Qualifications and Education

Lisa Sturm is a dog trainer and behaviour consultant and has worked with thousands of dogs. She is a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant (CDBC) with the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC), Companion Animals New Zealand accredited Animal Behaviour Consultant and previous Treasurer and two-time Vice-President and current Full Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers New Zealand (APDTNZ), membership is voluntary and requires adherence to a Code of Ethics. After working as the IT Manager, Day Care Supervisor and Dog Trainer at a big dog centre in Christchurch, she combined her analytical skills with her expertise in the canine world and founded the science-based dog training business Sit Happens in 2016. In 2020 she also founded Kiwi Canine which is an online store for high quality, selected dog products. She is enthusiastic about consulting dog guardians on the right products for their dogs of different breeds, sizes, ages and temperaments.

The proficiency of her skills in dog training, puppies, life skills as well as behavioural science and rehabilitation, are based on constant high class professional development:

• Yearly Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Lemonade Conferences

• Seminar by Ken Ramirez, Executive Vice-President and Chief Training Officer of Karen Pryor Clicker Training on the topics Aggression Management, Complex Tools, Train-The-Top-Trainer, Concept Training, Non-Food Reinforcers, Handling Animal Mistakes Positively, Problem Solving, Husbandry and Conservation Training (31st May – 3rd June 2019, Auckland)

• Animal Training Symposium by internationally recognised canine specialists including Steve Mann, founder of the Institute for Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT) and John McGuigan, founder of Glasgow Dog Trainer and Behaviour Consultants on the topics Behaviour Assessment, Aggression and Reactivity, Body Language, Resource Guarding, Separation Anxiety, Reinforcement Strategies (9th – 16th March 2018, Perth [Australia])

• Course "2nd Chance Heroes" by IMDT: Assessment and Rehabilitation of troubled rescue dogs (20th – 24th November 2017, Hertfordshire [England])

• Level 3 UK course "Understanding and Working with Canine Behaviour" by IMDT (15th June – 15th December 2017)

• Seminar with Cristine Dahl from Northwest School of Canine Studies, USA on the topics Temperament Assessments, Behavioural Consultations and Multidog Households (1st – 3rd June 2018, Auckland)

• Seminar by the School of Canine Science on the topics Resource Guarding, Predatory Recall, Canine Fitness, Useful Tricks and Structure (2nd – 4th June 2017, Auckland)

• Course by Kay Attwood from Kay9 Services, UK on Cognitive Skills and Platform Training (1st June 2018, Auckland)

• Course "Animal Behaviour and Welfare" by the University of Edinburgh (16th November - 14th December 2019)

• Course "The Truth About Cats and Dogs" by the University of Edinburgh (19th April - 17th May 2017)

Since February 2015, Lisa has been donating time to the rescue organisations in Christchurch. She consults when help is needed regarding reactive dogs, doing the assessments, putting in place rehabilitation plans as well as educating staff and volunteers.

Meet here Lisa’s Training Assistants: