Trusted Dog Behaviour Specialist Auckland – In-Home & Centre Consultations

Yes, it matters, especially if your dog is showing signs of ongoing stress, fear, or aggression.

A dog trainer focuses on teaching everyday skills that help dogs navigate the human world. This includes recall, loose-lead walking, settling, and learning to focus around distractions. Trainers also help dogs build positive associations with new experiences using reward-based methods. These skills are important for communication, predictability, and reducing frustration for both dog and handler.

A dog behaviourist works with dogs whose behaviour affects their welfare, safety, or ability to cope with daily life. This includes behaviours driven by fear, anxiety, frustration, or aggression, such as separation-related distress, reactivity, resource guarding, or compulsive behaviours. These problems often continue or worsen over time without proper assessment and support. A qualified behaviourist uses science-based methods to identify the cause and design a plan suited to the individual dog and household.

Getting support early can make a real difference. Using the wrong techniques  (even with good intentions) can make things worse. A qualified behaviourist will guide you with a plan that’s practical, ethical, and based on how behaviour actually works.

If you’re unsure which service is the right fit, we’re happy to help you decide.

This is a common concern, and it’s a fair question.

One of the biggest challenges in the dog world is that it’s unregulated. Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer or behaviourist, regardless of their education, experience, or methods. Some may have completed only short courses or rely on personal experience with their own dog. Others offer certifications from organisations that aren’t independently reviewed for scientific accuracy or ethical standards.

Behaviour work isn’t one-size-fits-all. What helps one dog may be ineffective, or even unsafe, for another. Issues like fear, anxiety, or aggression are complex. They involve emotional states, learning history, environment, and sometimes underlying health conditions. These concerns need a structured, science-based approach focused on understanding why the behaviour is happening — not just stopping it.

My approach is grounded in current behavioural science and professional standards. I hold formal qualifications in animal behaviour and welfare and have completed advanced education in this field. My work is evidence-based, humane, and tailored to the individual dog — not based on fixed methods or generic advice.

If you’ve tried help before and it didn’t improve things, it doesn’t mean your dog can’t make progress. It likely means the approach wasn’t right for your dog or situation. I’ll work with you to change that, in a way that’s practical and realistic for both of you.

No, and anyone who does is likely oversimplifying a complex issue.

Behaviours related to fear, anxiety, phobias, or compulsive patterns are shaped by many factors, including genetics, past experiences, health, stress, and environment. In some cases, changes in the brain, nervous system, or hormones also play a role — as do the dog’s daily circumstances.

Quick fixes may suppress behaviour in the short term but usually ignore the underlying cause. Pressure-based methods or shortcuts can increase stress, damage trust, and create more serious problems later.

I don’t offer shortcuts. I offer careful assessment, support grounded in science, and practical plans that are tailored to your dog and situation. Real progress is possible, but it’s not instant. I’ll work with you to set realistic goals and guide you through each step.

Some cases may also require input from a veterinarian, for example, to rule out pain or to consider medication as part of a wider behaviour plan.

Every dog is different. Outcomes depend on many factors, including consistency, follow-through, and your dog’s individual needs.