This pocket-size book has advice, tips and ideas for coping with your best friend. It explains what your pooch's looks mean, how
dog's think, gives tips on toilet training and reveals the best words and phrases to use in training.

"I have back-to-back bookings with referrals coming from dog trainers and veterinarians," she says. "I work seven days a week and respond to a lot of emergency calls."

Kathy helps overcome issues such as aggression, separation anxiety, excessive barking and general misbehaviour,

"When I was running the RSPCA dog obedience classes I would see a lot of behaviour problems." she says.

"Aggression and anxiety are the biggest issues with dogs across all breeds and dog-to dog aggression is a big problem for owners."

She sits down with owners and their dogs for one-on-one sessions to work through the problems. It requires confidence-building in the dog and owner who, by this stage, can often be too scared to take their pet out.

Kathy introduces ideas such as counter conditioning, which gives the dog other responsive options.

This is where her huskies come into play. Like traditional role play, the aggressive dog is slowly introduced to one of Kathy's huskies.

"I use my dogs because 1 trust them and know they are well behaved," she says.

"Watching the patient dog's body language, I ensure they are removed from any situation before they can react and then I slowly introduce the dog back to the situation at a pace the dog can cope with and reinforce (behaviour) with food."

Kathy also holds Reactive Rover classes for dogs that have completed private classes with her.

These involve six dogs and are like mini workshops for the dogs and owners, giving them a safe environment to practice their new skills.