Jari Castle has been training her own dogs since 2012 and professionally since 2016. She has always been a strong advocate for using fear-free training methods with all animals, but especially our dogs for they have a unique role in our lives.

She is a Certified Training Partner with the Karen Pryor Academy since 2018 and has since completed Dr Susan Friedman’s Living and Learning with Animals course, Michael Shikashios’ Aggression in Dogs Mastercourse, Kim Brophey’s L.E.G.S Family Dog Mediation Professional program. Jari has run countless basic manners classes, designed, taught, and refined puppy preschool courses and started working part-time at RSPCA Victoria in October 2022, training the staff and volunteers on animal behaviour, training and handling.

She brings fun, practical skills and in-depth understanding of why our dogs do what they do to each training session. Jari aims to get dogs and humans working together, which is vital when addressing behaviour issues such as reactivity and aggression.

Her special interest is with helping reactive dogs – those that bark and lunge – and the humans holding the leash. Helping these dogs and people be able to enjoy their lives together again is incredibly rewarding. Having owned reactive dogs herself, she brings a warm combination of empathy, scientific knowledge, and compassion to each new family.

Jari has been a speaker at pet expo events, appeared on TV and been a radio guest on ABC and community radio. She has run workshops and seminars on many aspects of dog behaviour and care; and fosters relationships with a wide collaborative network of colleagues.

Jari lives in the Dandenong Ranges with her husband, two young sons and whippet Finley.