Living With a Dog Experiencing Big Emotions

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Living with a dog experiencing fear, phobias, or aggression can feel overwhelming. Caregivers are often exhausted and unsure where to turn, especially when daily life becomes stressful or unpredictable. My work is grounded in compassion, welfare science, and a deep respect for the emotional lives of dogs.

I specialise in supporting dogs with fear based and aggression related behaviours. These dogs are often misunderstood or dismissed, when in reality they are experiencing overwhelm and distress. My role is to help you understand your dog is perspective, reduce pressure on the whole household, and create a clear, supportive path forward.

I work closely with veterinary teams to ensure your dog’s behavioural care is informed by health, pain, genetics, and the wider environment.

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Veterinary Behaviourist Collaboration

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I accept referrals from Veterinary Behaviourists and provide written updates or referral letters when required for your General Practice Vet or Veterinary Behaviourist. This ensures your dog’s behavioural care is supported by a collaborative, professional team who understand the relationship between health, pain, genetics, and behaviour.

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Behaviours I Work With:

I specialise in supporting dogs and their caregivers when aggressive or fear-based behaviours manifest, including:

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• On lead fear, frustration, and reactive responses

• Generalised anxiety and ongoing fearfulness

• Resource guarding and conflict around valued items or spaces

• Inter-dog tension or aggression within the household or multi-dog homes

• Predatory responses towards wildlife or fast movement

• Herding behaviours directed at bikes, cars, people, cats, or children

• Fear of unfamiliar people or pressure on walks

• Worry or protective responses towards visitors in the home

• Stress and fear around veterinary care

• Difficulties with canine communication or social interactions

• Behaviour linked to pain, discomfort, or underlying health issues

• Preparing safely for the arrival of a baby

• Supporting children and dogs living together safely

 

 

Training Philosophy

 

​My approach is ethical and rewards based, using modern, science informed methods that support learning and emotional safety. Sessions are designed to be enjoyable for both you and your dog, while helping you understand your dog’s perspective and create an environment where they feel secure, supported, and able to learn.

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Fees and What to Expect

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Initial Consultation – In Your Home

 

$210.00

(Concession card holders and students receive ten percent off full price bookings.)

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Overview

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Your initial behaviour consultation is a calm, structured visit in your home. The purpose of this session is to understand your dog’s behaviour within their full context, rather than addressing individual behaviours in isolation. Clear protocols are in place to ensure everyone feels safe, supported, and prepared. Prior to the appointment, you will receive guidance on how to set up the environment and what to have ready, helping to reduce pressure for both you and your dog. This consultation is suitable for fear, anxiety, reactivity, aggression, and complex behaviour presentations.

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During the consultation we will:

• Explore your dog’s history, daily routines, health considerations, and environment

• Review behaviour concerns within their wider context

• Work through the behaviour questionnaire together

• Identify the emotional, environmental, and learning factors influencing behaviour

• Discuss realistic, welfare focused next steps for you and your dog

• Where applicable, veterinary referral notes are reviewed and integrated into the behaviour support plan.

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After the consultation.

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Following the session, additional professional time is dedicated to reviewing your information and developing a comprehensive written behaviour support guide. This guide addresses the behaviours discussed, explains contributing factors, and provides clear, practical strategies you can refer back to over time.

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This ensures you have access to appropriate guidance even if ongoing sessions are not possible due to availability, finances, location, or other circumstances.

Where appropriate, collaboration with your General Practice Vet or Veterinary Behaviourist is included to support a joined up, welfare first approach.

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Important to know

• This service includes both in person consultation time and off site professional work

• There is no obligation to book ongoing sessions

• Recommendations are realistic, ethical, and specific to your household

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Ongoing Sessions

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• 30 minutes with dogs and 10 min recap: $90.00

• Additional qualified IMDT trainer (for leash reactivity and helper-dog work): $35.00

Ongoing sessions build on the initial consultation and written behaviour support guide. Goals and strategies are reviewed and adjusted over time to support steady, predictable progress.

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Where appropriate and where your dog is comfortable, I may work directly with your dog during sessions. This allows for calm, supported practice and helps reduce pressure on guardians while supporting learning in a controlled, welfare focused way.

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Communication with your General Practice Vet or Veterinary Behaviourist can be included where relevant to support a collaborative approach.

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Ongoing support options are discussed collaboratively based on your dog’s needs and your circumstances.