Dog Training Coogee - Expert Dog Trainer & Behaviourist Serving Coogee Beach

Every sunrise at the Rainbow Steps, I watch the same thing happen. Dogs pull their owners down those colourful stairs, lunging at joggers, barking at other dogs making their way to the beach. By the time they hit the sand, everyone's frustrated. Your dog doesn't need to be that dog.

I'm a dog trainer and behaviourist working throughout Coogee and the eastern suburbs. I've spent years walking these exact beaches, parks and coastal paths with dogs learning to be calmer, happier and better behaved. The thing about Coogee is that it tests every dog. Busy beachfront on weekends. Narrow clifftop paths on the coastal walk. Cyclists zooming past on the promenade. If your dog can handle Coogee, they can handle anywhere.

Dog Training & Dog Behaviour Coogee

Most training happens right in your home in a single 2-hour session. There's no point teaching your dog to behave in some facility when the real challenge is getting them past Coogee Pavilion without losing their mind at the weekend brunch crowd.

My approach goes beyond basic commands. I help you understand how your dog thinks and why they behave the way they do. When you understand your dog's perspective, you can remove the stress and frustration that builds up between you. We work with your dog's natural instincts using gentle, non-violent techniques. No pain, no fear, no aggression in any of my methods.

I work with dogs struggling with leash pulling on the Bondi to Coogee walk, the ones who bark non-stop when you leave them in your apartment, and the ones who can't settle around other dogs at Grant Reserve. Separation anxiety is massive in Coogee apartments. Your dog hears every neighbour, every door slam, every footstep in the hallway. We fix that by helping you understand what's causing the anxiety and giving you the tools to address it.

Aggression problems toward other dogs usually show up worst on that narrow section of coastal path between Clovelly and Gordon's Bay. Not much room to pass, high emotions, nowhere to escape. I teach you how to help your dog stay calm even when another dog is three feet away. Jumping up on people is another big one, especially if you've got a friendly dog who wants to say hello to every person sitting on the beach wall.

Some dogs just won't come when called. You let them off at Trenerry Reserve and suddenly they're gone, chasing seagulls toward the road. Recall training saves lives, especially around here where busy roads sit right behind our parks.

After our session, you get ongoing online support and access to the Online Dog Trainer platform with hundreds of video tutorials. You're not left figuring things out alone. Most people see improvements within the first month if they commit to following the programme. Some see changes in a couple of weeks. The key is consistency - you need to commit to 30 days of doing the work.

Puppy Training Coogee

Got a new puppy? You're probably panicking about toilet training in an apartment, or worried about them barking and annoying your neighbours. Good. That means you're taking it seriously.

Our puppy programme has three stages that take you from "Should I even get a puppy?" all the way through their first year.

Pre-Puppy Programme (Before 8 Weeks)

Most people in Coogee just wing it. They get the puppy, then figure out they weren't ready. Then the first week is chaos and the puppy learns all the wrong things.

Before your puppy even comes home, there's work to do. Are you actually ready for a dog? If so, what breed works in a Coogee apartment? Should you get a puppy or rescue? Where will the puppy sleep? Where will they go to the bathroom? What rooms are off-limits? What supplies do you actually need versus what pet stores try to sell you?

You get access to video tutorials, breed profiles and preparation guides to make sure you get off to the best start. This preparation makes the difference between a smooth first week and total chaos.

Puppy Programme (8-16 Weeks)

This is the golden window. Between 8 and 16 weeks, your puppy is learning about the world. Everything they experience now shapes how they'll act as an adult dog. Good experiences create confident dogs. Bad experiences or no experiences create anxious, reactive dogs.

Between 8-12 weeks, you're focussed in your home. We help you get through the first few weeks of toileting, chewing and crying at night. Once your puppy hits 12 weeks, we begin our once-a-week puppy school where we focus on behaviourism, training, socialisation and owner education.

Puppy school runs in small groups around Sydney - eastern suburbs, inner west, north shore. We keep classes tiny, usually just 8-10 puppies. This gives you a balance between socialisation and actual learning time. Your puppy needs to experience other dogs, but they also need to learn how to behave around distractions.

Training isn't just about sit, stay and down. It's about giving you the tools to create a well-balanced, sociable dog that's stress-free to own. You always have access to our online training portal with 300+ video tutorials and your puppy cohort.

We cover the weird Coogee stuff - bus noise, skateboards on the promenade, waves crashing at high tide, crowds on the weekend. Puppies raised in Coogee need to handle all of this without losing their minds.

Puppy to Perfect Companion (16-52 Weeks)

After 16 weeks, your puppy hits adolescence. This is when some owners think training is done. Big mistake. Adolescent dogs are like teenagers. They test boundaries, forget stuff they knew, get distracted by everything.

The post-puppy programme covers ages 16 weeks to one year. You continue within your puppy cohort and get expert guidance on how to identify potential behavioural problems before they occur. This programme is customised based on what your dog needs. Some dogs breeze through adolescence. Others need more support with impulse control, focus, or managing their energy.

One family in the eastern suburbs had a labradoodle who was perfect at home but lost his mind in public. After working through our programme, they finally got her to the markets on Saturday morning without pulling or jumping on people.

Dog Walking Coogee

Walking dogs in Coogee isn't the same as walking them in the suburbs. Your dog deals with constant noise, crowds on weekends, narrow footpaths, other dogs everywhere. Most dogs here live in apartments or townhouses with no backyard. That changes everything about how they need to behave on walks.

The classic Coogee dog walking route is obvious - start at the beach, head south toward the coastal walk, loop back through the residential streets. But that doesn't work for every dog. Shy dogs do better on the quiet backstreets between Coogee Bay Road and Arden Street. Reactive dogs need routes where we can see other dogs coming from far away.

High energy dogs love the full coastal path to Clovelly and back. That's a solid hour of walking with stairs, different textures under their paws, ocean smells, and enough mental stimulation to actually tire them out. Older dogs or ones with joint problems stick to the flat promenade and grassed areas at Goldstein Reserve.

If your dog's working on not pulling, we practice that during walks. If they're learning to ignore other dogs, we work on that. Walking becomes exercise and training combined, not just a bathroom break.

Pet Sitting Coogee

Going away and stressing about leaving your dog? We provide both day visits and overnight pet sitting, keeping your dog in their own home where they're most comfortable. This works especially well in Coogee where pets are used to their specific routines, their view of the ocean, their usual walking times.

Day visits run for 30 minutes. We come over, feed your dog, give them fresh water, spend time playing or just keeping them company, then take them for a quick walk around the block. We'll also grab your mail, water plants, whatever you need.

Overnight visits mean we stay at your place. Your dog sleeps in their own bed, follows their normal routine, doesn't get stressed from being in a strange environment. We keep everything consistent - same walking routes, same meal times, same spot on the couch. For dogs with separation anxiety or medication schedules, this makes a huge difference.

Cats get the same service. We come over, clean their litter box, feed them, play with them if they're social, or just sit quietly nearby if they're skittish. Coogee cats are often indoor-outdoor, so we make sure they're safe and following whatever routine you've established.

Board and Train Coogee (Coming 2026)

Starting in 2026, we're offering board and train services. This is a 5-day intensive programme where your dog stays with us in a completely controlled setting. Whether you have a new puppy or want to teach an old dog new tricks, this programme is only open to a few clients at a time. It's also the only programme where we look after your dog full-time for you.

Why Coogee Dogs Need Different Training

Training a dog in Coogee isn't the same as training a dog in the suburbs. Your dog needs to be calm in small spaces. They need to ignore distractions because distractions are everywhere. They need rock-solid recall because our off-leash areas are small and surrounded by roads. They need to walk nicely on a leash because you're navigating through weekend crowds just to get them to the park.

I know which routes work for training and which ones set dogs up to fail. I know that Grant Reserve gets packed after 4pm on weekdays with kids playing soccer. I know that Dunningham Reserve is quieter but has more off-leash dogs running around. I know that section of the coastal walk near Giles Baths is where every reactive dog loses it because the path is narrow and there's nowhere to create space.

This local knowledge matters. We're not driving in from somewhere else and guessing what your daily life looks like. We work throughout Coogee. We walk these same beaches, parks and coastal paths. We know exactly what you're dealing with.

Common Problems Around Coogee Beach

Leash pulling on the coastal walk is probably the number one complaint. Your dog gets excited, pulls toward the cliff edge, pulls toward other dogs, pulls toward the ocean. You're trying to enjoy the walk and instead you're being dragged along. We teach you how to help your dog understand that pulling gets them nowhere and walking calmly gets them everything.

Barking in apartments is brutal. Your dog barks at people in the hallway, barks when you leave, barks at noise from neighbours. Body corporate complaints pile up. We address the root cause - usually anxiety, boredom, or lack of boundaries - not just the symptom.

Reactivity toward other dogs shows up worst on narrow paths. Your dog sees another dog, lunges, barks, pulls. It's embarrassing and stressful. We teach you how to help your dog notice other dogs and choose calm behaviour instead of reacting. This takes commitment but it works when you follow the programme.

Jumping up on people happens constantly at Coogee Pavilion or anywhere people are sitting and eating. Your friendly dog thinks they're saying hello. Other people see an out-of-control dog. We teach proper greetings that don't involve paws on strangers.

Fear and anxiety around beach noise, crowds, or water is common in new puppies or rescue dogs. We help you desensitise them slowly, building positive associations with things that currently scare them. A dog who's terrified of waves can learn to enjoy the beach, but it requires patience and proper technique.

Training Locations Around Coogee

Most training happens right in your apartment or townhouse. This is where your dog lives, where problem behaviours usually occur, where you need them to behave properly. We work on door manners, settling on their bed, not jumping on furniture, staying calm when visitors arrive. We help you understand why your dog behaves the way they do in your actual environment.

When training extends outside, we use real Coogee locations. Grant Reserve is good for practising skills because it's fenced and relatively safe. The quieter streets behind Coogee Bay Road work well for leash work without too many distractions. Goldstein Reserve offers different challenges - families, picnics, tempting smells from barbecues.

The beachfront promenade is advanced level. This is where we test everything your dog's learned in a high-distraction environment. If they can walk calmly past Coogee Pavilion on a sunny Sunday afternoon, they can handle anything.

For dogs working on reactivity, we might recommend starting training further from the beach where foot traffic is lighter, then gradually working your way to busier areas as they improve. Every dog progresses at their own pace.

How Training Actually Works

Training isn't magic. It's about understanding how your dog thinks and why they behave the way they do. When you understand their perspective, you can communicate clearly and set them up for success.

We never use punishment or harsh corrections. We work with your dog's natural instincts using gentle, non-violent techniques. You learn how to help your dog make better choices, not just force them into obedience through fear.

You're involved in everything. We're not here to train your dog and hand them back "fixed." We're teaching you how to communicate with your dog, how to set boundaries, how to reinforce good behaviour in everyday situations. If you're not maintaining what you learn, it won't stick.

The session is practical and focused. We're not spending an hour talking theory. We're actively working on your dog's behaviour, with you practicing and us coaching you through it. You see progress during the session and understand what you need to do after we leave.

Most behaviour problems come from unclear expectations, inconsistent rules, or dogs who are bored and understimulated. We help you fix the environment and the communication first. The behaviour follows.

After the session, you get ongoing online support. Access to the Online Dog Trainer platform with hundreds of video tutorials covering everything you can think of. Questions come up. You're not alone figuring it out.

If you commit to 30 days of following the programme, you should see improvements within the first month. Some people see changes in a couple of weeks. But you have to do the work. Consistency matters more than anything else.

About Coogee

Coogee Beach sits right in Sydney's eastern suburbs, about 8 kilometres southeast of the city centre. It's a proper suburb, not just a beach destination. People live here year-round, walk their dogs here every day, deal with the same challenges you do.

The beach itself curves in a protected bay, making it calmer than Bondi on rough days. Ross Jones Memorial Pool sits next to the surf club, with its distinctive concrete turrets perfect for lap swimming when the ocean's too wild. Wylie's Baths and McIver's Ladies Baths offer ocean pool swimming further south.

Goldstein Reserve runs along the beach, offering grassed areas under Norfolk pines, playgrounds, and barbecues that get heavy use on weekends. Grant Reserve and Trenerry Reserve provide more park space a few blocks back from the beach.

The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk is the main attraction for visitors. Six kilometres of clifftop path connecting multiple beaches - Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly, Gordon's Bay, and finishing at Coogee. Takes two to three hours if you stop frequently. Gets crowded, especially weekends and summer mornings. Dogs must be on leash the entire way.

This walk is where leash training either shines or falls apart. Your dog encounters other dogs constantly. Narrow sections where passing requires coordination. Distractions everywhere - ocean views, people stopping for photos, joggers, cyclists. If your dog pulls or reacts to other dogs, this walk becomes stressful instead of enjoyable.

Giles Baths, tucked at the southern end near where the coastal walk continues, offers a natural rock pool for swimming away from main beach crowds. Gordon's Bay, just past that, is known for snorkelling with its underwater trail and marine life like blue groper.

The Rainbow Steps, an amphitheatre-style seating area at the southern end, are famous for sunrise viewing. People arrive early, grab coffee, watch the sky change. It's become a bit of an Instagram thing, which means more crowds more often. Early morning walks here can be peaceful, but expect other dogs and their owners most days.

Coogee Pavilion dominates the northern end of the beach - multiple levels, different dining areas, busy on sunny days. It's a landmark and meeting spot, but also a high-distraction area for dogs learning impulse control. Teaching your dog to walk calmly past outdoor dining areas full of food smells and people is a skill that takes practice.

Parking around here is difficult on weekends. Most locals catch buses from the city or Bondi Junction. The 370 bus runs regularly. This means lots of foot traffic, people everywhere, dogs needing to navigate crowds constantly.

The residential area behind the beach mixes apartments, townhouses, and some older houses. Most dogs here live in medium to high-density housing. Limited private outdoor space. Shared courtyards. Noise from neighbours. This creates specific training needs different from suburban dogs with big backyards.

Dogs in apartments need to be calm in small spaces. They need to handle being left alone without barking constantly. They need to walk nicely on leash from the moment you step out your door because there's no yard to burn off energy first. These are skills that require proper training, not just hoping your dog figures it out.

Clovelly, just up the coast, offers a different beach experience - narrow bay, concrete platforms, very calm water, extremely family-friendly. Popular with young kids and snorkelers. Less space for dogs and it gets packed quickly. Dogs here need to be comfortable in tight spaces with lots of activity.

Weather here is typical Sydney coastal - mild winters, hot summers, regular sea breezes in afternoons. Summer brings crowds. Winter brings calmer conditions but cold water. Wind picks up most afternoons regardless of season. Your dog needs to handle all of it without stress.

The community here is a mix of young families, professionals, older locals who've lived here forever, and tourists on weekends. Everyone uses the same narrow paths, same small parks, same beaches. Dogs need to handle all of it without losing their minds.

Getting Started

First step is talking about what's actually going on with your dog. What problems are you dealing with? What's your living situation? What does a typical day look like? Where do you walk? What have you already tried?

From there, we book a single 2-hour session at your home. We work in the environment where your dog actually needs to behave, not some facility where everything's controlled and perfect. You'll see progress during the session and understand exactly what you need to do afterwards.

You get ongoing online support after the session. Access to hundreds of video tutorials covering every situation you can think of. Questions come up as you're working with your dog - you're not alone figuring it out.

For puppies, we start before bad habits form. Prevention is easier than fixing problems later. A 10-week-old puppy learning proper behaviour from day one has a massive advantage over a 6-month-old who's been practicing bad behaviour for months.

If you commit to following the programme for 30 days, you should see improvements within the first month. Some people see changes in a couple of weeks. But you have to do the work consistently.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly will I see improvements in my dog's behaviour?

Most people see improvements within the first month if they commit to following the programme. Some see changes in a couple of weeks. The key is consistency - you need to commit to 30 days of doing the work. If you're inconsistent, progress will be slower.

What's included in the training session?

A single 2-hour session at your home where we work on your dog's specific issues. You get ongoing online support afterwards and access to the Online Dog Trainer platform with hundreds of video tutorials. We're teaching you how to work with your dog, not just fixing them temporarily.

Do you use harsh training methods?

Never. We don't use pain, fear, or aggression in our methods. We work with your dog's natural instincts using gentle, non-violent techniques. We help you understand how your dog thinks so you can communicate clearly and set them up for success.

What if I live in an apartment?

Most of our Coogee clients live in apartments. We understand the specific challenges - toilet training without a yard, managing barking so neighbours don't complain, teaching dogs to settle in small spaces. The training happens in your actual environment where you need it to work.

Can you help with leash pulling on the coastal walk?

Yes. We teach you how to help your dog understand that pulling gets them nowhere and walking calmly gets them where they want to go. It requires consistency from you, but it works when you follow the programme. The coastal walk is the perfect testing ground.

What about puppy training in Coogee?

Our puppy programme has three stages - pre-puppy preparation, the main puppy programme from 8-16 weeks including puppy school, and the post-puppy programme from 16 weeks to one year. We help you through every stage, not just the cute puppy phase.

How does pet sitting work?

We provide day visits (30 minutes) and overnight stays at your home. Your dog stays in their familiar environment, follows their normal routine, doesn't get stressed from being somewhere strange. We keep everything consistent with their usual schedule.

What if my dog is aggressive toward other dogs?

We work on it carefully. We teach you how to help your dog notice other dogs and choose calm behaviour instead of reacting. This takes commitment and consistency from you, but it works when you follow the programme properly. The narrow coastal paths around Coogee are challenging, but that's exactly why the training needs to work here.

When does board and train start?

Board and train launches in 2026. This is a 5-day intensive programme where your dog stays with us in a completely controlled setting. It's only open to a few clients at a time and is the only programme where we look after your dog full-time.