Who Am I?
I’m Luke, a simple bloke with a young family.
I’ve had a background in teaching for a loooong time.
What did I teach, I hear you ask? All things coffee!
Now, I get it — coffee training and dog training aren’t exactly a natural match, and you’d be right. But what training people in coffee (and that number is into the 1000’s) taught me was how to effectively teach others, regardless of their age, background, knowledge or skill level.
How do you take a concept that someone doesn’t understand and make it click? How do you relate it to their world, so they can apply it with confidence and consistency? You find what they enjoy and use that to teach, even if it’s completely unrelated to the topic you’re teaching. That’s what I learned to do.
I thought back to my own school days. I hated school — because it didn’t make sense to me. Nothing felt relevant to my life outside the classroom (maths especially). Remembering that helped me shape a teaching style that’s light, informative, entertaining, and — above all — relatable to the person in front of me.
So again, who am I?
I’m a simple bloke with a young family — passion over ego, and a drive for effective teaching.
The Journey To Dog Trainer
Like many dog trainers, my journey started with a difficult dog — Sam — and not knowing what to do.
Like many dog owners, I assumed that with enough research and YouTube videos, I could sort the issues myself.
Eventually, after many tears and even an email to the rescue about returning Sam, I made one last - ditch attempt to turn things around.
I was recommended a trainer — by another trainer (now a friend) — based two hours away.
That decision was the best thing I ever did. Not only did it help me and Sam, but that same trainer suggested a mentorship program he thought I’d really benefit from.
He was right.
Those experiences changed my life. They allowed me to keep the dog I loved so much, and gave both of us the chance at the life we were meant to have.
The mentorship taught me everything — from how to build on what Sam found reinforcing and use it to my advantage, to how to guide her into positions and reward them properly. I learned about the four quadrants of operant conditioning and how to use each one to understand and change behaviour without causing any fallout.
Learning those quadrants was a game-changer. I realised that without understanding them, I could only train Sam (or any dog) so far — and beyond that point, things would just start to fall apart, especially out in the real world.
At the end of the mentorship, there was a small in-group competition — and Sam and I got a perfect score.
After that, I started putting in as much time as I could with dogs belonging to friends, family, and anyone else who’d let me have a go.
Now, I run a modest dog training business focused on helping owners learn how to properly communicate with their dogs. I use a balanced, fair approach with every dog I meet and make sure we build a solid foundation before moving on to anything more advanced.
I’m not here to judge you or your dog’s issues. I’m here to help you and your dog build confidence, resilience, and a better life together — one that works for both of you.