Opal

Opal's love of animals began in early childhood with her first dog Gigi, who followed her to school, waited, and walked her home again. That relationship started a fascination with how dogs communicate through body language and vocal variation, and how they resolve conflict within a pack. She became the person friends and family called when they needed help with a dog's behaviour, long before it was her profession. She first qualified as a Certified Dog Trainer through Animal Behavior College in 2003 while working full time in mental health and substance abuse as a clinical social worker.

Opal's background in clinical social work makes her genuinely unusual among trainers. Before moving into dogs full time she worked in mental health and substance abuse services, and she incorporated animal assisted therapy into that clinical practice using her own dogs, Mini and Frisco. That work helped clients open up about deep seated difficulties and contributed to reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, paranoia and PTSD. Watching that change happen with her dogs' assistance is what convinced her of what the human and canine relationship can achieve. Her training is customised to each dog regardless of breed, age or temperament, and she works from balanced methods combining leadership with positive reinforcement. She teaches owners to communicate effectively and consistently, equips them with the right tools, and builds the skills they need to lead a balanced household. Her motto is simply "No Problem", whatever the behaviour presented.