A professional trainer and a lover of dogs.
Specialising in behaviour problem solving, removing phobias and training particular behaviours an owner might need.
How it began
It started with my first dog, "Patch", who was the family dog. He was very naughty! Being a Terrier cross, he thought he could take on Dobermans, Bull Mastiffs, and anyone near his food - as well as clearing out the obedience hall when we arrived! So embarrassing!
Patch's behaviour was so bad that the trainers wondered what had hit them! He tried to mate the females and beat up the males! He would even make very embarrassing vocal noises. We were eventually sent out to the back hall by ourselves!
The training
To everyone's amazement, we improved quickly and were advised to enter our first show. I thought, "you have got to be kidding!"
We took a shot anyway, and from there on I was hooked - I just loved to train!
I learned quickly, and before I knew it, I was starting to win in obedience competition classes. Patch became a better family dog. He was much better behaved, and my experience with him taught me a lot. Patch lived until he was 18-years-old. He was an amazing dog and I loved him dearly.
I will never forget Patch, and, thinking back, we had so many funny moments with Patch.
Our next family dog was a fox terrier, whom we named Terry. I trained him in obedience, to the point he managed to get his CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) which is an obedience title. I then got my first very own dog, a Siberian Husky named Ootek. I became interested in Sled Dog racing soon after. I also purchased another Siberian Husky named Chief.
I became a train-a-holic, and even trained our cat! He could have placed well in novice obedience competitions!
Speedy, our cat, won me a $300 Fuji camera when I sent a video of his obedience to TVNZ's channel 2. I trained my budgie to play soccer with a marble, and also trained my rabbit to come when she was called. She understood where I wanted her to go anywhere in the house by voice command alone. I taught my horse to undo his lead rope... whoops, not a good idea! He had to be trained to come to my whistle.
I went to a few different obedience clubs, including one in Auckland where I learnt from some of New Zealand's best trainers. After helping out at various clubs, I realised I had gained experience to start training classes.
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Testimonials
“I would like to thank Raewyn for helping us with our very boisterous Siberian Husky. His name is Paddy and he was always a very naughty dog round the house as he was jumping on people all the time and running around like crazy.
After Raewyn came over to our house for 2 hours it completely changed him! She showed us tricks and tips to help us make him more manageable and he is now a much easier and happier dog. Raewyn helped us realise how easy it was to train Paddy, making us realise how intelligent he is and how to not be so crazy all the time.
We are currently training him everyday and he has shown great improvement in walking on the lead and being more manageable around the house. He is a much better dog even with a new born baby in our house.
I would highly recommend Raewyn for anyone with a naughty dog and especially anyone with a Husky as she knows them inside out. ”
— Ciarain
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“I want to thank Raewyn for the help she gave me with my dog Emmy. Emmy was 3 months old when I contacted Raewyn, realising that the puppy classes offered elsewhere were not going to meet Emmy's needs. She's a very intelligent Border Collie/Huntaway, and she needed training, rather than socialising. Raewyn's advertisement caught my attention immediately, I liked the "Dog training the fun way" concept. And it was fun for Emmy, she loved her times with Raewyn, and quickly became a much more manageable dog, essential for me as I have multiple disabilities.
Following on from the training Raewyn provided, I continued teaching Emmy new things, and she is now a fully accredited Service Dog, with all the rights of a Hearing Dog or a Guide Dog. So thank you, Raewyn, for the work, advice, support and sheer enjoyment you brought to me and more importantly, to Emmy.”
— Bev
“Thank you so much for turning our lovely natured, but very excitable Lab collie cross Millie into a far more relaxed family member, and me into a more confident leader !
I was amazed that at 8 years old Millie had no trouble learning more acceptable behaviour's and in fact was eager to do so with the methods Raewyn used.
I still remember how after a training session with Raewyn Millie visibly relaxed as the stresses of her 'perceived' responsibility as the 'leader' of the family who has to make sure we are all safe fell off her, once she accepted that I was capable of assuming that role! In fact, for a while we were wondering if she was depressed - not being used to a very relaxed dog in a non - excitable state !
Our other issue was that she was unbearable to travel with in the car and on our sailing boat because of constant barking - to the point that by the end of a trip we were all yelling at the dog AND at each other! In fact, I believe it was quite unsafe as we all got so agitated with that ear splitting bark that any complex decision making in regards to a driving or sailing maneuver was impossible and could have potentially ended up in an accident. In the end we decided that Millie just couldn't come on holiday with us for everyone's sanity and family peace. However, Raewyn has helped to change all that.
Raewyn was so great with helping us to get Millie to assume the role of a more chilled-out co-traveler and we are so thrilled to have our beautiful dog with us on family trips in the car and sailing has been so much fun with having her around.
I have learned so much about the way dogs think from Raewyn and most of all I learned so much about myself .
You are just gorgeous Raewyn and I felt very comfortable with your approach. Your personality, sense of humour, genuine belief in dogs and the people, and wonderful skills brought out the best in all of us -canine and human alike!”
— A heartfelt thank you from the Wilden Family
“Charcoal had come to perceive himself as being in charge of our household. Raewyn advised us how we could re-assert our dominance over him. We realised that Charcoal was, in fact, quite anxious and confused about his role. As soon as we started to alter our behaviour, he was a happier, more relaxed, and better-behaved dog.
I cannot thank Raewyn enough for her support, and her follow-up advice. She really helped to set us on the right track in developing a loving and healthy relationship with our dog
Raewyn was wonderful. She visited us, and spent time with my family and Charcoal in his home base. Right from the outset, it was evident that she really understood dog language – and the advice she gave us about walking him, managing his behaviour at home, and desensitizing him to his fear of the car was excellent.”
— Lynne
