Very Important Paws
$175.00 / month
Need more personalised help. You can upload your training video in the VIP access and get feedback from your trainer and access higher level resources…
Enrol Now
Reactivity, anxiety, puppy foundations or everyday manners. Have a look through and pick the area where you would love some support, so we can point you straight to the right kind of help for you and your dog. Let's take 15 minutes to talk through your dog and what has been going on. It is a relaxed, no-pressure chat to understand your situation and work out the calmest, kindest path forward together. From there you can book a one-to-one programme, join a class or subscribe online, whichever suits your dog and your life best. Whatever you choose, you'll have mindful, science-based guidance all the way. Full online courses, resources and a friendly community, plus our VIP membership for those who want that bit more. Everything is built around the same choice-led, calm approach we use in person, so you can train any time and anywhere, at a pace that suits you and your dog, with support always close by when you need it. Snarling, lunging, barking at the end of the lead. From the outside it looks like aggression, but underneath it is usually fear, frustration or a nervous system tipped over threshold. We help you understand the why, then build safer, calmer responses your dog can actually manage, so walks become something you both look forward to again. Cowering, shaking, separation anxiety, noise phobias that seem to rule the day. This is not defiance. It is a nervous system asking for help. We work with the biology, lower the triggers, and teach the body how to find calm again, gently and at a pace your dog can trust. Helping shelter dogs decompress, settle into safety and learn that the world can be a gentle place again. We move entirely at their pace, letting trust grow one small, positive experience at a time, so a dog with a hard start can slowly discover what it feels like to relax, to choose, and to belong. From recall to loose-lead walking, impulse control to settling on cue, we cover the everyday skills your dog actually needs. Everything is built through choice, where your dog learns to make the right decision because it works for them, and the good habits stick because they grew from understanding rather than pressure. Chewing, biting, toileting and the joyful chaos of life with a new puppy, shaped gently from day one. We help you build the early foundations that set everything up for success, including calm, safe ways for your puppy and young children to grow up together. Through choice and gentle guidance the right habits form naturally, so those first few months feel a whole lot easier for the whole family. Puppy, adolescent and adult classes where you and your dog learn together in a supportive, sociable group. Every session is built around choice and calm, giving your dog the chance to practise everyday skills around the gentle distraction of other dogs and people, while you pick up the knowledge and confidence to keep it all going at home. Focus area Full online courses, resources and a friendly community, plus our VIP membership for those who want that bit more. Everything is built around the same choice-led, calm approach we use in person, so you can train any time and anywhere, at a pace that suits you and your dog, with support always close by when you need it. I know how isolating it can feel when walks are stressful, visitors are difficult, or you find yourself avoiding situations because your dog simply can’t cope. When you’re living with reactivity, anxiety, or big emotions, it’s not only hard for your dog, it can be exhausting for you too. For over 20 years, I’ve helped thousands of dog owners around the world move from chaos towards calm. I don’t use force, and I don’t believe dogs need to be “fixed”. Instead, I help people build connection by understanding the emotions, body language, and signals their dog is already sharing. When we learn to listen more closely, trust grows, communication becomes clearer, and cooperation begins to feel far more natural. My work is guided by three simple principles: We blend mindfulness practices with behaviour science to create calmer, clearer communication. Everything we do is grounded in proven behavioural science. No outdated dominance theories. We deliver guidance with empathy and zero judgement. We support both the dog and the human.
Helping Your Dog is as Simple as 1-2-3
Decide what help you need
Book your discovery call
Choose your way forward
Training options across New Zealand and Internationally
Online Learning
My Dog is Aggressive
My Dog has Anxiety
Rescue Dog Training
General Dog Training
Puppy Training
Group Classes
Online Learning
Hi, I’m Darran the Dogman. I believe no dog is "beyond hope."
Empathy first: no judgement, just support.
Qualified expertise: BSc (Hons), PGCE, Studying for Masters Qualification in Clinical Animal Behaviour.
Proven results: evidence-based methods that create calm, lasting change in real life.
Our Unique Approach
Mindful Connection
Science-Based Methods
Heart-Led Coaching
Real dogs, Real families, Real transformation.