Dogs with Big Feelings:
Real-life training for reactive dogs who deserve more than a smaller world
If you're constantly scanning the horizon, crossing the road and wondering what today's walk is going to throw at you, you're not alone.
Dogs with Big Feelings is a 60-day coaching program that helps reactive dogs—and the people who love them—build calmer, more enjoyable lives together.
Not by chasing every bark.
By changing the life that's creating it.
You didn’t get a dog so you could spend your life avoiding things.
When you brought your dog home, you probably imagined walks you'd both look forward to, weekend adventures and a dog who could simply come along for the ride.
Instead, you've become surprisingly good at reading the environment before you've even stepped outside. You notice every dog, every person and every potential problem long before your dog does. Some days it feels like you're managing the walk from start to finish instead of actually enjoying it.
You've probably tried a few things already. Maybe some of them even helped for a while.
But if you're here, I'm guessing you're still waiting for life with your dog to feel... easier.
Not perfect.
Just enjoyable again.
Most trainers start with the reaction.
I start with the life that's creating it.
Most people who get in touch describe their dog as reactive.
That's often an accurate description of the behaviour they're seeing.
I just don't think it's the whole story.
Barking, lunging and losing the plot around other dogs are often the behaviours we notice first, but they're rarely where the story begins.
Most of the dogs I work with aren't trying to be difficult. They're clever, capable dogs doing the best they can with the skills, communication and outlets they've got.
When a dog spends every day looking for something to do, they'll usually find something.
Unfortunately, it's not always the job we'd choose.
So rather than getting caught up in the barking itself, I want to understand why the behaviour makes so much sense to that particular dog.
Because once you understand the dog underneath the behaviour, ‘reactive’ becomes a much smaller part of the story.
Living with a working dog is a bit like sharing a house with someone who's had three coffees and just been told to ‘just relax’.
So instead of spending eight weeks chasing every bark or lunge, we focus on building the foundations that make those behaviours less necessary in the first place.
We'll improve communication, help your dog find more appropriate ways to use all that drive, teach them how to properly switch off and build practical skills that make everyday life feel a whole lot easier.
It's a simple idea.
A fulfilled dog with clear communication and sensible boundaries has far less reason to spend their day creating chaos.
And that's exactly what we're working towards.
Fast forward a couple of months...
You clip the lead on and head out the front door without that familiar knot in your stomach.
Your dog is still your dog. They stop to sniff, they notice the world around them and they still have plenty of opinions. But now, when something catches their eye, you know what you're looking at and what to do next.
Another dog appears up ahead.
Instead of holding your breath and hoping for the best, you quietly help your dog through it. Maybe you create a bit of space, maybe you keep walking, maybe you stop for a moment. Whatever the situation calls for, you no longer feel like you're making it up as you go.
Back at home, your dog has a play, has a snooze and settles into the day instead of constantly searching for the next thing to do.
The biggest change isn't that your dog has become perfect.
It's that you're enjoying each other again.
You're no longer planning your day around what might go wrong. Instead, you're wondering where to explore next, saying yes when friends suggest a walk and starting to imagine the sort of adventures you hoped you'd have when you first brought your dog home.
Because that's what Dogs with Big Feelings is really about.
Not creating a perfect dog.
Helping you build a bigger, happier life together.
Their words, not mine
“It’s been so worth every single cent, the way I’m enjoying my life now. Stop waiting, stop overthinking and wasting time, just do it.”
Tania & Nanuk the Samoyed
“We used to be confined to neighbourhood walks but now, she has a lot more freedom. She’s a much happier dog and I’m a much happier person.”
Taylor & Pinto the Kelpie X
Here’s how we’ll work together
Dogs with Big Feelings isn't six isolated training sessions.
It's a coaching program.
We'll meet regularly over 60 days, and each session builds on the last. Between sessions, you'll practise in real life, send me videos when you're unsure, ask questions, celebrate the wins and troubleshoot the inevitable wobbles before they become bigger problems.
You'll have:
Four private one-on-one training sessions at your home.
Two small, supported group sessions to practise your new skills around other dogs.
Personalised homework and progress tracking.
Regular WhatsApp support and video feedback.
Access to my resource library and training guides.
Training equipment to help you get started.
Continued support after the active program finishes, plus opportunities to keep progressing through Adventure Club and other Dynamo Dogs services.
You're never expected to figure it all out on your own.
That's the whole point.
Then we take it out into the real world
Once those foundations are starting to come together, it's time to put them into practice.
The group sessions are carefully managed and built with a small number of suitable dogs. There's plenty of space, lots of coaching and absolutely no expectation that your dog has to be best mates with everyone they meet.
In fact, they don't even need to say hello.
The goal isn't to create social butterflies. It's to help your dog realise they can be around other dogs without feeling the need to control the situation—and to help you discover that you can handle those moments too.
For a lot of owners, this is where everything starts to click.
Not because their dog has suddenly become perfect, but because they finally stop feeling like they're doing it all alone.
The bit that happens between the sessions
Homework sound scary, but it’s probably a lot less than you’re imagining.
Most clients spend around 10–20 minutes a day intentionally working with their dog. Some days it's a quick play session. Other days it might be practising a new communication skill, helping your dog settle properly after activity or filming a short video for feedback.
A lot of the learning actually happens during things you're already doing.
Making dinner.
Heading out for a walk.
Opening the front door.
Playing in the backyard.
We're not trying to cram more into your day. We're trying to make the time you already spend with your dog more enjoyable and more productive.
Because consistency beats perfection every time.
A little about me
If you've ever looked at your dog and thought, ‘Mate... what on earth are we doing?’—I've been there.
My kelpie Cricket was my dream dog. She was also an absolute chaos monkey.
She was clever enough to outsmart me, driven enough to keep going all day, and more than capable of making every walk feel like an adventure... just not the kind I'd imagined.
For a while, I thought the barking and lunging were the problem.
They weren't.
The real problem was that our world kept getting smaller. We avoided places, dodged other dogs and spent far more time managing life than enjoying it.
Learning to see the dog underneath the behaviour changed everything.
Cricket didn't need to become a different dog. She needed clearer communication, more appropriate ways to use all that drive, and someone who understood what she was trying to tell me.
That experience shaped the way I train today.
These days I'm a qualified dog trainer, Family Dog Mediator and Mantrailing Global instructor, but more importantly, I'm someone who knows how lonely and frustrating life with a reactive dog can feel.
My job isn't to judge you or your dog.
It's to help you understand each other a little better and build the kind of life you probably imagined when you brought them home in the first place.
Yep. That’s me and Cricket, the dog that started it allYou're living with a dog who regularly loses the plot on walks or struggles to cope with the world around them.
You've reached the point where you're craving one clear plan instead of another conflicting opinion.
Understanding why your dog behaves the way they do matters just as much as changing the behaviour itself.
Play, purpose, freedom and boundaries all have a place in your idea of good dog training.
Having someone to bounce ideas off between sessions sounds reassuring, rather than being left to figure it all out alone.
You're prepared to put in a little practice between sessions, knowing that's where the real progress happens.
The goal isn't a perfectly obedient dog—it's a dog you can genuinely enjoy living life with.
We might be a good fit if...
...and we might not be
You're hoping someone else will train your dog while you watch from the sidelines.
A quick fix is more appealing than building lasting change.
You're looking for perfect obedience rather than a dog who can make good decisions in the real world.
Setting clear boundaries or following through consistently doesn't sit comfortably with you.
Finding 10–20 minutes a day to practise just isn't realistic right now.
Your dog has a significant bite history that needs more specialised support than this program provides.
You live outside my service area and can't travel for the in-person sessions.
…and that's okay.
Not every trainer is the right fit for every dog, and not every dog is the right fit for this program. I'd much rather be honest about that from the beginning than have either of us commit to something that isn't the best option.
Why a program instead of a few lessons?
Some dogs genuinely only need a session or two. But, reactive dogs are often a bit different.
By the time people find me, they've usually already spent months trying different advice, watching videos, buying new equipment and wondering why nothing quite seems to stick.
I often say there are three ways we pay for change: Time. Energy. Money.
Most people have already spent a lot of the first two.
That's why Dogs with Big Feelings isn't just a handful of lessons. It's a step-by-step coaching program, with support between sessions so you're never left wondering what to do next.
Could we make progress in a couple of sessions?
Probably.
Could we create the sort of lasting change that helps you enjoy life with your dog again?
That's much harder.
If I genuinely think your dog would be better served by a different option, I'll tell you. My goal isn't to sell you the biggest program—it's to recommend the right one.
The investment
The full Dogs with Big Feelings program is $3,595, and flexible payment plans are available. If we decide it's the right fit, I'll explain all of your payment options before you commit to anything.
And if I don't think your dog needs the full program, I'll tell you that too.
What you can expect from me
I don't believe in promising ‘perfect’ dogs.
What I do promise is honest advice, practical coaching and support that fits the dog in front of me—not a one-size-fits-all formula.
I'll be there to guide you, celebrate the wins, help you through the inevitable wobbles and answer your questions along the way. All I ask in return is that you genuinely commit to the process. Show up, practise between sessions, ask questions when you're unsure and trust that real change takes time.
If you do that, but don't see the progress we've agreed to work towards, I'll honour my written program guarantee and keep helping you.
The people who've lived it say it best
Every dog is different, but there's one thing these families all have in common: they were once exactly where you are now.
Still wondering something?
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That's exactly what the kick-off session is for.
We'll chat about what's been going on, what you've already tried, what life currently looks like and what you'd love it to look like instead.
If I genuinely think Dogs with Big Feelings is the right fit, I'll tell you.
If I think you'd be better served by something else, I'll tell you that too.
I'd much rather point you in the right direction than sell you something you don't need.
I will tell you honestly if I think another option would suit you better.
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Probably.
Many of the dogs I work with already know plenty of obedience. They can sit, drop, stay and look at their owner beautifully... right up until another dog appears.
My focus isn't on teaching more commands.
It's helping you understand why your dog behaves the way they do, improving communication, giving them more appropriate outlets and helping both of you make better decisions in everyday life.
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Less than most people expect.
I usually ask clients to aim for around 10–20 minutes of intentional practice each day.
Some days that might be a quick play session, practising a communication skill or working on helping your dog settle.
The goal isn't to give you another full-time job.
It's to help you make better use of the time you're already spending with your dog.
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Not at all.
Nobody gets thrown in at the deep end.
The group sessions happen later in the program, they're deliberately small and we only attend when your dog is ready.
Sometimes that means working at a distance. Sometimes it means simply watching. That's perfectly okay.
There's no prize for rushing.
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In fact, that's one of the biggest reasons people come to me.
Living with a reactive dog can knock your confidence around more than most people realise.
We'll build your skills one step at a time so you know what you're looking at, what your options are and how to respond.
Confidence usually follows competence.
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Absolutely.
Most people choose the payment plan because it spreads the investment out while still allowing us to get started straight away.
We'll go through all the options before you commit to anything.
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Hopefully...
You start enjoying your dog a whole lot more.
Some people finish the program and happily head off on their own.
Others stick around through Adventure Club, mantrailing or off-leash training because they've realised how much fun life with their dog can actually be.
There's no pressure either way.
My goal isn't to keep you in training forever.
It's to help you build a life where you don't need me nearly as much.
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Life happens.
I just ask for at least 24 hours' notice wherever possible.
The program runs over 60 days, so there's usually enough flexibility to shuffle things around if something unexpected pops up.
The only thing I don't want is lots of big gaps between sessions, because consistency is one of the biggest drivers of progress.
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Maybe.
It depends on the circumstances.
Some bite cases are suitable for Dogs with Big Feelings, while others need a different level of management or support.
The best thing to do is tell me about it during your kick-off session and we'll work out the safest and most appropriate path forward together.
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Not as part of Dogs with Big Feelings.
This program focuses on communication, play, fulfilment, boundaries, handling skills and helping your dog make better choices.
If reliable off-leash recall becomes a goal later on, I have a separate recall program for suitable dogs and owners.
Ready to build a bigger life with your dog?
You don't need to have everything figured out before you get in touch.
You just need to be ready for something to change.
Tell me a little about you, your dog and what's been going on. If I think Dogs with Big Feelings is the right fit, we'll make a plan together. And if I think there's a better option for you, I'll tell you that too.
Because my goal isn't to squeeze every dog into the same program.
It's to help you find the right path forward.
Your dog doesn't need to become someone else.
They just need their person to understand them a little better.
