A great partner provides their dog with safety, love and fun — the core values at Delight in Dogs. I want your dog to love her life with you. When you learn how to teach her with empathy and skill, you'll see her smile — just like little Bonnie.
I've loved dogs for as long as I can remember. With each dog I've asked what makes him tick, how do I make him happy, and what can I do to make our lives together wonderful.
I'm a keen learner and love sharing my experience and expertise for those who want to be better partners for their dogs—but don't know how.
Living with a dog is a journey, one which is always changing. Understanding this, learning who you both are and adapting to what you both need is what builds a beautiful relationship.
So I continue to learn about dogs, create original content, share my expertise and that of others to help you make safer, more loving and enjoyable choices for both of you.
My formal learning began with Rumble, a sensitive, aloof Husky mix who challenged everything I thought about dogs. I wanted to do the "right" thing so I took him to obedience school and hired a local trainer who told me to treat him "Like a pleb" (a subservient inferior) and make him do what I said.
Teaching using punishment based training with a focus on deference, made him obedient but crushed what was essentially Rumble. I hated living with this depressed, servile dog so I sought a better way and found positive reinforcement training.
When I learned about dogs and the science of how to teach them, our relationship blossomed. What started as a need to change unwanted behaviour in Rumble opened a whole world of discovery, not only about who he was, but how positive reinforcement training is a gateway to a beautiful relationship where safety, love and fun are central.
We went from punishment, submission and depression, to cooperation, eagerness and joy. Rumble transformed from a compliant but spiritless dog, to a beautiful being who was free to express his quirky sense of fun.
I've shared my life with a variety of dogs with different needs and temperaments and have learned something wonderful from each of them. Our dogs are our greatest teachers.
I've been studying dogs formally for nearly two decades and remain deeply curious about what else there is to learn.
I've been endorsed and accredited by world leading dog trainer Kay Laurence and have articles featured on her website Learning About Dogs. I received a Certificate of Excellence for Living and Learning with Animals, a course for professional animal trainers run by Dr Susan Friedman.
I'm a professional educator with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), a Diploma of Education and am accredited in Conduct Companion Animal Training Class with years of experience teaching people to teach their dogs.
I have been learning about dog behaviour and training in Julie's puppy and dog classes since November 2018 to the present time [end 2019]. Julie is so inspiring and I hope to be a dog trainer too. I love Julie's understanding for dogs and people. The recognition of how dogs and people connect is integral to their relationship. Julie teaches people and their dogs and puppies with empathy. The positive reinforcement training strengthens the bond between dogs and their people by mutual respect, fun and choice. This is a wonderful resource for everyone to learn with their companion canine friends. Thank you
Working With Reactive and Hyper Aroused Dogs, Sharon Carroll, FDSA 2023
Messages of Trust, The Trust Technique, 2023
Do More With Your Dog Tricks Training - 2023 currently learning and teaching my own dogs from the DMWYD curriculum.
Build The Future, Kay Laurence Learning About Dogs, 2022
Push it! Treibball Foundations and Problem Solving, Melissa Breau, auditor, FDSA, 2022
FDSA Rally Free auditor, 2021
FDSA Noseworks auditor, 2021
Cup on a Stick Foundation, Learning About Dogs, 2020
Trainers' Workshop-Multi-Species Practical, Funky Farm, Dr. Kat Gregory, 2020
Geek Week, Pet Professional Guild, 2020
Story Skills Workshop, Akimbo and Bernadette Jiwa, 2020
Self Study Course on Instructional Design, Learning About Dogs 2019
The Foundations of Touch, Power of Touch for Animals, 2019
TAKL-fest: 5 day seminar/workshop with Kay Laurence at LADS UK 2018
Micro-movement, Learning About Dogs, 2017
Finish and Polish, Learning About Dogs, 2017
Play to Learn, Learning About Dogs, 2017
Super Clicker Trainer Seminar, Kay Laurence, Marin Humane Society, California, 2016
Smart Reinforcement, Ken Ramirez, KPA Academy2016 (auditor)
Proprioception Seminar, Primal Paws, Chews 2016
Rally Freestyle Elements,Julie Flanery 2016
Resource Guarding Seminar, Wagging School, 2015
Clicker Training Workshop, Dogspeak, 2015
Ian DunbarSeminar, 2015
5 Go to Sea, Animal Behaviour Seminar, Kay Laurence, Ken Ramirez, Alexandra Kurland, Jesus Rosales Ruiz, 2014
Super Clicker Trainer Workshop, Learning About Dogs-The Barn, 2013
Terry Ryan, Chicken Camp 2012
Canine Freestyle Course, Michele Pouliot, 2011
Train the Dog Trainer, ADTA, 2007
Train the Puppy Trainer, ADTA, 2007
Jan FennelSeminar, 2006
Get Connected Seminar,Brenda Aloff, 2006 W
TAKL - Trainer Accredited by Kay Laurence, Learning About Dogs (2 year course)
IDTC - (Intelligent Dog Trainers Course - 2 years) Certified with recommendation from Kay Laurence, Learning About Dogs,
Conduct Companion Animal Class, ADTA
Train the Dog Trainer, ADTA
Train the Puppy Trainer, ADTA
Instructor Training, Mornington Peninsula Community Dog Club
Diploma of Education Monash University
BA (Hons) The University of Melbourne