Top dogs: Adelaide’s go-to pet trainers, behavioural experts share tips to help you, your pooch
We sit down with Adelaide top pet trainers and ask what makes for a good trainer, what type of training is most effective and what’s their best advice?
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From being asked to teach dogs to swim and surf, to quirky toilet-training requests, an overweight dog making the most of a food-enabling cat and pleas for help to stop a beloved pooch’s constant spinning, chasing imaginary flies or licking floors, Adelaide’s go-to pet trainers hear it all.
Adelaide Vet behavioural veterinarian Eleanor Parker says the best trainers will be educated, competent, experienced and up-to-date in their knowledge and techniques.
“(A great trainer) needs to have a thorough understanding of canine behaviour, psychology and emotion for both ‘normal’ dogs and those with special needs, for example, those that have emotional and cognitive disturbances such as anxiety,” she says.
“They also need to understand their limitations as trainers and when to refer for medical assessment to have any underlying issues treated.
“Many dogs I see via referral from trainers who have behaviour problems often have contributing or causal medical issues such as pain or illness … trying to ‘train’ these dogs is like trying to train them out of diabetes.”
And, she warns, not all trainers are equal, nor suitably qualified.
“The dog training industry is unregulated and many people who market themselves as ‘dog trainers’ or ‘dog behaviour professionals’ are unqualified,” Dr Parker says.
“(Trainers) should be delta-certified and be on the RSPCA-accredited list of force-free trainers and only use progressive positive-reinforcement, scientifically-valid and ethically-sound training techniques.”
She says red flags a trainer may be unqualified include outdated, anti-scientific advice.
“People should be aware that if trainers are preaching about (debunked) canine behaviour myths such as ‘dominance’, ‘pack theory’ … and ‘showing the dog who is the boss’, this exposes them as unqualified professionals with very misconceived ideas,” Dr Parker says.
Paula Dickerson, Onlead Force Free Dog Training
A hairdresser for 30 years, dog-loving Paula Dickerson hung up her shears in 2013 to pursue the career she’d always dreamt of.
”I have always loved dogs … I just got to an age when I thought, ‘I might as well be doing something that I have always wanted to do’,” she says, adding adopting a young rescue dog inspired her to follow through with her dream.
“Kai gave me the courage and incentive to follow my passion for caring, training, and a better understanding of dog and animal behaviour.
“Together we have undertaken a range of training activities and levels together, and he sometimes participates in classes, working with puppies, adolescent dogs, older dogs, shy, nervous and rescue dogs.”
The southern suburbs-based trainer has a Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services from The Delta Institute, the accrediting body for positive force free, reward-based dog trainers.
What does it take to be a great trainer?
“As a dog trainer, you never stop learning … my experience and expertise grows with every dog and person that I meet and no two dogs are the same,” she says.
“No dog should be harmed, intimidated or feel pain due to training … (look for), qualifications and experience with a vast variety of breeds, continued scientific study and the use of positive reward-based methods (which) focus on creating a greater bond between dog and handler, with mutual respect.”
Top tips for dog training.
Positive reward-based methods only; make it fun; give the dogs choice and time to think; plenty of enrichment and have a sense of humour.
Pet peeve?
“I hate to see people tugging their dog’s lead, not letting them sniff and enjoy their walk … and also people who use choker chains,” she says.
“I will get out of the car give people a harness if I see it … I’ve even taken the harness off my own dog and said, ‘here you have it’. They might think I am mad, but if I’ve made a dog’s life better, I am happy.”
Most common issue with dogs?
Anxiety; reactive with dogs and/or people; barking, digging, lunging, pulling on the lead, resource guarding and no training.
Most common mistake owners make?
Not socialising dogs appropriately; not enough training, physical and mental stimulation; yelling, shoving and punishing their dog; no enrichment; no research on breed and lack of knowledge on up-to-date training methods and techniques.
Most unusual client request?
“I was called to help with was with a woman who was trying to toilet train her dog by pooping herself in the backyard where she wanted her dog to learn to poo … you definitely need a sense of humour,” Paula says.
What’s changed since Covid?
More cases of separation anxiety since Covid as well as more behavioural and health problems in puppies coming in from interstate puppy farms.
Cost – what should you realistically expect to pay?
Group classes which consist of an hour a week for five to seven weeks cost between $150 and $250. Private in-home training varies from $150 to $500
What to consider before getting a dog?
“Do your research on breeds and breeders,” she says. “Start gentle training as soon as you get your puppy … be kind, understanding and compassionate with your new puppy (as) they are babies and it’s up to you to teach them positively and give them a wonderful life.”
Jo Gale, Dog Logic Australia
Adelaide Hills-based dog behaviour consultant and trainer Jo Gale has worked in the industry for more than three decades, specialising in dog obedience instruction and trialling, dog training and assistance dog training. She says she’s as passionate about her work today as she has ever been.
“I don’t like seeing people frustrated and then punishing their dog for it, especially when there are often simple solutions … I am an animal lover, that probably drives me,” Jo says.
“I believe every dog has a skill and a strength, you just have to work out what the dog’s drive is and use that as an opportunity to get the dog to do what you want it to do.”
Top tips for dog training?
Patience and consistency. “Remember, dogs don’t understand what we want, it takes time to train them – give them lots of praise and rewards when they get it right,” she says.
Pet peeve?
“People letting their dog approach another dog (at the park or beach) without asking their owner first if this is OK … you don’t know if the other person’s dog has anxiety or other issues its owner is trying to help it overcome,” she says.
Most common issue with dogs?
“Dog distraction … so, dogs walking out at the end of their lead in front and wanting to either engage in play with other dogs, bark at other dogs, or jump up at people as they go past,” Jo says.
Most common mistake owners make?
Not setting boundaries early. “When we get a dog as a young pup, we pick them up, we cuddle them, we treat them as little humans … as they get bigger, stronger and weigh more, the actions we might have seen as cute, such as jumping up at you, licking your face, are suddenly not so cute anymore,” she says.
Cost – what should you realistically expect to pay?
“It varies,” says Jo. “I provide a one-on-one service, in which I’ll assess the dog and physically write up training guide to follow for about $100, some charge upwards of $600 … I encourage my clients to join a local dog obedience school to keep their costs down.”
What to consider before getting a dog?
“Talk to local breeders, investigate the breed of the dog that they will fit in with your lifestyle,” Jo says. “I also encourage people to engage in the dog community, so go and check out the local dog obedience school, ask questions, observe what it takes to train and have a well-behaved dog.”
Tracey Taylor, Taylored Dog Training
Having worked at the RSPCA SA, this western suburbs-based trainer who also services the Barossa and Kapunda areas, says she’s seen first-hand what can happen when the “human-animal bond breaks down”.
And that’s inspired her to want to help as many dogs and families she can – something she has been doing for the past nine years.
Already with formal qualifications including a Bachelor of science in Animal Behaviour and a Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services from the Delta Society, she is now completing her Honours at the University of Adelaide, researching cognition decline in senior dogs.
She says while choosing her most memorable client would be like picking a favourite child, there are ones who stay close to her heart.
“Generally, I think it’s the ones where I can see the bond between dog and guardian has been really tested or broken, and by translating some of the dog’s behaviours so that the human can understand them they suddenly move from frustration and resentment to empathy and understanding,” she says.
What does it take to be a great trainer?
”A deep understanding of the science of how dogs learn and experience their world,” Tracey says.
“Research in this area is forever uncovering new and amazing abilities of our pets and a good trainer will be keeping up-to-date with these discoveries and applying them to their practice.
“You also need patience, respect and care for the learner in front of you … be that the four-legged or two-legged variety.”
Top tips for dog training?
Knowing the difference between what is “normal” dog behaviour and what isn’t, is key.
“Genetics, experience and previous learning all intersect to influence behaviour, so there is always a lot to explore for any new client or dog you are trying to train,” Tracey says.
“There are problem behaviours, often “normal” dog behaviours that usually negatively effect the guardians, and there are behaviour problems, that are “abnormal” for a dog and can compromise its welfare.”
Most common mistake owners make?
Focusing on what the dog is doing, not how the dog is feeling.
“So, we need to try to change the emotional response first, before we can expect the dog to learn and respond to our cues,” she says.
“We do this using techniques called desensitisation and counter-conditioning – which basically works to change the dog’s perception of the trigger from negative to neutral or positive.”
Most unusual client request?
Behaviours have included spinning, tail-chasing, chasing imaginary flies, running a specific number of circuits in the back yard, chasing reflections, licking floors and windows.
“Some of the obsessive-compulsive disorders can be quite unusual and absolutely heartbreaking,” Tracey says.
“These dogs simply cannot stop themselves (and) need expert care from behaviour veterinarians in conjunction with good management and behaviour modification to get well.”
Cost – what should you realistically expect to pay?
Most qualified and experienced dog trainers that offer in-home consults can cost around $200 or so for an initial consult. Follow-up consults are usually shorter and cheaper. Class fees can vary depending on the length of the course.
What should you look for in a trainer?
Take the time to research their qualifications as the industry is unregulated.
She suggests questioning qualifications: is the certificate something that can simply be purchased online? Who offers the certification? Does their certification require them to stay current doing a certain amount of professional development hours per year?
Kimberley Nicolle, Pawly Understood
Inspired to pursue a career in dog training after working at an animal shelter, Kim has now been working professionally with dogs for the past eight years.
“Seeing the animals being surrendered it became clear that the greatest reason for relinquishment was behaviour,” she says.
“Doing my part to work with people and dogs in the home to reduce the number of animals being given up became a big passion.
“I have a real soft spot for the owners and dogs dealing with severe special needs … (clients include) a sweet greyhound fearful of people and other dogs, a shadow-chasing border collie who struggles to switch off … and a staffy who is possibly the most affectionate dog I’ve ever met but pulls like a sled dog on lead and is severely dog reactive.”
What does it take to be a great trainer?
Being able to identify cases where training alone is not enough is crucial, as well as knowing when and who to refer to for expert assessment, says Kim who advocates for force free training methods.
“A great trainer should be passionate about the job and be compassionate towards their human and animal clients (and) willing to keep their knowledge up-to-date through ongoing learning, such as attending seminars and workshops,” she says.
Top tips for dog training?
Prioritise physical exercise and mental stimulation.
“Mental stimulation is often undervalued (but) it is just as, if not more, important than physical activity,” Kim says.
“An easy way of providing your dog with mental stimulation is by using enrichment … interactive food toys, novel things to smell, treasure hunts in the back yard for hidden toys and treats as well as digging and paddling pools are all easy and great options.
“When our dog needs to be home alone, we can also play calming classical music or leave the
TV on if this is not over stimulating for the individual dog.”
Pet peeve?
It is a great shame that dog owners often do not have a good understanding of dog behaviour and psychology and believe in outdated theories such as the dominance theory, debunked by modern science, she says.
“This influences the way they interact with their dog or puppy and can put them at a disadvantage as well as promote fear and anxiety in their canine companion – I would love to see people become educated in this area prior to becoming dog owners.”
Most common issues?
Reactivity, separation distress, struggles with impulse control, resource guarding, high arousal/difficulty settling and undesirable toileting behaviour.
What’s changed since Covid?
“One of the biggest changes I have seen since the pandemic is the appearance of ‘Covid
puppies’ who were adopted or purchased at the start of or during the height of the
pandemic,” Kim says.
“These puppies unfortunately missed out on experiencing the world during their critical socialisation period due to puppy classes not running and people not being able to socialise and get out and about.
“This has resulted in young adolescent dogs who are now suffering with anxiety
manifesting in reactivity and other fear-based behaviours.”
Steph Morris: Tails of Success: Dog Training
For former farm girl Steph, working with dogs, namely kelpies, was part of life growing up on the farm.
“I begged and begged my parents for a border collie and finally got one for my 12th birthday … Jazz sparked my passion for training and I spent so many hour outside with her teaching her as much as I could,” she says.
Today she is one of three highly-qualified faces at Tails of Success, working in partnership with fellow professional dog trainers Mel Anderson and Jacquie James who each have studied a Bachelor of Animal science and hold a Certificate III in dog training behaviour through the National Dog Trainers Federation.
“I have been training dogs professionally for just over 6 years (while) Mel and Jacquie have been doing it a year or two longer,” she says.
The down-to-earth trainer says while all dogs can be trained and helped, owners need to have realistic expectations.
“Each dog is different … a working dog, for example, may be really easy to train but it can sometimes be difficult to manage its energy,” she says.
What does it take to be a great trainer?
A good dog trainer will discuss options with you and will work with you to find a training method that you are comfortable and confident in implementing, says Steph.
“It is also important for dog trainers to work with each individual dog, knowing how to use the endless number of training tools correctly and what tools would benefit each dog and owner,” she says.
Top tips for dog training”
1. Build a strong bond with your dog through fun, training, games and play. Get involved and have fun with them.
2. Consistency is key, train for the behaviour you want right from the very first day. Make a set of rules that work for your situation and enforce them (no adult dogs on the couch = don’t let your puppy on the couch). It’s much easier to prevent a behaviour starting than training one out.
3. Training starts from the day you get your dog/puppy and incorporate training into everyday life. The best tip I can give people is make them work for their food. Use their meals as training treats, put their meals in puzzle toys, hide their food and have them actively seek it out.
Pet peeve?
Dog training is currently unregulated, anybody can start a business and call themselves dog trainers. When looking for a dog trainer always ask for their training and accreditations.
Most common mistake owners make?
“A common mistake puppy owners make is over socialising their dog with other dogs,” Steph says. “It’s cute when a puppy … (but not) when the puppy reaches 8-9 months and that excitement evolves into frustration and the barking and pulling get more severe to a stage the owner now has no control.”
Most unusual client request?
We haven’t had too many strange requests, we did had one not long ago asking us to teach their dog to swim. I wish we had a pool to be able to do that!
Cost – what should you realistically expect to pay?
“Some trainers may charge $100 for a consult and give you a really great detailed training plan while someone else may charge you $500 and barely work with your dog for the entire session,” she says.
“A higher price doesn’t always mean better … is all about asking questions and going with your gut feeling.”
What to consider before getting a dog
Do your research, look up the breed, common behavioural traits, energy and exercise requirements, predispositions for any health or behavioural problems.
“If getting a breed specific puppy source from a reputable breeder who breeds for personality and does all genetic testing.,” she suggests.
Kate Denman, Dog Knows Training & Behavioural Consulting
A passionate, internationally-certified professional dog trainer, Kate says she’s motivated to help all dogs live a better life and is driven to give back to the training community.
The one-time police officer and media adviser is now head instructor at Adelaide’s volunteer-run Canine Behavioural School and has a swag of qualifications under her belt, working in many areas of the sector, including conducting greyhound muzzle exemption assessments and training psychiatric assistance dogs.
Training dogs, she says, is as much about working with – and understanding – a dog’s family, as the dog itself.
“Most importantly, dogs always come with owners, so a trainer must be able to engage with the dog’s owner, gain information about what is going on, teach them skills to help change the dog’s behaviour and set them up to succeed,” she says.
“Owners can be experiencing a range of emotions, so the ability to be empathetic and understanding is crucial.”
“Unravelling what’s going on without the dog being able to talk can be very tricky … more often than not, what the owner has identified as an issue is only one small part of a bigger problem.”
What does it take to be a great trainer?
“It takes comprehensive knowledge of the ways in which animals learn, and the ability to be able to apply that to the individual dog,” Kate says.
“It takes experience to be able to read the circumstances to try to ascertain what is going on with the dog in their family environment.
“It takes skill to apply the mechanics of training and behaviour modification successfully.”
Top tips for dog training?
Enrol in a good, force-free training school and put in the time to train and provide enrichment.
“It’s about the commitment of the owners to meet the needs of their dog by initially getting the right dog for their lifestyle and living situation”.
Pet peeve?
There are far more dogs out there (on the back of the pandemic), many of them obtained on a bit of a whim, without sufficient thought or planning put into it.
Most common mistake owners make?
The most common mistake new dog owners make is thinking the problem behaviour will go away by itself.
“Although dogs do require some settling-in time to get used to their new home, it is far better to seek help sooner rather than later with anything that is an issue … the more a dog practices an unwanted behaviour, the better they get at it,” she warns.
Most unusual client request?
“I had a client whose dog was randomly attacking them … unfortunately, the dog was experiencing epileptic fugues and clearly didn’t remember the attacks (as it) was a very loving dog otherwise,” Kate says.
Cost – what should you realistically expect to pay?
Dog training is an unregulated industry, so people need to do their homework and make sure the trainer is certified with a reputable organisation, is committed to ongoing education and is a member of industry bodies such as Pet Professional Guild, Delta Institute or Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia.
What to consider before getting a dog?
Getting a dog, especially a puppy, is a lot of work, simple as that. “Having grown up with many pets, I definitely advocate for having an animal, but if a dog is too much work, there are other pets that are easier – bearded dragons are great,” Kate suggests.
Ryan King, OZCORPK9
With a tag line, “Adelaide’s leading dog trainers”, the northern suburbs-based training manager says key to replacing a dog’s unwanted habits with better ones is tapping into the animal’s natural instincts.
“It often takes years of building relationships with animals via the work that we do to gain a deeper understanding of a dog’s behaviour,” he says.
The former country boy says, there is no greater reward than seeing bonds intensify between a dog and its owner.
“After growing up on a farm with multiple working dogs, I have always felt enjoyment learning to communicate with different species,” he says.
What does it take to be a great trainer?
Ryan lists knowledge and experience with an ability to be objective while being compassionate as key success.
“Personal attributes may include, great coaching skills (of both dogs and people), consistency, self-discipline, patience, and an open mind with a warm heart,” he says.
Pet peeve?
Dogs being misunderstood and the confusion that manifests from this, causes unnecessary friction in the human – dog relationship.
Most common mistake owners make?
Many dog owners will simply not have a deep enough understanding of the animal’s needs and behaviours, so, they end up adding to the problem instead of taking a proactive approach.
Most unusual client request?
“A few come to mind, we’ve had dogs come to us that are terrified of clickers, attack and maul pedestrian crossing buttons … and dogs that have completely eaten doors inside of people’s houses,” he says.
What’s changed since Covid?
More dogs with social issues. “I often hear people say they couldn’t socialise their puppies due to puppy schools being closed or, that no dog clubs were open and it seems to be a common excuse for dogs that have social issues today,” he says.
What to consider before getting a dog?
“Choosing a suitable breed and individual temperament paired with the family’s needs is most important … do plenty of research on the dog you choose to let into your home,” he says.
“Children also need to be taught how to treat and communicate with animals.”
Sara Martin, Positively Pawsome Training Solutions
The Barossa Valley-based trainer moved from part-time volunteering to make her passion to help pooches a full-time job.
“I spent many years volunteering in private animal shelters and consistently felt troubled by the excessive number of surrendered young dogs with big hearts and poor social skills,” she says.
“So I left my comfortable corporate world, studied hard and took a leap of faith to educate people to improve the lives of their canine companions with the intention to reduce shelter surrenders.”
Sara lists being able to listen to and guide clients is key to successful dog training, as well as being able to tailor programs to improve a dog’s emotional development.
“Your ideal trainer will have current formal qualifications using only force-free methods,” she says … (all breeds) are all amazing to work with (but) our training and expectations need to align with their breed strengths.”
Top tips for dog training?
Be consistent, understand your dog’s body language, she says, and don’t be disheartened by what you see from others on social media.
“(Dogs) are communicating with us 24/7, what they display outwardly is how they are feeling inwardly,” she says.
“When you learn to observe their emotions, you may better predict what is about to happen and prevent unwanted outcomes. All dogs are different and improving your dog’s skills requires patience, time, dedication and more patience.”
Importantly, she says, start early.
“Positive early life experiences are critical in helping puppies grow up to be confident, content companions – to help them reach their full potential,” Sara says.
Most unusual client request?
“A client recently deployed my services as their cat was pushing food off the kitchen bench onto the floor to share with the dog, the overweight dog,” she says.
Cost – what should you realistically expect to pay?
Generally, small group puppy classes range between $160 to $260 for a five-week program.
Private consultations vary as a one-hour private consultation can consume up to three hours of the trainer’s time for reporting, phone calls, travel and research.
What to consider before getting a dog?
“Take the time to research and understand dog breed groups and select the breed that will flourish in your environment – not from looks or size alone,” Sara says.
Felice Case, Puppy Partners
The Modbury Heights-based “fear-free training professional”, says personal experience with her own behaviour-challenged golden retriever pup, inspired her to pursue a career in helping young dogs and their owners – something she has now been doing almost a decade.
“I wanted to be able to understand her as well as help other owners with their new puppy,” says the Delta Institute graduate and professional member of the Pet Professional Guild Australia and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.
Top tips for dog training?
1. Using positive reinforcement; this is the most scientific and up-to-date method.
2. Patience; not all dogs will learn all behaviours at the same speed so you will need to work at the animal’s speed, not the speed you think it should take.
3. Short sessions; dogs don’t do well with long training sessions, keep them to a maximum of five minutes and keep them fun for the dog, to ensure they want to come back next time for another training session.
Most common issues?
Puppy biting and chewing. “Often (new owners) will be reinforcing the biting accidentally so it continues,” she says.
Most common mistake owners make?
“A really common mistake new owners make is using their hands to play with their puppy,” Felice says.
“The pup is then confused as to why it’s okay to play with hands sometimes but not others.”
Most unusual client request?
“I’ve been lucky enough to train a few unusual – but awesome – such as playing basketball, stand-up paddle boarding, helping in the kitchen by shutting cupboard doors, and even assisting with the washing,” she says.
What to consider before getting a dog
“A puppy is hard work and they are a lifelong commitment … research the breed of dog you are considering and think about whether it is truly a good match for your family,” Felice advises.
“Once you have the puppy, make sure you enrol in a positive reinforcement puppy class to ensure they start life on the right ‘paw’.”
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