Our Team

I was 10 years old and won my first Obedience competition with a Dalmatian called Lady. I lived in England and I wanted an Alsatian (English version of a German Shepherd) because I had seen how well they worked in obedience trials. But since I was a small 10 year old, my parents bought me a Dalmatian (believing I would not manage a large German Shepherd!). Back then, there were no Dalmatians in obedience trials so we were a bit of an oddity. But we got noticed when we continued to win trials throughout Southern England, winning from Novice competitions to Tracking Trials!

I changed breeds and bought my first Golden Retriever in 1980 and have bred, showed and trialled Golden Retrievers for the past 30 years. From my first Golden, I went on to raise Show Champions and Obedience winners as well as many litters of pups.

In 2000, I set up my own business as a Dog Behaviourist, doing ‘in home’ training for problem dogs, as well as running a successful puppy preschool and adolescence dog group training class. My clients mainly came from recommendations from local veterinarians and dog training schools.

I was asked by a client to help train a dog for a child in a wheelchair with various disabilities. Seeing the difference an assistance dog made to the independence of this child, I was on a mission to train more assistance dogs!
To learn as much as I could about training assistance dogs for children, I went to the USA to join 4Paws4Ability and worked a 6 month internship. Seeing for myself the amazing success of dogs helping children with disabilities, I was convinced the internship was well worth it to have this knowledge and train these dogs back in Australia.

Smart Pups was launched in 2011.

Coming soon…

I started my career as a Registered Nurse working in intensive care for close to seven years. I moved in to preventative health care and spent the next 12 years working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence and specialised in disability. I have always had a passion for working with people who are marginalised.

Being the daughter of a a dairy farmer I have grown up with a deep appreciation of animals. Having been surrounded by dogs all my life I have seen the positive impact they have in people’s lives both physically and emotionally. I was keen to explore this as a career change and was fortunate to gain employment at Guide Dogs Queensland where I spent the next seven years. During this time I undertook my Masters in Human Services majoring in Disability and became qualified as a Orientation and Mobility Specialist as well as an International Guide Dog Trainer.

My passion has always been to work with children and I couldn’t believe my luck when in 2016 I was offered a position with Smart Pups! It is my dream job working with children, the families and or course the gorgeous dogs. Having the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing organisation, great team and seeing first hand the positive changes these dogs make in their lives is such a privilege and one I don’t, and never will, take lightly.

I really look forward to the years ahead!