Accredited force-free, fear-free trainer / behaviour consultant

Find out about my extensive experience, professional accreditations, positive reinforcement based training philosophy and continued professional development. 

Treating you and your dog with care, compassion, and respect.

Accreditation 

• CANZ Accredited Animal Trainer & Animal Training Instructor (2021) 

• APDTNZ (Association of Professional Dog Trainers NZ) Endorsed Trainer (2020)

• Full member of The Pet Professional Guild - The Association for Force-Free Pet Professionals.

Accreditation through CANZ and APDTNZ assures you that you are engaging a dog trainer / behaviour consultant, who meets high standards of professional knowledge, dog-friendly training methodology, academic qualifications, business ethics, and commitment to ongoing professional development. 

As a dog owner, that’s important to know, because in New Zealand, animal training and behaviour is an unregulated industry. This means that any person, regardless of their experience, education, or training methodologies, can advertise themselves as an animal behaviour professional. 

Practical experience

• Over 14 years experience in dog training, instruction, and behaviour consulting

• Dog Behaviour Assessment contractor for the Whangarei District Council, Animal Control, Adoption Programme (Armourguard) - August 2020 - present

• Trainer for Epilepsy Assist Dog Trust (2020 - present / as required)

• Qualified/competing in nosework trials since 2020

• Whangarei Dog Training Association, Pet Dog Manners and Canine Good Citizen class instructor (2011 - 2014)

• Whangarei SPCA, volunteer - dog section

• Qualified dogs in Canine Good Citizen - Foundation and Bronze

• Qualified dogs in competitive obedience

• Competed in dog Breed Shows

• Raced a two-dog team on scooter - dryland and snow

• Raising and training my own dogs since 1989

Professional development

Undergraduate study
Clinical Animal Behaviour, Waikato University, pass grade A+ (300 Level, 20 points, full third year paper) - 2014

Training seminars and workshops

• Michael Shikashio CDBC - online: Aggression in Dogs, Master Course (2023 current)

• Absolute Dogs - online: Reactivity - Barking and Lunging (2023 current)

• Absolute Dogs - online: Absolute Confidence (2023 current)

• APDTNZ annual conference ( Nov 22, online) - Michael Shikashio CDBC: Staying Safe in Aggression Cases, Ready, Set, Emotion!. Veronica Boutelle: Business Coaching. Dr Kat Gregory - BVSc.MANZCVS: Chronic Pain & Behaviour. Kelly McFarlane - CSAT,CDBC,VN: Understanding Anxiety  

• School of Canine Science - online: 30 Days of Canine Science (2022)

• School of Canine Science - online: Scent for Six (2022)

• School of Canine Science - online: The Puppy Lab (2022)

• School of Canine Science - online: Nutrition and Behaviour (2022)

• School of Canine Science - online: Fear (2022)

• Absolute Dogs - online: Sexier than a Squirrel (2022)

• Companion Animals NZ Annual Conference 2021 “Towards a Good Life” 29/29 October 2021

• Nosework workshop by Gaye Stammers (NZ), 16 Jan 21

• School of Canine Science - online Fear, 2020

• School of Canine Science - online: Nutrition and Behaviour, 2019

• Steve White (USA) - HITT (Hydration Intensified Tracking Training) – Tracking in the Real World (urban tracking), Scentsational! (Scent detection and training methods), Thousand-Hour Eyes (Scenting Dogs) - 26 - 28 October 2019

• Ken Ramirez (USA) - Complex tools, Non-food reinforcers, Concept training, Aggression management, Handling animal mistakes positively, Problem solving, Husbandry - 31 May - 2 June 2019

• Christine Dahl (USA) - Whole-dog Approach and Temperament Testing, Client counseling, Self development and longevity strategies - and Kay Attwood (UK) - Platform training, Cognitive skills - 1-3 June 2018

• Detector Dog Training workshop held by Northland Regional Council on training pest plant detection dogs with John Taylor, Invercargill, 20 and 21 April 2018

• Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, School of Scent Sports, Developing Advanced Nosework Skills online course in October/November 2017

• Nando Brown and Jo Rosie Haffenden (UK) - Teaching Touch and Out cues, Dangerous Dogs, Predatory Recall, Domestic Dogesses, Context vs Concept, Resource Guarding - 2-4 June 2017

• Kelly Daniel (NZ) (Canine Fitness) 3 June 2017

• Clicker training for horses with Bex Tasker (NZ) - 6/7 May 2017

• Dr Robert E (Bob) Bailey, SCD (USA) - The Principles & Procedures of Animal Training, The biology behind the Principles, Teaching Animal Training, Effective Training, History of Animal Training - 14-16 April 2017

• Kelly Daniel (NZ) (Canine Fitness) workshop - 11 Sept 2016

• Pat Miller CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA (USA) - Body Talk, Nose Games, Personality Profiles, Behaviour Assessments, Gold Paw, Bite Me, Copy That, Positive Mistakes and Positive Solutions - and Dr. Liza Schneider (NZ, Holistic Vet Care) June 2016

• Clicker training for horses with Bex Tasker (NZ) - 2016

• Department of Conservation, Conservation Dog handlers and trainers, detection dog training (Guus Knopers, K9 Training (NZ) and bird aversion workshop - 2016

• Fenzi Dog Sport Academy, Introduction to Nosework, online course - 2015

• John Rogerson (UK) - Puppy development, Angels and Demons, Practical Training Workshops - and Veronica Boutelle DogBiz (US) - Take your Teachings to the next Level, Grow your business, Make More Money – Help More Dogs, Get it All Done - 29 May - 1 June 2015

• Debby Kay (USA) ‘Super Sniffer’ training workshop - 2015

• Dr Susan Friedman (USA) - The Significance of Science: Two Learning Paradigms, Understanding and Predicting Behaviour, Changing Behaviour Respondent Strategies, Changing Behaviour Operant Strategies, The Commitment to Ethical Practice, Developing Change Plans Systematically - 21 - 23 February 2014

• Jill Marie O'Brien (USA) K9 Nose Work® - 31 May - 2 June 2014

• Mary Concannon/Irish Clicker Centre (Ireland), Clicker Training for Horses - 2014

• Grisha Stewart (USA) - BAT (Behaviour Adjustment Training 2014

• Dr Roger Abrantes (Portugal), Guinea Pig Camp (training guinea pigs to detect gun powder) - 2013

• Pia Silvani, (USA) - Rethinking Dog Training Classes, Making the Sale, Who is the Trainer, Marketing 101 for Dog Trainers, Fear Factor, Fighting Dogs, Chill Out: Overly Aroused Puppies, Devil Puppies, The Best Class in Town: Yours, Playtime: What is it Really About - 1 - 3 November 2013

• Dr Ian Dunbar (UK) - We continue to waste puppyhood, Transcending Reinforcement Schedules, Going Way Beyond”Dominance” and Punishment and Rekindling the Relationship, Off-leash Verbal Control with Distance and Distractions, Phasing out Food Lures and Rewards and Naturally Motivating your Dog to Perform Quickly, Reliably and Willingly - 8 - 10 February 2013

• Terry Ryan (USA), Canine Good Citizen instructors workshop - 2013

• Dr Sophia Yin (USA) - Training Principles that Work for All Creatures, Recognising Rapid Reversal of Brewing Aggression, Teaching Dogs to Learn to Earn, The Many Faces of Fear, Low Stress Handling of Dogs, Body Language, Psychopharmacology, Genes and Behaviour - 5-7 October 2012

• Kim Moeller (USA) - 2012

• Steve White (USA) - Thousand Hour Eyes, Raising the Bar - 17 - 19 February 2012

• Dr Patricia McConnell (USA) - Advanced Canine Behaviour, Play, Dog - Dog Aggression, Emotions in Dogs - 27 -28 November 2010

Books and DVD: I regularly read books and watch DVDs about all aspects of dog training/animal behaviour.

My mission

• To support owners and their dogs

• Owners and dogs have a great relationship and fun together

• Dogs enjoy a happy, fulfilled life as members of a family

• Dogs learn through fun, force-free, science-based training

• Fewer dogs are rehomed or left at shelters

• Owners enjoy living with their social, and well-mannered dogs

My dog training philosophy

My principle is "First do no harm" - using the least intrusive method available (LIMA). I'm a passionate advocate for modern science-based dog training methods using positive reinforcement. Using rewards such as treats or toys works extremely well. Your dog learns fast and will be keen and happy to do what you want him to do. I want to help you build a great relationship with your dog and for your dog to be well behaved because he wants to not because he’s afraid of the consequences if he doesn’t.

I am a vocal opponent of aversive, dominance-based training techniques, which may result in 'quick fixes' but I believe will ultimately cause more long-term harm than good while damaging the owner-dog relationship.

My first step in behaviour consultations is usually looking at ways we can set up the environment to prevent the dog from rehearsing the unwanted behaviour in the first place. Then we can identify what we want the dog to do instead, and train and reinforce the alternative behaviour. 

My story

Animals, especially dogs, have been my passion for most of my life. For many years, while working in my ‘official’ career of Public Relations and Web Communications, I kept my connection with dogs through training my own dogs, volunteering at the SPCA and local dog training clubs, and helping other dog owners with training and behaviour advice.

In 2013, my friend and fellow dog trainer Bev Binney and I decided it was about time that we took our passion to the next level and Happy Tails Dog Training was born. Our aim was always to promote force-free training methods and to make a difference so that fewer dogs are rehomed or left at shelters. Puppy classes started around springtime 2014. Other services such as group classes including nose work and one-on-one training and behaviour consultations were introduced shortly after. At the same time, I took the plunge and made Happy Tails Dog Training my new full time career working as a dog trainer and animal behaviour consultant.

Bev left Happy Tails Dog Training in April 2017 to move to another region. Since then, I am the sole operator of Happy Tails Dog Training and I’m gradually increasing the services my business offers, including branching out to help other species such as horses, cats and birds.

Personal qualities

I can relate to you as I’ve learnt many lessons about raising puppies and living with dogs the hard way, and I made mistakes along the way.

I’m passionate about teaching reward-based training so people can enjoy a great relationship with their dog.

I deeply care about all animals. I'm an active supporter of animal welfare and rescue organisations.

My partner and I currently live with Buzz, a male Border Collie cross Golden Retriever, Yogi, a male Golden Retriever, and three miniature horses.