Amanda van der Walt
Registered canine behaviourist & trainer | Basic & advanced canine ethology
Member of the SA board for companion-animal professionals
Private, individual behaviour consultation for adults and puppies
By really understanding why our dogs react or behave in the ways they do, we can help them to recover from a viariety of “unwanted” behaviours effectively and with lasting results, be it bad manners, bad habits or fearfulness.
There are many reasons for the different behaviours we see. Factors such as life experience, environmental influence, routines and habits as well as contextual experiences add to the uniqueness of each dog’s particular set of behaviours.
Behaviour modification through positive association will steer your dog towards better alternatives and better choices, and so, better habits and behaviours, resulting in more advantageous outcomes for them at home or out on a walk.
Positive reinforcement is used and encouraged in training.
All consultation and training is done in the comfort of your home.
Below are some of the more common behaviours.
Please see the Behaviours page for a more comprehensive list.
Obedience, commands, leash training and lots more.. for puppies and adults.. done at home
Cultivating obedience in positive and enjoyable ways encourages an eagerness to listen, respond and learn.
While learning in a group setting can be fun, it can also be distracting, overwhelming and restrictive for both puppies and adults to learn in, so one-on-one training is often the solution.
Enjoyable training will encourage your puppy or adult dog towards more calmness, better obedience and to behave well whether at home, while out on a walk, at the park or at a dog-friendly restaurant.
With some basic commands and obedience skills, your dog can be asked to willingly wait in a relaxed manner while you prepare their meal or attach their leash for a walk, to come to you when called, not to jump on visitors, to go to their bed when you need them settle or not to get stressed at the park, as well as a myriad of things.
Leash-training is highly recommended for dogs and puppies alike. An enjoyable walking routine is highly beneficial for almost all behavioural issues as well as for our dogs’ physical and mental health.
Essential socialisation occurs at a natural pace during stress-free walks.
Positive reinforcement is used and encouraged in training.
All consultation and training is done in the comfort of your home.
One-on-one puppy classes at home
Create a good foundation for your puppy to learn from throughout life.
Individual training ensures that your puppy feels comfortable to progress at their own pace, while special attention can be given to difficult areas of learning.
Such learning sticks better as there is no pressure or force, whether physical or to learn at another’s speed. A more relaxed puppy will have more fun learning too, so again more is remembered more easily and faster.
Socialisation with others and other environments occurs naturally during enjoyable, relaxing walks so it’s a good idea to start walking your puppy early on. Instead of being over-whelmed in a group environment, socialisation takes place at a normal and natural rate this way, just like it will happen throughout the rest of your puppy’s life.
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