Accredited Animal Behaviour Consultant & Certified Force Free Dog Training Practitioner.

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ABOUT ME

Kia ora, I am Emily Dustan, an Accredited Dog Behaviourist and Certified Dog Training Professional with over 21 years of hands-on practical experience. Through years of ongoing academic study, I focus on resolving complex and persistent dog behaviour challenges. I also specialise in puppy development, supporting you and your puppy through their social and emotional growth. 

My training methods are safe, practical, empathy-based, and backed by science. I partner with veterinarians internationally and have helped many dog rescues, supporting families with their rehomed dogs.

I approach behaviour modification and dog training with a structured, step-by-step process that’s practical to address dog and puppy behavioural challenges. I work with you every step of the way to understand your situation and your dog’s unique needs.

Whether you’re bringing home a new puppy and want to start off right or facing ongoing issues like barking, leash pulling, anxiety, separation distress, fear, reactivity, or aggression, I am here to support you every step of the way. Proactive environmental management helps prevent behaviour issues from getting worse, and my step-by-step training programmes address your dog’s emotional and behavioural needs. Sessions are designed to adapt to your family’s lifestyle, helping your dog feel better for lasting change.

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Books to support you and your dog's learning

Understanding your dog better

Whether you’re starting with a new puppy, welcoming a rescue, or training an adult dog, this book offers clear, practical advice to help you succeed. It uses simple, science-based, and ethical techniques to address your dog’s emotional and behavioural needs, supporting you every step of the way.

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a dogs tail of friendship and learning

Dogs don’t speak but they have plenty to share!

Told from a dog’s perspective, A Friend Named Dog helps children understand canine body language and communication. It teaches respectful, safe ways to interact with dogs, from patting and playing to recognising when a dog needs space. 

This engaging story encourages empathy and confidence in young readers, making it a delightful story-time read for families.

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Our Services

Behaviour Consultation

Address complex issues like anxiety, reactivity, or separation distress with tailored, science-based solutions from our expert.
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Dog Training

Help your dog learn new life skills through focused training sessions, addressing both of your individual needs.
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Puppy Training Classes

Set your puppy up for success with specialist-led classes focused on behaviour and development.
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Dog Grooming

Tailored grooming prioritising your dog’s safety with our expert team’s kind, reward-based methods for puppies and adults.
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Dog Fitness & Nutrition

Support your dog’s physical and emotional well-being with tailored guidance from our health and nutrition expert.
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Dog Walking

Personalised walks that build your dog’s confidence while having fun with our experienced team’s positive, safe methods.
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Marjorie Reid
Marjorie Reid
Above and beyond my expectations and experience from a puppy class and a very dedicated, passionate, positive reinforcement trainers! Highly recommend for anyone wanting to train a dog in a fast, smart, kind and effective manner. Extremely knowledgeable, compassionate and clear instruction that flexes, respects and accounts for individual needs. We are so grateful to have found this gem in Auckland!
Esther Croft
Esther Croft
Emily has been amazing for our dog Buddy who had anxiety and reactivity. The change in just a few short weeks has been massive, not just for Buddy but the whole family. Emily is super friendly and a really clear communicator. We really appreciated her pragmatic approach that acknowledges that we need a programme that works around family life.
Joe Mabon
Joe Mabon
My partner and I cannot rave enough about Emily's puppy classes and one on one training sessions! We have participated in both with our mini Schnauzer Arnie and we saw such a change in him within just a few months. He has learned self -control, many commands and has been socialization in a safe environment. From the beginning of our training sessions it was evident that Emily possesses great expertise in understanding and connecting with dogs. She was always dedicated to Arnie's wellbeing and his stage in life. Each session was tailored to address Arnie's specific needs and temperament, ensuring that he felt comfortable and secure throughout the process. Emily's passion for dogs and genuine care for owners and pups alike set her apart as an exceptional dog trainer. Thank you so much!
Danielle Engel
Danielle Engel
Emily is amazing! She has helped us so much with our rescue who had fear aggression issues. Great price, great service. Patience of a saint.
Abi Banks
Abi Banks
Emily is one of the most amazing dog behaviourists there is. She was recommended to me by my local vet because my puppy was exhibiting signs of anxiety around people. I took him to see her and she has transformed him into a confident very well behaved dog. She only uses positive reinforcement methods and is staunchly against negative reinforcement (like shock collars) which is an absolute bonus (and non-negotiable for me!). Emily also doesn't just focus her training on the dog, she provides owners with skills, knowledge, and resources to make sure that training is consistent and you feel confident as a dog owner. Lessons are fun, interactive, and she makes clients feel like a friend. My dog has attended puppy classes, one on ones, walks, and a home visit with Emily and we will be clients of hers for life. Thanks so much Emily!
Savannah Eagle
Savannah Eagle
I can't recommend Emily enough! My American Staffy, Kora, struggles with anxiety which results in her being reactive to other dogs and some humans. We have been seeing Emily over the course of 2 months and have already seen such an improvement in Kora's confidence, as well as making remarkable progress on her reactivity. I have learned SO much since meeting Emily and will be able to use all the material I have been given for the rest of my fur baby's life! Emily is thorough, passionate and just a delight to work with - if I could give more than 5 stars I would. Thank you Emily!! <3
Amanda Baker
Amanda Baker
I recently had the pleasure of working with Emily from See Spot Learn and I must say it was an exceptional experience. From start to finish, Emily's professionalism, expertise, and genuine love for dogs shone through, making the entire training process a joy. Could not recommend more!
Sebastian
Sebastian
I would highly recommend See Spot Learn to anyone who needs a dog trainer. As a first time dog owner with a notoriously stubborn breed (ah, the Dachshund), I have been working with Emily and her amazing team over the past 8 months. I have taken my puppy through three of her courses, as well as private sessions. The courses were super fun for both myself and my dog, and helped my dog build a lot of essential life skills and confidence. A plethora of supporting resources and guidance was also provided during the courses. Emily has a fantastic way of teaching (both the puppies and the parents) and genuinely cares and shows so much respect for each dog and their owners. She has a solution for every problem and goes the extra mile to make sure any problems or concerns you have with your pup are being taken care of. With Emily’s help I have successfully worked through a major separation anxiety / isolation distress problem I had with my new pup, and with the skills and training she has given me, I have gone from not being able to leave the room without my pup (let alone the house), to being able to leave my dog comfortably, confidently and happy, home alone for 4-6 hours at a time. Emily and her team’s help has had a major impact on my quality of life and my bond with my dog.
Alisha Lee
Alisha Lee
I engaged Emily for a 1-1 trainer for my little dog Elmo. Emily has been a real pleasant to deal with and she really knows what she is doing. She knows what the dog needs and we saw improvement each time after Elmo attended the training. She has great passion in dog training and make it so easy to follow. I’m glad I found her and would not hesitate to bring Elmo back in the future for further training if required. Highly recommended, thanks Emily for the great time and training sessions
Sophie McLernon
Sophie McLernon
As a first-time dog owner, I couldn't rate Emily more highly, I used her for an initial couple of home visits when I got my puppy and she made me feel confident and empowered with a clear plan of how to start to train a puppy with good habits and positive reinforcement. She has amazing suggestions for dealing with different scenarios and how to redirect. I also went through her puppy training and now have a dog that is (relatively) calm for a puppy, can go off-leash and doesn't have separation anxiety. If you are thinking of getting a trainer you cannot go past Emily. She is a godsend. If I could give more stars, I would.

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