Welcome to The Insightful Dog! My name is Andrea, and I’ve had a lifelong passion for dogs — I’ve never lived without at least one canine companion. In the 1990s, I had the incredible opportunity to co-found a puppy school with a close friend in Sydney, working alongside a vet clinic I was employed at. That experience sparked my deep love for dog training, and I dedicated myself to learning as much as I could, attending seminars with industry leaders like Ian Dunbar and Jean Donaldson.
Our puppy school was a huge success, and there was nothing more rewarding than watching puppies thrive through positive reinforcement training. We used mostly food rewards, keeping puppies happy, engaged, and eager to bond with their owners. Seeing the joy of both the puppies and their humans was fulfilling and inspiring.
During that time, I also trained and competed with my Dalmatian, Harvey. He loved agility and we had a fabulous time travelling around Sydney to clubs, competitions, and we even made an appearance on The Midday Show with Kerrianne Kennerly! After moving back to rural Victoria, I had the opportunity to work with some amazing animal trainers for the film and television industry. My little three-legged Jack Russell Terrier, Peggy-Sue, made appearances in television commercials and even a movie. I also trained several rabbits for an American television series!
In recent years, I added a Welsh Pembroke Corgi to our family, Clarence. He’s an incredible little dog, always impressing me with his cleverness, problem-solving skills, and his playful spirit — especially when he tries to catch the Galahs that fly overhead! Clarence has taught me valuable lessons in patience, adaptability, and love. We’re always working on new goals together, even if he has no idea what my ambitious plans are!
Through The Insightful Dog, I hope to offer tips and guidance to help puppies integrate smoothly into our human world. Every dog is unique, and every training journey is personal. If you’re ready to bond with your dog through positive training techniques, you’ve come to the right place.
