"When you give your dog companionship, love, and calm leadership, they’ll give you their complete loyalty in return."

Real Solutions for Real Behaviour Problems

Many dog owners feel overwhelmed by their dog’s behaviour and unsure of where to turn for reliable, professional help. While I offer obedience training lessons to the highest level—helping dogs master commands like sit, stay, come, and walk calmly on a lead—it’s important to understand that obedience alone won’t fix most behavioural issues.

Unwanted behaviours such as aggression, reactivity, anxiety, or lack of impulse control are rarely caused by a lack of obedience. They stem from emotional instability, confusion, and inconsistent leadership. Addressing these problems requires far more than teaching commands—it demands a deep understanding of canine psychology, natural instincts, and behavioural patterns.

That’s why it’s so important to choose a professional who doesn’t just focus on obedience, but has extensive knowledge and decades of hands-on experience in dog behaviour, psychology, and instinctual drives.

With over 40 years of professional experience—including time as a specialist dog trainer in the Royal Australian Air Force—I’ve helped countless dogs work through serious behavioural challenges. My goal is to restore calm, trust, and balance between dogs and their owners—so you can enjoy a respectful, stable relationship with your dog.

If you're struggling with your dog’s behaviour, I’m here to help.

If you want a deeper understanding of your dog’s psychology, behaviour, and your relationship with them, you’ll find Mark’s articles both insightful and thought-provoking.

The Hidden Cause of Separation Stress

Separation stress is one of the most common behavioural issues I see in dogs—and more often than not, it begins in the first few weeks after a puppy is brought into the home. What many loving dog owners don’t realise is that excessive nurturing during this early stage—what I call “over-mothering”—can have long-term psychological consequences...

Dogs have evolved alongside humans for thousands of years, developing a unique ability to attune to human emotions. Their extraordinary sensitivity to emotional cues, such as tone of voice, body language, and energy, has made them exceptional companions. However, this deep connection also means that dogs are profoundly affected by their owners' emotional states. Unregulated human emotions—both negative and positive—can lead to psychological distress and behavioural instability in dogs, ultimately harming the human-dog bond...

When a client contacts me, clearly distressed, and says, “What you showed me isn’t working,” my first response is always the same: “Are you being consistent?” The answer I most often hear is, “Yes, most of the time.”

Humans are naturally an inconsistent species. We operate in shades of grey. We can explain our intentions, justify why we changed our mind, or excuse a lapse in follow-through because we’re tired, distracted, or just not in the mood. And when dealing with other humans, that flexibility is often understood and accepted.

The interplay between emotion and the critical mind is a complex and nuanced topic. Emotion, while essential to human experience, often becomes dominant, overshadowing our ability to engage in critical thinking. This phenomenon is particularly observable in the realm of dog behaviour, where a lack of understanding of the true nature of dogs leads to emotional responses that eclipse reasoned analysis.