About us

ABOUT ME

Hi, my name is Emily.

Welcome to See Spot Learn, where your dog’s physical and emotional well-being is at the heart of everything I do.

My life has always been about animals. I grew up in the dog training industry and started assisting with puppy classes at 8 years old. Later, in my teenage years, I competed in multiple dog sport competitions with my own dogs, such as agility, rally ‘O’, and obedience, as well as completing the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) for therapy dog training.

After completing my internship and undertaking numerous academic studies, I became a qualified Dog Trainer and Behavioural Practitioner; I then ran my own dog training and behaviour centre in South Africa for 11 years.

After moving to New Zealand in 2019, I continued to pursue my passion in working with animals and opened See Spot Learn in 2021.

I specialise in advanced behavioural modification techniques, focusing on helping families understand their dog’s emotions and behaviours better, and helping them learn effective training methods to improve their lives with their dog. My expertise also extends to fear-based reactivity, aggressive behaviours, and other complex issues like separation and isolation anxiety, generalised anxieties, as well as compulsive behaviours. 

Everything I do with animals revolves around a strong core belief of Do No Harm, Cause No Pain, Create No Fear!

My training methods are based on scientific knowledge, which are kind and gentle for your pets and your family.

My Mission and Training Philosophy

For some dogs, the world feels frightening and unpredictable. With compassionate, tailored behaviour modification programmes, I help you and your dog overcome fears tied to life’s challenges. My empathy-based, science-backed training builds confidence, supporting you both to face the world together.

Working with dog behaviour is more than my job—it’s my deep passion. As a New Zealand dog behaviourist, I’ve helped thousands of dogs across New Zealand and South Africa tackle challenges like anxiety and reactivity. My puppy training courses prevent behavioural struggles early. I prioritise your dog’s emotional well-being, using science-based methods to shape lasting behaviour change.

I approach every case with empathy, understanding the challenges you face with your dog, your family, and your household. My step-by-step programmes use reward-based methods to reinforce desired behaviours, grounded in science. You’ll find no harsh techniques, corrections, or intimidation tactics here—just clear, achievable plans tailored to your individual needs.

My training focuses on setting your dog up for success. Instead of correcting “wrong” behaviours, I teach you to shape new ones. You’ll learn how to manage your environment, reinforce behaviours you want, and address those persistent undesirable behaviours you can’t ignore. 

I also help you understand how the environment affects your dog’s behaviour. Through gradual exposure therapy and counter-conditioning, I help change negative associations into new positive experiences. Whether it’s anxiety, reactivity, or puppy challenges, my methods are effective and create lasting change.

I bring my passion and expertise into every session. I have also written two books, Training Humans, Teaching Dogs, which debunks outdated methods, offering practical, force-free techniques for dog guardians, and my children’s book, A Friend Named Dog, is an engaging, educational read for families, teaching empathy and how to understand dog body language for children and dog safety.
 

Learn logical, practical, evidence-based techniques to train your dog. Complete the enrolment form today to begin your training journey.

Specialising in:

Qualifications:

Accredited animal behavioural consultant
Canine behaviour professional accredited diploma
Diploma in canine aggression
Certified force-free training professional
Certified canine behaviour counsellor
Certified senior dog trainer & handler
Full member of the Pet Professional Guild
Full member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers New Zealand
arrow

Qualifications

Accredited animal behavioural consultant
Canine behaviour professional accredited diploma
Diploma in canine aggression
Certified force-free training professional
Certified Canine Exercise Practitioner
Full member of the international institute for Canine Ethics
Certified canine behaviour counsellor
Canine Pharmacology Accredited Advanced Certificate
Full member of the Pet Professional Guild
Full member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers New Zealand
Puppies to Seniors Nutrition Certificate
Accredited expert in canine health and nutrition