Taking a Mindful Approach to Dog Training

If you’re having issues with your dog and are looking for Dog Training in Hamilton and Cambridge, then Mindfulness4dogs can help.
We simply take the mystery out of communicating with your dog. We offer private training and behavioural consultations and puppy classes.
We also cover the rest of New Zealand with our online consultations and online dog training courses.
“It’s all about communication and connection.”
Darran Rowe, CAB PGDip(equiv), Bsc (Hons), PGCE – Clinical Animal Behaviourist
“It’s all about relationships and communication.”
Darran Rowe, CAB PGDip(equiv), Bsc (Hons), PGCE – Clinic Animal Behaviourist
Our Training Ethos
Since the dawn of human history, man has engineered their perfect companion – the domesticated dog. We have made them small and fluffy to big and ferociously protective – as well as big and fluffy to small and ferociously protective. Yet, dogs have still remained dogs – and we all still need to learn to understand them as well as learn how to help them to understand us – so that they can comfortably live with us in our homes.
Gaining this understanding is just like learning a new language. However, just as with humans, 80-90% of how a dog communicates is non-verbal. What is more, since we can’t teach them to speak, and they cannot understand our words, we need to learn how to communicate with them via their peculiar doggy body language. Obviously, this is not a natural form of communication: we need help to learn it and it takes practice to master it.
The good news is, we can all learn this language, and if we work with our dog when it is just a puppy, we can both quickly learn together to understand each other – no problem. So now you need a great teacher. Not just someone who understands the language, but someone who understands how to teach this language to you. They also need to be a linguist and a behaviourist skilled in the body language and gestures used by your dog.
Our Training Ethos
Since the dawn of human history, man has engineered their perfect companion – the domesticated dog. We have made them small and fluffy to big and ferociously protective – as well as big and fluffy to small and ferociously protective. Yet, dogs have still remained dogs – and we all still need to learn to understand them as well as learn how to help them to understand us – so that they can comfortably live with us in our homes.
Gaining this understanding is just like learning a new language. However, just as with humans, 80-90% of how a dog communicates is non-verbal. What is more, since we can’t teach them to speak, and they cannot understand our words, we need to learn how to communicate with them via their peculiar doggy body language. Obviously, this is not a natural form of communication: we need help to learn it and it takes practice to master it.
The good news is, we can all learn this language, and if we work with our dog when it is just a puppy, we can both quickly learn together to understand each other – no problem. So now you need a great teacher. Not just someone who understands the language, but someone who understands how to teach this language to you. They also need to be a linguist and a behaviourist skilled in the body language and gestures used by your dog.
What Clients are saying about us…
What Clients are saying about us…
Media Highlights
It’s all about Puppies
Can your Dog eat courgettes?
Latest Blogs

A Mindful approach to dog training
For years now I have called myself a Canine Behaviourist, which implies that when I work with dogs all I change or ‘correct’ is the behaviour of the dog. But in actual fact, given the mindful approach to the work I do, I should really call myself a ‘Dog's Emotional...
Embracing the Chaos: Navigating Life in a Multi-Dog Family
We all know that dogs are a human's best friend, and when you have a multi-dog family, your heart is brimming with love. Yet, life in a multi-dog household can be quite an adventure. It's a journey filled with laughter, moments of chaos, and endless amounts of joy....
What is a Fear Phase and how does it affect my dog
Have you ever wondered about those mysterious puppy fear haseand how they affect your four-legged friend's journey? Well, you're in for a treat because today, we're taking a mindful plunge into this fascinating topic. Fear Phase: A Puppy's Rite of Passage Puppy fear...