As an animal behaviourist and pet trainer my work is quite varied and, more often than not, no two days are the same. A more typical day for me usually involves a behaviour consultation to assist someone with a pet with one or more behaviour problems. The most common pets I help people with are dogs, cats and pet parrots and the most common problems I assist pet owners with are aggression towards people and other animals, separation anxiety, destructive behaviour, fear and phobias, inappropriate toileting and general disobedience. Consultations typically go for 90 minutes and take me all over Melbourne and even country Victoria.

A typical day would also involve writing articles and consultation reports. I write for several print and web-based publications on the topic of animal behaviour, training and behaviour modification. Responding to email and phone inquiries from potential clients, engaging in social media and training my own pets, a Boxer and a Labrador, also comprise a typical day.

As part of my continued education in the field of animal behaviour I attend conferences and workshops in Australia and overseas. Recently I travelled to Florida in the USA for a professional animal training course where I got lots of hands on experience training a variety of animals, mainly exotic parrots, using positive reinforcement. Experiences like this allow me to gain the latest scientific knowledge in the field and apply this knowledge in my writing and in the way I train and teach people to train their pets.

Being my own boss also allows for some flexibility in my day and I always find the time to squeeze a good coffee or two. Overall, being an animal behaviourist and pet trainer is an incredibly rewarding experience. The feedback and thanks I receive from my clients make it all worthwhile.