It’s important when trying to find the right person, training program or organisation for you and your dog, that you check out the trainer’s credentials and background.
Many trainer’s these days advertise that they are ‘trained’ under a particular course… but did they actually finish or pass the course? Is the course an officially recognised course? And can they prove their qualifications? Make sure that your ‘trained’ trainer actually has the accreditation to back it up, the accreditation means something worthwhile, and the trainer you choose teaches with up to date methods and has a clear understanding of animal behaviour and what makes them tick! At Paws And Think we are accredited dog trainers and below is more information about my story and how I ended up beginning the adventure with Paws And Think.
My name is Shelley and I graduated from Veterinary Nursing in 1997 in New Zealand. From there I had an amazing opportunity to become an animal behaviour technician for an animal welfare and research agricultural organisation in the Waikato region. I won’t lie… this job was awe-inspiring! I got to study and collect vast amounts of data, samples and knowledge from observing animals and their behaviours in their natural environment,s or in the environments that humans had created for them. All our information and research went into upgrading and developing techniques and procedures to improve the welfare, surroundings and lifestyles for these animals. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work for such an organisation… but eventually I needed to spread my wings…
After making my journey to Australia in 2000 and working in various roles around the Inner West of Sydney, in 2005 I found a nice place to snuggle into and made myself comfortable for the next 16 years amongst a team of Veterinary Specialists who specialise in diagnostic imaging, another job I absolutely loved. The time came where I needed to venture out so I could help more people and dogs, and I discovered I suffer from a strange addiction to continual learning. Once I got my Diploma in Business Management in 2011, I couldn’t stop learning and started my accreditation journey to becoming a qualified dog trainer a few months later to pursue my passion of animal behaviour once more… Paws And Think was launched in 2013.
I’m trained and accredited through the Delta Institute with a Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services, Karen Pryor Academy as a Professional Dog Trainer, Certificate of Excellence with Behavior+Works in Living and Learning with Animals (Friedman), Fear Free Certified Professional, Canine Hoopers World trainer, and certifications through the Master Course in Aggression in Dogs (Shikashio) and L.E.G.S – Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation Group (Brophy); all of which have given me the vast amount of knowledge to help guardians live peacefully with their companions. I have more missions and adventures in the pipelines so I can work towards my personal interest in animal behaviour, gaining more accreditations and specialising in canine behaviour.
I’m a member of the PPGA (Pet Professional Guild Australia), DI (Delta Institute), KPA (Karen Pryor Academy), Fear Free Pets, SOCS (The School of Canine Science) and the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers).
All of this training is a valuable asset with Paws And Think Animal Training to keep me up to date with the changing environments of the industry and to ensure that client requirements can be met professionally and appropriately and our amazing companions get the best we can offer!
Our Team
Lily
Qualified Dog Trainer (Delta Institute), dog walker & pet minder
Lilly has loved animals her whole life. Her qualifications include a Certificate II in Animal Care (AVT) and a Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training (Delta Institute). She provides training consults, solo dog walking services and pet minding services for all your beloved family pets. Lilly runs her own business called Winnie Petcare and Training and if you are looking for her rare and incredibly valuable solo dog walking service - you better get in quick as she books out quickly! Lilly is passionate about helping Rescue Dogs within the first 2 months of settling into their new forever homes. She strives to help dog guardians understand the importance of decompression and the required patience needed to help them understand their new life, along with building a relationship with their dog. She uses respect, trust and love for reaching our objectives along with confidence boosting activities and taking things slow to ensure a smooth transition. Lilly is a professional dog walker during the day, puppy trainer in the evenings and a bunny whisperer in her spare time and offers many rabbit owners the security that if they need to go away, then she’ll make sure their bunnies are looked after in their absence. Paws And Think have been smiling for every moment Lilly has been part of the team.
Sam
Qualified dog trainer (Tafe NSW), dog walker & pet sitter
Sam brings to our team a friendly and happy vibe and years of pet sitting and walking experience. Sam is a qualified dog trainer with a Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services (Tafe NSW), providing training consults, dog walking and pet sitting services for even the most complicated of dogs. Being surrounded by animals truly is Sam's happy place, and you can often find her at dog beaches, the park or snuggling on the couch with a pooch! Your pet’s well-being is of the utmost importance to Sam and she will always treat your pets with patience, love and kindness. Sam runs her own business called Pawsitive Training Solutions and if you are looking for her valuable solo and group dog walking services or personalised pet sitting in the comforts of your pets own home (short or long term), then reach out!