About Me

I am a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant and Accredited dog Trainer with International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC) and Accredited Animal Behavior Consultant and Accredited Animal Instructor with CANZ (Companion Animals NZ); Fear Free Certified Professional; Member Pet Professional Guild (PPG USA) Canine Training Professional; Certificate of Excellence Living and Learning with Animals from BehaviourWorks Dr Susan Friedman; Dr Ian Dunbar’s Sirius Dog Training Academy - puppy school; Cat Behaviour and Training mentorship with Katenna Jones IAABC; Roger Abrantes Guinea Pig Camp; Learning About Learning with Peta Clarke and Susan Friendman; Forensics of Aggression Jim Cosby; Stress and the Animal Dr Kristina Spaulding. I have been a member, and committee member, of Association Professional Dog Trainers APDTNZ.

I’ve attended, and continue to attend, and have had working spots in numerous continued education certificates since 2007, conferences, seminars, workshop attendance/participation and webinars in; behaviour, ethology, neurology, nutrition, cognitive function and behaviour, nose work, enrichment, animal welfare, scent work, mental health, stress, aggression, puppy imprinting and training. With career highlights being taught by the likes of the one and only Bob Bailey, Ken Ramirez, Peta Clarke, Susan Friedman, Ian Dunbar, Jean Dodds, Sophia Yin, Patricia McConnell, Diane Garrod, Roger Abrantes, Steve White, Ken McCort, Nikki Tudge, Katenna Jones, Jim Cosby, Kristina Spaulding, Jane Killion… 

In 2023 I was invited to collaborate with PD Insurance and the Department of Conservation on their Lead the Way programme, keeping beach safe for all life, and continue to provide professional advice on a number of other issues. I also worked for Southern Cross Pet Insurance ad campaigns including Hi Viz - promoting safety for dogs at night.

I was engaged as the dog trainer for the UK production of ‘Annie the Musical’ which was on tour in New Zealand and Legally Blonde. My role was to audition dogs, select the most suitable and to then train and wrangle them for the shows. And, later for an nz production of Legally Blonde.

I am the published author of “Dogs in Action - Working Dogs and their Stories”, published by Exisle and distributed in NZ, Australia, The UK and worldwide.

I have worked with dogs, in numerous countries, in all sorts of situations - from pet dog beginners puppy class to rehabilitation of rescues and ex-lab testing victims; from street dogs and feral jungle dogs in Asia to the polar extreme dogs in television commercials and live theatre. I have consulted on welfare, enrichment and behaviour as well as staff and animal training. I’ve been hands on in projects of a mass scale, to one on one. I have dealt with dogs that range from new born puppies and pet dogs through to level 5 biters and feral dogs with no human imprinting.

I have volunteered with Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), Avalanche Rescue, for numerous dog rescue organisations through rescue, foster, rehabilitation and training. And while working on my book, I got to experience the lives of many working dogs including police dog training, sled dogs, cancer detection, explosive detection, Wilderness Search and Rescue, seizure response, service dogs and many more. In Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, I met and was invited to train with poacher tracking dog teams. 

I am a firm believer in three things - 1. First, do no harm to the animal - Fear and Force free; 2. Agency for all animals; 3.Dialogue - Listen to what the animal is telling you.

Professional Certifications, Accreditations & memberships