Force-Free, Evidence-Based Reactivity & Fear Support in Lower Hutt & Greater Wellington.
Force-Free, Evidence-Based Reactivity & Fear Support in Lower Hutt & Greater Wellington.
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Force-Free, Evidence-Based Reactive Dog Support in Lower Hutt & Greater Wellington
I work exclusively with sensitive, anxious, and high-arousal dogs and their humans. No punishment, no choke collars, no dominance mythology just scientific empathy and actionable calm.
Initial Behaviour Consultation — $195 NZD
Initial Behaviour Consultation — $195 NZD
A comprehensive, in-home assessment and hands-on foundation session for dogs experiencing on-lead reactivity, fear, anxiety, or over-arousal.
Duration: 90 minutes
Location: In-home across Lower Hutt and the wider Wellington region
What's included:
Deep-dive history and environmental assessment
Practical, force-free handling and distance management strategies
Customised, written management and training plan delivered post-session
Email support following the consult to help review progress
Follow-Up Practical Session — $110 – $160 NZD
Follow-Up Practical Session — $110 – $160 NZD
Targeted 1-on-1 practical coaching in real-world environments to advance your mechanics, build calm confidence on lead, and work through realistic situations at your dog's pace. (Available following an initial consultation).
Pricing Guide:
Pricing Guide:
$110 NZD (Standard): 45–60 minute session focusing on established skills in quiet or familiar low-distraction environments (e.g., local neighbourhood walks or home setup).
$135 – $160 NZD (Complex / Intensive): Extended 60–75 minute sessions covering multi-trigger exposure, high-arousal environments (busy parks, public reserves), multi-dog households, or specialized handling transitions.
Session Length: 45 to 75 minutes (agreed upon prior to booking)
Location: Tailored outdoor or home locations across Lower Hutt and the wider Wellington region
What's included:
Real-time distance and threshold management tailored to your dog's arousal state
Fine-tuning lead handling mechanics, reward delivery, and decompression strategies
Coaching on subtle canine stress indicators and threshold body language
Concise progress notes and updated action steps after each session
"Does This Sound Familiar?"
"Does This Sound Familiar?"
Walking at odd hours of the morning or late at night just to avoid other dogs and people.
Feeling your heart race every time a dog appears around a corner or on the other side of the street.
Struggling with lunging, barking, growling, or freezing at the end of the leash.
Feeling judged, embarrassed, or exhausted by walks that leave you both drained.
Wondering if you’re doing something wrong, or feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice online.
How We Work Together
How We Work Together
I believe dogs learn best when they feel safe, understood, and supported. My approach never uses punishment, fear, or intimidation no prong collars, slip corrections, or choke chains.
Instead, we focus on:
Understanding Triggers & Thresholds: Learning to read your dog’s subtle body language so you can intervene before an explosion happens.
Emergency Management: Equipping you with simple, realistic handling tools to navigate tricky encounters with confidence.
Counter-Conditioning: Changing how your dog actually feels about their triggers, turning panic and frustration into calm disengagement.
Building Handler Confidence: Giving you practical coaching so you feel prepared and calm at the other end of the lead.
Take a breath: you are not alone, and your dog is not broken.
Take a breath: you are not alone, and your dog is not broken.
Reactivity isn't defiance, stubbornness, or a dog trying to be "dominant." It is an emotional response rooted in fear, frustration, or sensory overwhelm. With the right tools and compassionate guidance, everyday walks can feel manageable and peaceful again.
If you’ve ever walked around street corners with your heart in your throat, waited until midnight in the rain just to avoid passing other dogs, or felt sick with embarrassment when your dog exploded on leash... take a deep breath.
Reactivity is exhausting.
The hyper-vigilance, the sudden adrenaline spikes, and the unsolicited comments from strangers take a heavy emotional toll.
Here is the truth: Reactivity is almost never about "bad behavior," dominance, or spite. It is an emotional overflow of fear, frustration, or sensory overload.
Why Force-Free & Reward-Based Methods Matter
Why Force-Free & Reward-Based Methods Matter
True behavior change happens when dogs feel safe. We do not use prong collars, choke chains, e-collars, or intimidation.
Here is what we focus on instead:
Threshold Management: Learning how far away your dog needs to be to feel safe, think clearly, and learn.
Desensitization & Counter-Conditioning: Teaching your dog’s brain that triggers (other dogs, scooters, delivery vans) predict great things—not danger.
Environmental Skills & Emergency Exits: Practical, mechanics-driven handling skills—like rapid U-turns, scent scatter feeding, and visual screening—so you always have a plan when surprised.
Advocacy & Decompression: Recognizing subtle stress signals before an outburst happens and protecting your dog’s emotional bucket.
Honest Training With Integrity
Honest Training With Integrity
Behavior modification is individual, personal, and non-linear. Every dog’s history, genetics, and environment are unique.
Because we follow ethical, evidence-based standards:
We do not offer guaranteed timelines or "cures." Any trainer promising an overnight fix is usually relying on suppression and fear, which often leads to fallout later.
We do promise transparent guidance, realistic milestones, and continuous support. We celebrate every step forward—from a faster recovery time after seeing a trigger to an owner regaining confidence on daily walks.
How It Works: The Process:
How It Works: The Process:
Step 1: Initial Behavioral Consultation
Step 1: Initial Behavioral Consultation
We start with an in-depth, 1-on-1 assessment. We will unpack your dog’s specific triggers, history, daily routine, and walking gear, and review health/pain considerations. By the end of this session, you’ll have immediate management strategies to stop the cycle of trigger-stacking right away.
Step 2: Tailored Behavioral Plan
Step 2: Tailored Behavioral Plan
No cookie-cutter templates. You receive a realistic, step-by-step game plan tailored to your household schedule and your neighborhood’s layout.
Step 3: Practical Coaching & Progress
Step 3: Practical Coaching & Progress
Hands-on coaching where we practice real-world mechanics, threshold work, and confidence-building at a pace your dog can genuinely handle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can you guarantee my dog will be able to greet other dogs on lead?
Q: Can you guarantee my dog will be able to greet other dogs on lead?
A: No, and on-lead greetings are rarely the right goal for a reactive dog! On-lead interactions create physical restriction and high social pressure. Our priority is neutrality; helping your dog feel safe enough to ignore triggers and calmly disengage.
Q: Do I need to buy special training collars?
Q: Do I need to buy special training collars?
A: No. We strictly use humane, force-free equipment (such as well-fitted Y-front harnesses, fixed-length leads, and treat pouches). We never use prong collars, slip leads as corrections, or shock collars.
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