Adele - Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant & Content Creator

Adele is a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant accredited by the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants. She began her ongoing work with dogs in 2016 while completing a BSc Psychology at the University of Canterbury, alongside additional papers in Biochemistry, Animal Behaviour, Bioethics and Environmental ethics. The mechanisms underpinning animal behaviour became a driving force for her future studies. Adele continues building her knowledge and skills, studying Canine Psychology & Behaviour (Ad. Dip.) with the ISCP, as well as studying through the Grisha Stewart Academy to further her species-specific knowledge. She has attended an Aggression & Defensive Handling conference, as well as additional conferences focusing on animal behaviour including through the IAABC.

The venture into dog training wasn't intended. In 2016 on her day off from studies, Adele went in search of lighter relief and while out and about she found Christchurch Bull Breed Rescue looking for volunteers. Adele says "It was the best stroll I've ever taken!". 8 years on and you will still find her at CBBR at least one day a week, but now as a duty manager. Alongside this role, she provides 1:1 training and wellbeing support for dogs on site, her volunteer team, foster teams, adoptees, as well as engaging in community based dog education for children.

At this point in time, Adele has fostered and re-homed over 30 adult dogs with increasingly complex behavioural challenges, and more litters of puppies than she will admit to. Her current fosters are true long termers - Sunshine & Heath. They aren’t able to be housed elsewhere due to safety concerns during their rehabilitation. You can learn more about them on the CBBR website or social media.

Adele is passionate about ongoing education alongside hands-on experience. Both are needed for a well rounded, grounded, ethical and effective approach to training and behaviour modification. Her training approach encompasses supporting every learner and their wellbeing - whichever end of the lead they fall on.

Adele has been working with Sit Happens since 2018. Her main focus is on behaviour modification in complex cases, alongside cases to develop core life skills.

She collaborates with a local vet educated in behavioural challenges in cases where medical assessment and/or interventions are required, as well as providing referrals for virtual consults for professionals outside of the Canterbury region. Alongside these professionals, Adele collaborates with another local professional who provides pain identification, management, and treatment for dogs who would benefit from musculoskeletal support.

She teaches puppy foundation courses and facilitates social sessions for shy puppies to educate guardians from the very beginning on creating solid foundations and preventing the development of behavioural challenges before they start.

For ongoing cases, Adele facilitates group sessions to foster safe and structured training experiences to further support guardians and their canine companions in their development of skills and progression towards their goals.