Vice President - Sarah Forge
Miss Behaviour Dog Training Services

Sarah Forge is a Canine Behaviour Consultant working in Western Sydney as the owner of
Miss Behaviour Dog Training Services. She has a Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services with a focus on Canine Behaviour and Training, but she also enjoys training other species like chickens and goats!

Sarah has a Blue Heeler, Dog, and a Red Heeler, Indiana and is also on the committee for the Australian Cattle Dog Society of NSW. 

A self-described dog nerd, Sarah is passionate about welfare and responsible pet ownership, dedicated to making a difference to the lives of all pet dogs everywhere.

• Sarah’s professional qualifications and memberships include:
• Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services
• Karen Pryor Academy Puppy Start Right Instructor
• International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants: Animal Behaviour Consulting
• Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia

Secretary - Sarah Campbell

Happy Tails Training Tasmania

After completing a Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services, she started Happy Tails Dog Training with a fellow positive trainer (Moire). She offers Puppy Preschool, Group Classes as well as a number of specialised classes such as Out and About Sessions and Adventure Courses and private consultations. 

She lives with her Red Heeler x Maxi and Border Collie Jack. Jack is fully deaf and the training journey with him has been a unique but rewarding process. 

Her aim as a dog trainer is to help dog owners form better bonds with their canine companions by giving owners the skills and knowledge they need and inspiring them to teach new behaviours, stimulate their dogs mind and enrich their dogs every day lives in a variety of ways.

Happy Tails Training Tasmania

Sarah’s professional qualifications and memberships include: 

• Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services
• Bachelor of Agricultural Science
• Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers
• Assessor for the Story Dogs program
• Susan Friedmans Living and Learning with Animals Course

Treasurer - Steph McColl

DogSkills NSW and K9 Scentral

After 10 years of traditional dog training in her birthplace New Zealand, Steph came to Australia with 3 dogs and 2 cats. She was introduced to positive reinforcement training in 1997 and knew she had found her mission in life.

Steph started training dogs professionally in 2000 in partnership in partnership with TASK Dog Training in Cessnock, NSW. She also taught classes on a voluntary basis at Cessnock Dog Club, and after moving to Maitland was Chief Instructor at Telarah Dog Training for almost three years.

Steph’s latest passion is canine Nosework. She is a Certified Nose Work Instructor through the National Association of Canine Scent Work. She currently teaches nose work classes with the K9 Scentral partnership.

Steph was the inaugural President of PPGA and after stepping down from that role has been an invaluable member of the committee taking on numerous other responsibilities.

Steph’s professional qualifications and memberships include:

• Professional Canine Trainer (Pet Professional Licensing Board)
• Certificate IV in Behavioural Dog Training (Delta Society)
• Pet Dog Ambassador Program Instructor and Assessor
• Certified Nose Work Instructor (NACSW)

Membership Manager - Meg Hannan
Teacher’s Pets Dog Training

Meg hasn’t always trained dogs for a living. In fact, after a decade working in television, she became a teacher. She taught secondary school students for 20 years and also taught primary and university students. Meg began teaching her family's German shepherd when she was about 9 years old and, as an adult, trained her miniature poodles.

She also volunteered at the local dog club as an agility instructor for 10 years. Meg partnered with her teaching colleague to create Teacher's Pets Dog Training in 2005. She has a special interest in Tellington T-touch and K9 Nosework.

Meg has served on the PPGA committee since it’s foundation and worked on the constitution committee and is now the Membership Manager.

Simply put, Meg believes she has the best job in the world!

Meg’s professional qualifications and memberships include:

• Bachelor of Education
• Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services (Delta Society)
• Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Louise Colombari

Pittwater Animal Hospital

Louise has been working at Pittwater Animal Hospital since 2007 and has a strong and varied background in education, administration, music, veterinary nursing, and behaviour science and training. 

Very soon after arriving at Pittwater, Louise commenced running the Puppy School program. When not training puppies, Louise is attending seminars, workshops and conferences both in person and on-line so as to maintain and grow her knowledge and skills in what is best practice in behaviour and training. Louise also provides behaviour consultations, one on one training, and house calls. 

Louise keeps up with her enjoyment and skills of music by playing the church organ and running the church choir as their Music Director. She also enjoys participating in the sport and therapy of Nose-Work with her dog Ruby.

The aim of Louise’s training is to teach guardians how to communicate best with their dog so they end up with a calm and confident companion. 

Louise’s professional qualifications and memberships include:

• Bachelor of Education
• Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services (Delta Society)
• Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing
• Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia
• Member of the Delta Institute
• Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers
• Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (USA)
• International Association of Applied Behaviour Consultants

Louise Newman
Let’s Go Fido!

Louise grew up traveling the world. Each posting came with its own set of animals which meant training, good husbandry and health care were taught as part of daily life. Louise moved to Australia in 1997 continuing her teaching career. Then in 2011 she founded Let’s Go Fido! joining forces with local vets to deliver puppy school and dog training. Louise and her team also deliver specialised services like Nosework, Reactive Rover, and Kids and Dogs classes. Louise’s gentle, positive and friendly nature also makes her the perfect trainer to provide in-home consultations for dogs and owners needing that extra bit of support.

Louise believes that training goes beyond puppyhood – that it is a way of life. It should be fun, relevant and most importantly add to the bond between you and your dog. With this in mind , Let's Go Fido! was created in 2011 running a variety  of training classes on the Lower North Shore and Balmain/ Hunters Hill area.

Louise’s professional qualifications and memberships include:

• Karen Pryor Academy Certified Professional Trainer
• Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services (Delta Society)
• Susan Friedman Functional Analysis of behaviour change
• Post graduate qualifications in Science Teaching
• Assessor for GreenHound and MindDog

Zoe Bobbermien

Treat Me Calm Dog Training

Zoe has always had a strong passion for animals particularly dogs and parrots.

This passion drove her to study to become a Veterinary nurse in 1995. Zoe has mostly worked in mixed practice clinics and a large 24-hour emergency hospital mentoring and training staff  along the way.

Her love of behaviour and training came early, and she started running puppy training classes in 2006. The drive for knowledge sees her attend many webinars, conferences, and courses each year. 

Zoe received her first formal qualification from The Karen Pryor Academy.

Zoe is the owner of Treat Me Calm Dog Training located in Brisbane’s southside.

She dedicates herself fulltime to assisting people to create a strong and lasting bond with their dogs, while ensuring the dogs have an enriching life. She offers puppy classes, adult classes, and private consultations.

Zoe is blessed to have 3 amazing dogs in her life - Zeva an Australian Cattle Dog, Kruze an Australian Kelpie and Tonka Truck an Australian Bull dog. She also has a Blue and Gold Macaw named Maybee. So there is always learning and training to be done, to improve the lives of not only her own pets but those of her clients.

Zoe’s Professional qualifications and Memberships include:

• Karen Pryor Academy Certified Professional Trainer
• Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing
• Member of the Association of Dog Trainers (APDT)
• Living and Learning- Susan Friedman and Peta Clarke 2019

Diana Oakley
Fleurieu Education for Dogs and Owners

Diane has been an animal lover since childhood, nurtured by her Mother’s shared love of all creatures great and small. She is passionate about helping pet owners better understand their pet’s needs and enhancing the human-animal bond.

Fleurieu Education for Dogs and Owners Facebook page

Diane works with dogs of all ages and breeds and is a strong advocate in her community for force-free, positive training methods.

Diane’s professional qualifications and memberships include:

• Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services (Delta Society)
• Professional Member of the Delta Institute
• Member of the Association of Animal Behavioural Professionals (AABP)
• Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia
• MindDog Assessor – Psychiatric Assistance Dogs
• Approved Dog Temperament Assessor ECH Homes/Nursing Home Therapy Dogs

Hilary Paull

K9 Potential

Long standing animal lover and professional dog trainer for 10 years Hilary has had many  animals, dogs, cats, alpacas and cows, and gets the chance to train horses and birds at times. Hilary likes to challenge herself by talking on clients behaviourally difficult dogs. Currently therapy and service dog training is her other special interest, along with ongoing education and cooperative work relationships. Hilary has competed and played with, agility, DWD, Scent work, and a little Rally.

K9 Potential's Website

Hilary’s professional qualifications and memberships include:

• Diploma in Canine Behaviour Science and Technology (2019)
• Certificate in Dog Training and Behaviour (2010) from the National Dog Trainers Federation (NDTF)
• Fear Free Certified Trainer 2019
• Dog assessor for Story dogs
• MindDog preferred trainer
• IAABC International association animal behaviour consultants
• Pet Professional Guild (PPG)
• Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers
• Member Behaviour Education Network (BEN USA)

Madi Holmes

Madi Holmes Animal Training

Madi's passion for animals started at a young age.

By the time she hit double digits she was begging her parents for a pony - a dog, cat and bird weren't enough!

Throughout her teenage years her interest remained strong. She volunteered at many local stables and equine establishments, to build up more hours around animals.

As a young adult she began to take more of an interest particularly in the training of various animals while offering pet and house sitting across the Hunter Valley area.

She went on to pursue her Certificate 2 in Animal Studies before turning to purely positive reinforcement with her pets.

She now owns two horses, two cats and a German Shepherd Dog who all appear on her active tiktok account @madi.h.animal.training

At the close of 2020 Madi became the chair of the PPGA's Equine Subcommittee. She's passionate about spreading the force free and fear free ways to keep and train horses.

https://www.facebook.com/madelineholmesanimaltraining

Madi's professional qualifications and memberships include:

• Certificate II Animal Studies
• Living and Learning - Susan Friedman, Peta Clarke 2019
  

Jude Tuttleby
Life Lessons On Leash

Jude has been owned by a number of 4 legged friends throughout her life including a Rottweiler cross named Zara, a Samoyed cross by the name of Surfie, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Jethro, and a number of cats. It was working with these dogs: in particular Zara, that she grew disenchanted by ‘traditional’ dog training methods and began to look for an alternative.

This search lead her down a number of paths, including becoming a Delta Pet Partner with Zara for a period of time. They visited nursing homes and hospitals to visit the sick and elderly which was very rewarding but also challenging for both myself and Zara.

Jude offers puppy and adult classes, as well as agility for beginners and the Canine Good Citizen Program. She is committed to bringing positive reinforcement training methods to the forefront of dog training.

Jude's Life Lessons on Leash website

Jude’s professional qualifications and memberships include:

• Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services
• Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers