Force-free training for a happy and well-socialised dog, motivated to learn
Just welcomed a puppy into your life? Have an older dog that could brush up on their skills?
Or have you rescued a new family member that needs some help adjusting to their new life?
Dogs do what feels good and what works for them. When training your dog you can make positive associations with the behaviours you want, and redirect the undesirable. Dogs learn by doing what feels good so by managing the training environment and making it fun, relaxed and playful, dogs will learn quickly. Using positive reinforcement consistently is also effective because learning is strengthened through repetition. Force-free training does not involve force, corrections, or the assertion of dominance over your dog.
RSPCA Dog Training offers a range of small group classes and specialised workshops to suit every dog!
Using the most up-to-date scientifically based force-free methods, we offer a range of programs to suit every dog’s needs.
Click “BOOK YOUR CLASS” to learn more about the program, see dates, locations and to book directly online.
What’s even better? All proceeds go towards helping animals in need, so not only are you making a difference in your dog’s life, but you’re also making a huge difference to animals in need across South Australia.
Unsure which course is right for you?
Fill out the form below and we will match you with the most suitable class!
Small Group Classes:
Puppy Partnership
Where it all begins. Our pivotal class for puppies aged 8–16 weeks.
Specialised Workshops:
Nosework
Fun scent work activities for dogs who like to sniff. From Intro to Odour skills.
One-on-one Training
Training sessions in your home tailored to what you and your dog need.
Hyper Hounds Workshop
A workshop with personalised coaching for dogs with complex social needs.
NEW!! Short Bits – Fun, Engagement and Enrichment – 4-week Courses to help develop further skills and to show that training is super fun!
Games and Tricks, Tricks, Tricks Workshop
GAMES and TRICKS help you cement a close communicative bond between you and your dog through having fun together.
Leash, Attention and Manners Workshop
Helping you and you dog learn to foster trust in each other and go on adventures that are super enjoyable.
Fun Recall Workshop
The art of showing your dog that you are way more exciting than the …birds or other dogs. The ultimate in team building.
Meet our RSPCA Dog Trainers
Paula Dickerson
RSPCA South Australia Dog Trainer
Paula is a force free, reward-based dog trainer specializing in dogs with anxiety. She is committed to increasing awareness that Positive Force Free methods are not only effective but are also the most successful way of training. Paula is a proud member of the Delta Institute, APDT, PPG, RSPCA SA Force Free Trainers list and Zoos SA. Paula currently teaches our Puppy Partnership, Foundation Program, Level-Up and Games and tricks, leash and manners and fun recall courses as well as specialist One on One consults and Helping Hyper Hounds in our Southern locations.
Sharon Hobbs
RSPCA South Australia Dog Trainer
After training her own dogs, Sharon discovered her passion for dog behaviour and has now been in the industry for several years. Sharon has a passion for educating owners and loves to see how they progress during training with their furry family members. She especially loves watching the bond between owners and their dogs grow as they become more confident with force-free training methods. Sharon is a member of the APDT and PPG with certifications through the Delta Institute. Sharon currently teaches our Puppy Partnership through to Level-Up, Games and tricks, leash and manners and fun recall at various locations across Adelaide as well as specialist One on One consults and Helping Hyper Hounds.
Margaret Carruthers
RSPCA South Australia Dog Trainer
Margaret has been involved with the RSPCA for 13 years working with dogs displaying various behavior issues. She is also a dedicated foster carer and especially loves socialising puppies. Margaret takes training classes with various clubs, and is a Certified Training Technician CTT-A, issued by the Pet Professional Board, is a member of various professional organizations and continues learning the most up-to-date scientific research to give our dogs their best lives. Margaret is also available for specialist one on one sessions and currently teaches Puppy Partnership and Foundations at Seaford and Lonsdale.
Katie Emson
RSPCA South Australia Dog Trainer
Katie is a qualified positive reinforcement and force free dog trainer, beginning as an RSPCA Dog Training volunteer. She has been involved in the animal care industry for many years in a variety of different roles and has now completed her cert IV in Animal Behaviour and Training with the AVT and is a professional member of the IMDT Australia.
With a passion for building the relationship between humans and their dogs, Katie loves all things to do with enriching the lives of our canine companions.
Katie currently teaches Puppy Partnership, our Foundations Program, Level-Up and Hyper Hounds and our new fun enrichment courses such as Fun Recall, Games and Tricks, Tricks, Tricks and Leash, Attention and Manners – all of which are available at various locations across Adelaide. Katie is also available for specialist one on one sessions.
Jeannette Booth
RSPCA South Australia Dog Trainer
Jeannette’s passion for dog training began after developing an unshakeable bond between her and her sadly missed black Labrador Retriever. After many dedicated hours of training, together they earned the award of Top Gun Dog, Balmead Shield 1st place and State Champion. It was then that she pursued her passions and dedicated herself to years of study around dog training and behaviourism and gained her Certificate in Animal Psychology. Jeannette continues to study the most recent science based methods that support force free and reward based positive training practices. These form strong connections and understanding between you and your dog and completely improve their quality of life. Jeannette can validate that a commitment to teaching in a gentle and encouraging way, along with setting your dog up to succeed will break down barriers and transform a bad-mannered, reactive, aggressive or anxious dog into becoming a good canine citizen. Jeannette currently teaches Puppy, Foundations, Level-Up and our games and tricks, leash walking and manners and is available for specialist one on one consultations.
Amanda Ware
RSPCA South Australia Dog Trainer
Amanda is the owner and head instructor of Noses in Motion, her own business teaching companion animals to use their wonderful sense of smell to hunt out target odours, as well as teaching their people how to read and understand how amazing their dog is. Amanda is a graduate of National Association Canine Scentwork, with a long list of qualifications including Dr Susan Friedman’s Living and Learning with Animals course and completed courses including masterclasses in dog aggression, ethology and family dog mediation. She currently teaches all of the Noseworks courses.
Jacqueline Atkins
RSPCA South Australia Dog Trainer
Jacqueline discovered her passion for dog training while volunteering as a Puppy Walker for Guide Dogs SA. This experience made her fall in love with the enthusiasm, versatility, intelligence and unique sense of humour of Labradors. “They never cease to amaze me!”
She has always been keen on giving back to the community and continued her passion for dog training by volunteering as an instructor at a community-based dog club for eight years but believed there was still so much to learn about how to effectively communicate with our “best friends”. She decided to pursue her dream of becoming a qualified trainer and behaviour consultant and has completed the Aggression in Dogs Masterclass and is committed to continuing her education, currently studying Cert IV in Animal Behaviour and Training with the Delta Institute and Click to Calm with Karen Prior.
Although Jacqueline’s favourite RSPCA class is Hyper Hounds, she also teaches Puppy, Foundations, Level-Up, our new games and tricks, leash walking and manners and fun recall and is available for specialist one-on-one consultations. Jacqueline says “Teaching Hyper Hounds is so rewarding because it helps people improve their communication and bond with their dogs and understand Behaviour = Communication”. She is committed to only using humane, scientifically proven, reward-based techniques that are both effective and enriching for people and their dogs.