promise is professional guidance, evidence-based methods, and ongoing support to give you and your dog the best chance of success. Most of my clients see significant improvements when they follow our training plans consistently.

I use positive reinforcement training methods - this means rewarding good behaviour to encourage your dog to repeat it. Learning happens best when your dog is engaged and having fun.

Our approach includes:

• Rewards-based training - treats, praise, and play for good behaviour

• Clear communication - teaching your dog what you want. 

• Science-backed techniques - my methods use Associative and Operant conditioning, methods proven effective by animal behaviour research.

I don't use fear, coercion, or punishment. Instead, I focus on building your dog's confidence and strengthening your bond together. This leads to lasting behaviour changes that stick because your dog wants to cooperate, not because they're afraid not to.

Our training methods are based on clear communication, keeping dogs engaged so they understand what's expected. We reward desired behaviours so they are repeated. Good dog training often looks boring to the outsider, there is no barking or lunging or over arousal, dogs cannot learn in that state.

Our training uses:

• Reward-based learning - your dog learns because good things happen

• Fun training games - keeping sessions enjoyable and engaging

• Mental enrichment - building your dog's problem-solving skills

• Step-by-step progress - breaking behaviors into achievable steps

Unlike harsh methods that may suppress behavior temporarily, our approach builds lasting positive habits.

We work closely with you throughout the process and provide ongoing support to ensure your success.

Training sessions are 1 hour in length and follow a structured approach.

We'll discuss each skill we're covering, when to use them in real life and why and how they'll help your dog.

We begin with some simple exercises to help your dog focus and get excited for learning.

I'll demonstrate each technique first, then you'll practice while I guide you. 

We cover around four skills per session with lots of hands-on practice. Training is broken up with games that keep your dog engaged and make learning fun.

After each session, you'll receive a written plan summarising what we covered.

I recommend practicing just 5 minutes daily between sessions to reinforce the learning.

I help your dog succeed by making adjustments:

• Redirect attention - Guide your dog toward the right behaviour 

• Simplify the task - If something's too hard, we break it into smaller steps

• Change our method - Try a different way of teaching the same thing

• Reset with play - Use games to keep training positive and reduce frustration

• Practice calm activities - Help both you and your dog relax and refocus

Being flexible works because dogs learn better when they're not stressed or confused. By ignoring mistakes and adjusting what we're asking of them we set them up for success. 

Remember: there are no "bad" dogs, only dogs who need clearer communication or a different approach.

Dog enrichment is activities, toys, or environments that dogs choose to engage with that fulfill an innate need. Enrichment provides mental, physical, and sensory stimulation to promote their overall well-being and can prevent unwanted behaviours developing.

Using enrichment can significantly improve your dog's confidence, problem solving skills, helping them develop the adaptability to cope with life's twists and turns.

Enrichment is an excellent tool to shift undesired behaviours by working at the root cause and improving a dogs sense of well being, leading to lasting changes.

I train in most weather conditions but if it's pouring down we'll reschedule your training to a convenient time.

For enrichment training walks, I go rain or shine. If your dog is wet or muddy, I'll towel them dry for their comfort and to ensure they won't be bringing dirty paws into your home.