WhyzDog Behavioural Consulting and Training

Trojan, a "problem" dog originally got me into training, which became a regular hobby. Seven years later a trainer asked me if I'd like to learn to to be a trainer and several years later he moved on and left the dog school to me. My local vet then asked if he could send "problem" dogs to me for training. During recovery from a serious illness I started researching alternate training methods and then subsequently completed basic and advanced dog behaviour diplomas and incorporated dog behaviour counselling (behaviour assessment and recommendation). In 2010 I left a corporate management position and started a local online pet food business together with full-time behaviour counselling and training.

Many trainers and behaviourists primarily focus on the dog and don't recognise or give sufficient attention to the dog's human companion. By drawing on academic studies, previous corporate management courses, personal training experience and studies in animal behaviour I attend to both the human and the dog in developing a solid relationship to address training and/or behaviour needs.

I am a better trainer for having studied and continuing to study/research animal behaviour. I am also a significantly better behaviourist for having trained my own dogs to advanced obedience and protection, as well as having trained many people in my school to a similar level.

There are "accredited" behaviourists who have not done any training, or just "puppy training" at best. Considering that a behavioural assessment should include training as part of the recommendations to modify or correct behaviour, how are they able to address serious behavioural issues, without having had experience training their own as well as other people and their dogs at an advanced level. I know this is a problem because I have worked with clients as a second, third and in one instance fourth behaviourist, where the client has been unhappy because the prior "accredited" behaviourists been unable to help or achieved minimal results. In many instances, the clients have told me the previous behaviourist/s have not actually even interacted with the dogs. Some of the behaviourists appear to have been too scared to interact with a large dog, or any aggression related issues. The cat/dog sessions I have done have often been after someone had concentrated on only the "problem" dog and completely ignored the cat, with the cat often desperately in need of behavioural attention and rehabilitation because of the dog. Addressing only the dog related aspect, will mostly not help the cat overcome its stress without specific behavioural input.

Depending on the nature of the problem or service required, we can do a Zoom! session as was done during hard lockdown. However some problems require an in person session.

Class training is outside, so we are able to separate adequately.
I am auto-immune compromised so acutely aware of maintaining social distancing. Masks covering nose and mouth are none-negotiable!!!
During hard lockdown some sessions were done in person because they involved correcting dangerous aggression towards family members and could not be addressed via an online session. These had to be done outside, I wore a mask, full visor, gloves and permanently carry disinfectant spray.
We insist on copies of dog vaccination cards, to reduce zoonotic transmission, also to protect other dogs in the school, especially puppies. Have checked with vets, because we insist on all dogs being vaccinated, puppies can join after their second set of vaccinations.