Kerry

Kerry is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA); an international qualification that requires rigorous standards for knowledge and skills in science-based dog training.  She has also earned her qualification as n Industry Accredited Dog Trainer from the Challenger Institute of Technology of Western Australia, plus is an IMDT qualified Dog Trainer with the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers. 

She spent most of the earlier part of her career working in customer, client and passenger services. The skills learnt during that time contributed to Kerry being a caring and approachable good communicator with empathy for both humans and their dogs. With two sons and four grandchildren, Kerry has enjoyed a busy family life which has always included a family dog or two.

Learning about Dog Training & Behaviour has always been Kerry’s dream choice of career, however it was put on the back burner, while raising her family. Moving from the UK to Australia in 2012 gave Kerry the fantastic opportunity to follow her lifetime goal, and after first moving she was fortunate enough to House and Pet Sit, staying in over 35 different Perth suburbs, looking after and carefully observing the behaviour of many wonderful different breeds and sizes of dogs in their home environments.

Having the opportunity to live with the dogs in their home as their full-time caretaker was an unforgettable experience, and one of the biggest practical hands-on lessons that only the dogs could have taught Kerry. At the same time, she was studying at Challenger Institute of Technology of Western Australia with some of the best professional and knowledgeable Dog Trainers in Perth. It was there that Kerry became an IADT (Industry Accredited Dog Trainer). 

Since living in Australia, Kerry has enjoyed interacting with and caring for hundreds of dogs of different breeds, age, temperaments and sizes. Kerry has worked at dog shelters as a dog walker, as a pet sitter, provided Doggie Day Care, educated clients and their puppies in vet clinics and in-home consultations and much more.

In 2014 she successfully completed the assessment and training requirements in WA to be part of the Animal Therapy Team achieving a Certificate of Accreditation Animal Therapy Team . In 2016 she spent some very valuable time experiencing working as a Behaviour Trainer at the RSPCA; a great way to learn many observational and practical skills.

Along with her business associates, Kerry also runs the Educational Program for Inmates and Canines (EPIC); a foster program whereby they educate foster dog prison handlers in current best practice dog training within a prison environment, where they have hands-on experience with foster dogs. This program has been running for over five years and has proved to be extremely successful for both dogs and their handlers. 

She is also qualified in both Human First Aid and Pet First Aid, and regularly attends professional development seminars, workshops and conferences to maintain and enhance her science-based knowledge and skills in the fields of animal training and behaviour modification.

Viv

I have had a love of animals since I was a young child.  Sadly, I was also very allergic to cats and dogs, but this did not dampen my love for them.  We always had dogs and a cat throughout my childhood.  As a child, maybe 10 years old I used to walk to the Claremont showgrounds (Dogs West wasn’t built then) every weekend to go and look at the dog shows.  I knew every breed of dog and had quite a few books about dogs so I could cross reference and learn more about the dogs I had met at the show that day.

Fast forward a ‘few years,’ my husband, children and many pets of different kinds I decided to become a vet nurse.  I have now been working as a vet nurse for over 13 years, which I love.  I am mainly based at our Dalkeith Vet Clinic; however, I do also do a shift at the Grantham Street Vet once a week.

Last year I completed a Certificate IV in Behaviour and Training at AVT.  It was a brand-new course that was advertised in 2021, I applied and was lucky enough to get a place.  I thought this would be of benefit to my current position, which it has been.  However, it has also opened another door for me in my career. 

I am currently the Dog Trainer and take Puppy School Classes at the Grantham Street Vet Clinic.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE EVERY MINUTE of puppy classes, I will do more training/education and learn everything I possibly can within this wonderful industry of dog training.

Cecile

https://www.companionanimalbehaviour.com.au/more-about-me

Cecile has recently moved to Melbourne and we wish her all the best.

Qualifications & Training

  • Master of Science degree in Companion Animal Behaviour Analysis and Counselling (with American College of Applied Science in Florida)

  • Certified Professional Dog Trainer (an international qualification)

  • Fear Free Certified Professional

  • Nationally Accredited Dog Trainer (from the Challenger Institute of Technology of Western Australia)

  • Pet First Aid Trained

  • Human First Aid Trained  

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Engineering (from The Colorado School of Mines)

Professional Memberships

  • Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers

  • International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants

  • Animal Behaviour Society

  • Behaviour Education Network

  • Association of Professional Dog Trainers (Australia and U.S.A.)

  • Fear Free Pet

Sharon

 Growing up I shared my life with a menagerie of animals - dogs, cats, birds, geese, even a pig who thought he was a dog (he was the runt of the litter and we hand reared him, then he went back to live on our friend's farm as a family pet).

When Tucker came into my life as a very young scared of the world pup I began one of the most fulfilling adventures of my life - learning about how dogs learn, and how we as humans can help them enjoy our world.

​Tucker's a super-star and now I'm a qualified trainer helping other dog owners help their puppies and dogs enjoy the human world too.

I believe all dogs should be able to live, learn and train in a fear and force free environment -  If we train in a positive way the special relationship with our dog will be nutured and grow.  All of my qualifications are internationally recognised.  IMDT (Distinction), CTDI (Certified Trick Dog Instructor), Fear Free Certified Professional (Elite), Qualified Puppy Instructor (EPPI) and member of Pet Professional Guild Australia (PPGA) and Initiative for Fear Free Dog Training.