Welcome to Wild Minds!
Here, we specialise in dog psychology, behaviour and training; using science backed, fear-free techniques, to set you and your dog up for success! We believe that the relationship built between you and your dog should be one of loving leadership, trust, respect and a deep connection to maximise skill training, emotional well being and teamwork. That’s why we commit to kind, compassionate and supportive training methods that set our pups and their people up for a happy and harmonious life together.
We offer a range of services, all tailored and delivered to suit the dogs in front of us, because dog brains work in unique ways and no two dogs are the same. From our puppies to our golden oldies, we have the knowledge and skills to excel your training, and support you and your pack through every stage of life with a range of programs and behavioural support services to choose from.
Based in the Derwent Valley of Tasmania, our regular programs and services are provided across the south of the state. For those that are elsewhere in the state, we offer both our private and behavioural support session statewide by arrangement.
Our Services
(8-16 weeks)
Raising a puppy to become a well rounded, happy dog is no small feat! It comes with its fair share of challenges and on-going commitment to love, train and support the unique individual beside you.
That’s why we’ve designed our puppy program to guide and support you and your puppy, while teaching all the foundations for the first months of puppy-hood.
(All ages)
Our Walk & Train sessions are fun, engaging private training sessions where your dog can enjoy getting out and about for some exercise whilst working on their practical skills like loose-lead walking, calm greeting of other people and dogs, recall (using long-line leashes), and all other core skills that we rely on when out in public with our dogs.
(4-6 months)
The next step in your training journey! Our Junior Program is designed to level up the foundation skills from our Puppy Program and add some new ones to the set.
This Program builds further confidence and connection, while we begin to add in low level distractions and real world stimulation during class to grow your pups focus and gain reliability with your training, no matter where you are or what’s going on around you!
(All ages)
Our Behavioural Support Consultations are a private session, tailored to you, your dog and your needs.
We know how it feels to have your dog displaying behaviours on a regular basis that can make you frustrated, stressed, overwhelmed and at times, feeling helpless. We are here to offer non-judgmental, compassionate and kind support for a range of different behavioural problems.
(All ages)
Our Private Sessions are personalised, each and every time!
We tailor our sessions to working with you and your dog to achieve your goals in a way that is supportive, compassionate, engaging and fun.
Our Aggressive Behaviour Support Consultations are a private session designed for those more serious problem behaviours including dog-dog aggression, dog-human aggression, guarding aggression, aggressive fears and anxieties, aggressive prey drive and reactivity towards other dogs or people.
Who We Are
Meet Sam - Owner / trainer / behaviourist here at Wild Minds.
(And Indi - My 5 month old ACD x Smithfield - Puppy prodigy / Trainee Assistant)
I have had a life-long love of dogs, I believe they have the ability to connect with us humans in a way that no other animal can.
I’ve spent the past 10 years following my passion of working with dogs. Beginning my career within the veterinary industry, I had the privilege to gain extensive knowledge and skills in animal handling, behaviour, illnesses, ailments, medications, holisitic treatments, diet and nutrition. All of which has added to my deep understanding of a dogs world, how their experiences, and requirements in all aspects of their lives, can impact significantly on training and the underlying causes of behavioural problems.
Having had my own dogs with behavioural difficulties in the past, I know well, how overwhelming, stressful and hopeless it can feel at times when we don’t know how to help our dogs or change their behaviours in a positive way.
This led me to my true passion, understanding dogs. Learning how their brains worked, how to read their body language, why they do the things they do, what lies beneath the behaviours we see, and how to harness a skill set for understanding them deeply, and working with them to improve their lives, and ours. So I began my journey to become certified in dog psychology, behaviour and training.
Now, my goals are to offer a safe, welcoming space for education, growth and training; to provide compassionate, non-judgemental support for every pup and their people; and to implement the right methods and foundations to support happy and healthy development and foster a more connected, trusting, and rewarding relationship between us and our dogs.
I am committed to my own on-going learning, to ensure I can provide the very best services and support for everyone who walks through my door.