Louise
I am originally from Arbroath in Scotland and moved to NZ in 2008 with my husband and two girls, aged 3 and 1 at the time.
I studied Music at Aberdeen University and spent 22 years as a Music Teacher in Primary and Secondary schools in Scotland, England and New Zealand. In NZ I taught at Albany Junior High School, Hobsonville Point Secondary and Long Bay Primary, in Auckland.
In 2020 I returned to Uni to study Canine Behaviour and Animal Management. This was a choice driven by my desire to help others achieve a relationship with their dogs like I have with Putu.
To gain more practical experience working with dogs, in December 2020 I started working part-time at Happy Hounds in Silverdale. The daycare is now known as The Dog Den and although I no longer work in the daycare, I run puppy classes there on Saturdays.
During my canine studies I volunteered at two dog rescues on the North Shore. This experience not only introduced me to a large variety of dogs but I met dogs with a huge range of behaviour problems and some who were victims of their circumstances.
I also worked part-time at Nose To Tail in Albany learning how to brush, bath and dry every possible breed and size of dog. It was physically demanding but the one on one interaction with each dog is a gift. Many dogs don't enjoy being groomed but it is a necessity to maintain their health. I enjoyed using my knowledge of canine behaviour to make the experience as painfree and stressfree as possible for them.
I love working with people too which is useful when dog training is just as much about training the human as it is about training the dog.
2021 has kicked off to an exciting start after being invited back to Unitec to assist part-time, training the new Canine Behaviour students.
I have owned several dogs. My current dog, Putu accompanied me through Unitec, completing assessments in scent work, agility, rally-o and obedience.
After completing our studies Putu achieved Foundation and Bronze CGC certification and qualified as a Pet Therapy Dog. Our current placement is The Sands in Browns Bay.
About Putu
1. Putu's Mum is a Fox Terrier/Blue Heeler. His Dad is Ridgeback/Shar Pei. All of these breeds are evident in some aspect of his behaviour, temperament, appearance and needs.
Putu is a very special boy who has taught me a lot! He completed the Canine Behaviour Training and Management Certificate at Unitec with me in 2020, learning Agility, Rally-O, Obedience, Scentwork, Tracking and some really cool tricks.
3. Putu gained his Foundation and Bronze Canine Good Citizen certificates at the end of 2020 then finished a busy year by becoming a certified Pet Therapy dog.
He loves to sniff out rats, rabbits and skinks although he never catches any. Putu will chase a ball then return it to your hand. He tolerates cuddles, people and other dogs but mostly loves to sniff. He's a very still, calm dog when he's not sniffing or chasing and in my opinion has a very old soul.
5. He was born in 2016 and came to us from Waihi at 6 months old. He was already named and we kept it because it is unique, like him. I met Putus Mum while working in a friends garden. She lived next door but had free reign of the neighbourhood: hense the unexpected litter!
2. This little lady insisted on bringing me a stick to throw. She'd move it right on to my lap if I didn't throw it straight away, then she'd back up in excited anticipation.
4. Putu was the last of the litter to need a home. He had spent the first 6 months of his life with both his mum and dad nearby. He was allowed to roam on a farm with chickens and goats and unfortunately a busy road where two of his siblings died.
His Shar Pei ears caused big problems and nearly made him deaf until he had a bi-lateral ablation (surgically open the ear canals). His skin was very spotty and itchy too so he has regular showers with medicated shampoo.
6. I run 8km three mornings a week with him then he gets a long sniffari two mornings a week in the bush. The other two mornings we walk with friends (human and canine). We play and train every evening after tea and always do something different from the day before because variety is the spice of life!
He has a variety of toys which I rotate. Some toys deliver food and others can be chewed, chased or tugged. He's very loved and deserves it.