My Dog Journey

My journey into dog training began in 1998 with Jesta, my exuberant young Boerboel-Labrador mix. His reactivity and unruly behaviour challenged me to dive deep into the world of dog behaviour and training methods. What started as a necessity quickly grew into a passion. In 2005, I took my learning further by completing a year-long course in basic dog behaviour under the guidance of Prof. Odendaal at the Ethology Consultancy. 

That same year, we welcomed our first Australian Shepherd puppy into the family, and a new chapter began when I got hooked on the breed. I quickly discovered that positive reinforcement and clicker training worked wonders for this highly intelligent breed that can be challenging to motivate. Together, we explored the joy of learning tricks, competing in agility and carting. Over the years, my life has been enriched by several Aussies, fostered herding breeds, and various mixes. Many of these dogs faced significant challenges, including neurological disorders, seizures, predatory aggression, fear-based behaviours, severe anxiety, deafness, and blindness, etc.

Working with these “difficult” foster dogs, helping them overcome obstacles and watching them flourish, cemented my passion for herding breeds, special needs dogs, and adopted dogs. 

In 2019, I began offering personalised one-on-one training sessions to help coach people to train and understand their deaf dogs. I later expanded these services to include training for newly adopted and blind dogs. By 2020, I had launched small group ‘Life Skills’ classes to support even more dog owners in creating strong, positive relationships with their companions. 

Since completing my first formal behaviour course in 2005, I have undertaken numerous additional courses and workshops (details below). My commitment to continuous learning ensures that I stay at the forefront of dog training techniques, enabling me to provide the best possible support to dogs and their people.