My love, respect and passion for all living things and this amazing planet, is the greatest gift my parents have given me. From the day I was born, I was taught that every living creature has the right to live free of harm and neglect, and all things on this earth are interconnected and must be protected. I was taught that as human beings it is our responsibility to protect, defend, shield and shelter all of mother natures amazing creations. I was taught that we as human beings need to speak for those that have no voice, we as human beings must use our abilities to conserve nature not destroy it. 

I have two big brothers so I had to keep up with them, so I skipped the whole crawling thing and started walking at nine months of age. From the first step I took, I  dodged the ants refusing to harm a single one. I guess there a certain things our Mums pass onto us whilst we are in the womb. No one told me I shouldn't step on the ants, I was only nine months old, walking seemed a pretty good achievement in itself, but I just knew I did not want to harm the ants. As I grew Mum would take me into the garden and put a tiny spider gently on my hand. Mum taught me not to fear things but to understand them and to always protect them. 

I was an incredibly shy child and was more comfortable when I was alone than when I was with people. I never felt that I belonged when i was in company with people. Whilst other children played together,  I would sit in trees for hours and hours just watching the world, the birds, the clouds, lizards, the bees, ants and spiders. The world was full of life and I was fascinated by all of it. When I was 11 years old my family left the suburbs and moved to a 10 acre property. I became even more isolated from people, this was not at all a problem for me, I could not of been happier. I was surrounded by nature and this was when I really began to understand what I now believe to be my reason. 

From the moment I learnt to speak and to write I would ask Santa every Christmas for a Puppy, my birthday I would ask my parents, I'd even ask the Easter Bunny at Easter. My Parents both worked long hours and they wanted to wait until everything was perfect to bring a puppy into our family. We had Tinky our cat from before I was born and grey cat a stray cat I had befriended and adopted. I bought every injured creature I ever found home to be nursed back to health and released. 

When I was 13 years old my family lived on 10 acres. We had one neighbour and he was devoid of compassion and respect for animals. I was in the paddock laying on my horse’s back reading a book when I heard a shotgun, followed by the most soul shattering screaming. A dog had wondered onto his property and he had shot her in the face. The shot was not fatal, and she ran straight through our adjoining wire fence in sheer terror and unfathomable pain. I jumped off my horse and ran towards her, I can still see her as if it were yesterday. I laid flat on the ground and coaxed her to me, with her jaw hanging off and her face shattered we crawled to each other. I held her in my arms whilst she continued to scream powerless to help her. My neighbour saw me with her and ran over without his gun, he thought she must’ve been my dog. I yelled at him to get his gun and he returned and ended her innocent helpless life. I was 13 years old, and I would’ve stepped in front of that bullet for her without a moment’s hesitation. I’d never met her before, but for as long as I can remember dogs have been my kin. I value every single one of their lives the way people value the lives of their human loved ones. I think of her often, that was my first experience of how revolting, cruel and completely devoid of compassion for other living beings the human species can be! 

Twelve years later I was in a place far from home, a place I visited on several occasions, I spent a lot of time overseas working on conservational projects that protect the Orangutan and Mountain Gorilla and their habitats. Although I had always had the most intense connection with dogs, I knew that I needed to explore why I was so drawn to the Mountain Gorillas and Orangutans. As it turned out it was in Africa that I confirmed my life’s purpose is dogs. I had done a few projects with the Mountain Gorillas in Uganda and had made some good friends and knew the locals very well. It did not take them long to name me the “crazy mzungu”, crazy white foreigner. These people have no respect for dogs and absolutely no understanding of their beautiful ability to express unconditional love, to be truly selfless, loyal and the best friend a person can have. They could not understand my love for them, they literally thought I was completely nuts. I was at a local market trying to source medical supplies to help Blanket, a rescue dog that other students had rescued and bought to the shack we were staying in. I had only just arrived at the market when I heard people yelling and pots and pans being smashed around, then I heard a dog cry. Nothing was going to stop me getting to that dog. Not even Sheba my six foot six 120 kg driver had any chance of stopping me.

I found the stall where a woman was screaming and hitting a dog with an axe handle whilst a group of locals cheered her on. These people fear dogs as if they are wild lions! I took my jacket off and stood between the unhinged woman and the dog. I threw my jacket over the dog and picked him up and carried him out into the open area. By this stage about 200 locals had come to see what the hell the crazy mzungu was doing with what they consider dangerous vermin.

A large majority of the dogs in that area stray from the Congo and have rabies, so I needed to be careful not to get a nip. As I gently lifted my jacket up so I could see the dogs injuries, the locals became even louder frightening the already terrified dog and he twisted his head and nipped my wrist. I stood up with him wrapped in my arms and yelled at the locals using some rather unsavoury mzungu terms. Sheba stood between me and the growing crowd that was becoming more worked up and very offended by me to say the least. Sheba is considered a local tribal leader so he was able to settle them and make space for me. The dog had been so badly injured, broken bones protruded from his front leg, the only option in that place was to end his life.

I asked Sheba to get me a gun and said I would put him out of his misery because vets and veterinarian medicine do not exist there, and Sheba told me if I released the dog, the locals would finish beating him to death!. Sheba said he knew where to get a gun. I was a police officer at that time and very comfortable with firearms, so I said I would stay with the dog until he returned. Sheba had a stern word with the locals and told them not to hurt me or the dog and he would return soon. He left and it was just me and another foreign student stayed with me whilst I sat with this terrified seriously injured dog. The locals were now several metres away where Sheba had told them to remain and every one of them and there was probably about 500 by this time, was looking at me like I was some kind of alien being! Twenty minutes later Sheba rocks up with two four wheel drives full of local police and their semi autos! I just needed a hand gun, but that’s Africa.

I asked Sheba if they knew what they were doing and where to shoot him so it was painless and quick, he assured me they knew what they were doing. I laid the little angel down still wrapped in my jacket and told Sheba I wanted to stay near him. Sheba would not allow this and I could see he was very serious, he told me that I needed to walk away whilst the police shot the injured terrified dog. I resisted his request but they refused to shoot until I moved away and this dog was suffering so I begrudgingly started to walk away. I got about ten metres when I heard the shot, then the same scream I had heard on my property twelve years earlier. I instantly turned to run towards the dog but before I had traveled a single step I was airborne, my feet were no longer on the ground. Sheba had scooped me up and held me there until the second shot was fired, then there was silence.

I was so upset and angry they had caused further suffering for this angel Sheba knew I would not be peaceful, he literally carried me to the car over his shoulder and shut the door and drove me away. I have so much respect for that man, he didn’t have to do any of what he did for me. And although he could not understand, he literally could not fathom my love and compassion for dogs he respected it.

He knew my heart was broken & I was beside myself. So he organised for the police to take the dogs body back to their head quarters so he could take me to bury him in a beautiful place. I was sitting with Bonnie the rescue dog in a field near by the place I stayed and Sheba walked up with one of his friends and and American guy who was basically a local handed me a shovel and said “come now we go”. So we walked back down the hill and got in the Ute and drove to the police building where they had thrown the dogs body against a wire fence amongst some rusty sheet metal and garbage.

I picked him up wrapped him in a blanket and carried him on my lap as we drove to one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, it was like a little piece of paradise. We walked into the Forrest and Sheba started to dig, after a min he passed the shovel to his friend who dug for a short time then passed the shovel to our American friend who dug for a minute, then passed me the shovel.

I come from a family of tradies and I’ve dug more dirt than most of the men I know combined! So although I appreciated their efforts, I was confused how such incredibly large extremely strong men could not dig a hole to save their lives! So I take the shovel and jump straight into the approximately 3 foot deep hole. And once again found myself airborne, being flung into the air and out of the hole by Sheba, who then along with his friend swiftly ran further into the forest and out of sight without uttering a word.

I get up with a bewildered look on my face and ask Max the American what the hell just happened and where did they go, even Max who had lived as a local for a decade had no idea. A few minutes later Sheba and his friend return with small leafy branches and start dusting me off like I was covered in spider webs or something. I asked them what were they doing, they said “no talking here we talk later, you dig from here” and pointed to the ground near the hole. I explained to dig efficiently I needed to get in the hole. Sheba said “NO you dig here”! 

So I dug the rest of the hole and placed the little dogs body gently in the hole and then Sheba dusted me again with the leaves then placed them on top of the dogs body and I filled the hole in. We drove back to the village in silence. Later that evening myself, Max and a few locals were sitting around the fire having a drink and Sheba joins the group. I ask may I ask you now why you threw me out of the hole and what the leaves were about?

African people are incredibly superstitious and believe in black magic and all kinds of things like that. Sheba told me that it is believed that if you stand in the grave the spirit of what you are burying will enter your soul, and to African people, the dog is considered dirty vermin, and they were protecting me from his spirit entering my soul, and it would bring bad luck to speak f such things at the grave. I respectfully explained to Sheba and the locals, that I would be honoured to have that dog’s spirit enter my soul and carry him with me for the rest of my days. Again they looked at me as if I was an alien being and said “argh crazy mzungu”

There I was in Kisoro Uganda, a place surrounded by poverty where people and all the children have nothing and are absolutely petrified of dogs. I made a decision to educate people about these beautiful animals and the friendship and love they offer. I began teaching people in Africa the most basic concepts of k9 and human friendship, watching people go from fearing dogs to respecting, loving them and developing a friendship like no other, was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life! 

I knew all I had to do was open the window for people that hadn't experienced the love of a dog or animal and the dogs would do the rest. Once a person experiences the greatest gift life has to offer, the love and bond with a dog, they will then open the window for another person and so on and so on. My wish is that every human being on this planet could see and feel what I do about dogs and animals, then not one would need suffer ever again.

So I decided that is what I wanted to do with my life! Best decision I've ever made, every angel I meet I consider a dear friend, and will do what ever it takes to help them and their family, I'd do what I do for free if I didn't have a mortgage. I feel so very lucky that I am able to do what I love most in this world, and what I am most passionate about, every single day. 

I now have over 18 years experience in canine behavioural management and have qualifications in animal behaviour, canine psychology and training and Advanced Diploma in Canine Aggression Management and Modification. I am a registered member of the Association Pet Dog Trainers (APDT Australia INC).

My ethos is simple, I will teach you how your dog thinks and why they do the things that they do, so that you are then equipped to manage their behaviour. A lot of behaviourists will offer a quick fix to problem behaviours, in some cases this may very well be the case but in reality, behavioural correction is a process.

 My aim when taking on a new client is to teach them the skills and educate them on why their dog is behaving in a manner that has become a problem. I show people how dogs learn then teach them many different ways to teach their individual dog, because just like people not all dogs learn in the same way. I'm sure that there are millions of people that never reach their full potential in life, simply because their learning environment was not conducive to their "way of learning". Having the knowledge and skill to teach your dog all the things that they need to learn so that they can live happily and safely in a world designed for humans should be your aim. Because learning is a process! The reality is that you're the one that will need to teach your dog. You're with them every day, and every moment you have with them is an opportunity to teach them the things you would like them to understand. There are certain things that I will teach doggies during a class or consultation that they will retain very easily, particularly puppies, however, every single behaviour that your puppy or adult dog learns, must be constantly repeated successfully in order for that to become a consistent and dependable behaviour. 

If you are prepared to learn the skills that are required and provide the appropriate environment with patience, kindness, respect and persistence, I personally do not believe that there is any behavioural issue that can not be corrected or in the very least managed, so that each angel can have the safest and happiest life possible.

Dogs are my purpose and I love what I do, so if you are having any behavioural related issues with your dog please call me and we can work together to find the solution so you can enjoy the most beautiful friendship a person can have.