About Me - Sarah Meek

Understanding and communicating with animals has always been my passion. Studying dog behavioural patterns and training methods was a natural path for me. I treat dogs in my care like they are my children at primary school and so there is not only learning, but also a lot of fun!

I believe in work-hard and play-hard. I do not believe you can expect a dog to do the things YOU want, unless you're also meeting their needs each day. So our structure and obedience is slotted between lots of play time with zoomies, water, bubbles, balls and toys! We meet animals...we experience different textures and smells and have lots of socialisation too!

I believe in truly nurturing the mind, body and soul of a dog. My science-based training methods focus on verbal praise and affection and follow the trust-technique to reduce anxiety, solve common behavioural problems and create a calm and connected "zen" dog.

I am adamently against choker chains and shock collars. 

My experience has proven food-based training to be VERY limited (great for teaching tricks) but not always great for solving behavioural problems, or for safety purposes. If prior food-based training has failed you - I am not at all surprised.

I do not like the idea of dogs being caged or enclosed in kennels or crates...except with puppies for toilet training purposes, or as a last resort in an emergency. This is why dogs come and stay in my family home and sleep with my dogs in our dining room, in cosy beds. They're tucked in at night after some TLC and given love and attention every day.

My work is almost all loose-leash based, or long drop-leash based...not relying on physical restraints but mutual trust and respect. I do a small amount of work with head-halters to build trust and listening skills but only if the dog tolerates one.

So who am I outside of dog training?! Well two Groodles and a 10 year old Human Boy call me mum!  

My son and I have always been major animal lovers. I've always found dogs incredibly easy to communicate with and they love my positive energy...but my animal training started at the age of 7 with my first hamster and progressed to teaching pet rats to come on recall (among other things) and I've tamed birds, trained a cat to fetch and all sorts of bonkers things.

I moved from Sussex in the UK to Melbourne in 2007 and go back there every year to spend a solid month with my family.

My daily routine always utilises our 4 acres of enclosed parkland and recall training games occur as standard out there. But we also visit 50 acres most days as I love running across the fields, through the scrub and down the back paddock looking for animals. I also love walking along the beach every week.

We play in all weather! Hot Days = Paddling Pool and sprinklers, Wet Days = Raincoats & Towels! Muddy? I'll get them clean! I'm British....so I'm used to carrying on as normal in inclement weather! 

It's possible that your dog will have a better holiday than you do! And come home calm, well-mannered and happy. You'll also be spammed with more photos than you want, that's for sure! And for the training stays, I'll also send videos so that you can continue the training at home.

It’s important that your dog has been well socialised and is comfortable in an enclosed off-leash park. They will miss out on all the fun we have to offer if not.

We are so excited to be able to give your pup a holiday whilst you have yours. We can guarantee they will have so much fun!