Dog Trainer Clovelly - Local Dog Behaviour Specialist

Bridget needed help managing her dog and didn't know where to start. One home session gave her practical tools that worked immediately. What made the difference was having support available afterwards - not being left alone to figure things out.

That's proper training. Clear guidance that makes sense, then backup when you need it.

I'm a dog trainer and behaviourist serving Clovelly and surrounding areas. This suburb presents unusual challenges. No sandy beach - just concrete platforms and a narrow bay. Snorkellers everywhere. Limited space for dogs to move. Your dog needs very specific skills to function here comfortably.

Dog Behaviour & Training Clovelly

I run single 2-hour sessions at your place. Working in your actual home where problems happen beats training somewhere else and hoping skills transfer. They usually don't.

My focus is helping you read your dog's behaviour. Once you understand what drives their actions, you can respond appropriately. No harsh methods. No punishment. I work with how dogs naturally learn, using techniques that don't involve fear or pain.

You get online support afterwards through the Online Dog Trainer platform. Hundreds of videos covering different situations. When questions pop up during your training work, you've got resources and backup.

Commit properly for a month and you'll likely see shifts. Some owners notice changes within two weeks. But commitment means actually doing the work daily, not trying it occasionally when you remember.

Platform jumping is dangerous in Clovelly. Dogs think those concrete edges are launch pads. They can hurt themselves or land on swimmers below. Teaching boundaries around platforms requires consistent reinforcement from you.

Narrow path aggression happens on the coastal walk section. When another dog approaches and there's barely room to pass, your dog lunges or growls. Limited escape routes make this worse. We address the underlying anxiety driving the reaction.

Pulling toward the bay wears you out before walks even start. Your dog smells the ocean, sees movement in the water, hears people. They drag you constantly. Teaching loose-leash walking here requires patience because distractions are intense.

Burrows Park recall failures create safety risks. Your dog takes off toward the road or bothers other park users. Building reliable recall takes structured practice, not just calling them randomly and hoping they listen.

Puppy Training Clovelly

Puppies need preparation before they arrive. Waiting until you bring them home means you're already scrambling. First week chaos sets bad patterns.

Pre-puppy work covers whether you're actually ready, which breeds suit concrete-platform beach life versus sandy beaches, and how to set up your home properly. You get video guides and breed information so you make smart choices before committing.

From 8-16 weeks, puppies are forming core beliefs about the world. Early weeks happen at home - toilet training, chewing management, sleep routines. Once they hit 12 weeks and have initial vaccinations, weekly puppy school starts with small groups.

Clovelly puppies experience unique things. Wetsuits. Snorkel masks. People diving off platforms. The 360 bus rumbling past. Narrow footpaths with strangers close by. We expose them to these things early so they don't develop fears later.

Our puppy school isn't about drilling commands. It's about building a dog who can live in this specific environment without developing anxiety or behaviour issues. You stay connected with your puppy group and access ongoing video tutorials.

After 16 weeks, adolescence arrives. Your sweet puppy becomes difficult. Testing rules. Ignoring commands they knew perfectly last week. Acting impulsively. We work through this phase together instead of you struggling alone wondering what happened.

Some adolescent dogs need minimal guidance. Others need serious impulse control work, especially around Clovelly's water distractions. I customise based on what your individual puppy requires.

Dog Walking Clovelly

Walking here differs from other suburbs. The bay layout, constant snorkelling, concrete surfaces, and tight spaces require specific handling.

Solo walks make sense for dogs building skills or managing reactivity. We avoid overwhelming situations and practice fundamentals on quieter streets first. Once basics are solid, we gradually introduce more challenging environments.

Group walks work for confident, social dogs. But I'm careful about who walks together. Mixing incompatible dogs creates problems, not solutions.

Routes depend on what your dog can currently handle. The coastal section through Clovelly looks beautiful but challenges even well-trained dogs. Narrow passages, constant encounters, nowhere to create distance from triggers. We use this route only when dogs are ready.

Residential streets away from the bay offer better learning environments. Lower stimulation. More control. Space to work on skills without constant interruptions.

Burrows Park provides middle-ground difficulty. Families, children, some activity, but more manageable than the bay area. Good for dogs progressing beyond basics.

Walks run 60 minutes. Each walk has specific training goals based on what your dog needs currently. Might be loose-leash work. Might be impulse control around distractions. Might be confidence-building in new environments. Always purposeful.

Pet Sitting Clovelly

Leaving town creates stress around pet care. I provide in-home care so your dog stays where they're comfortable and maintains normal routines.

Short visits work if you're gone during the day. I come over, handle feeding and water, spend time with your dog, take them out briefly. Grab mail, check the place, make sure everything's fine. You get updates with photos.

Overnight care means I'm staying at your home. Your dog keeps their exact routine - same sleeping spot, same meal times, same walking routes. Nothing disrupts their normal patterns. Especially important for anxious dogs or those on medications.

Cats need different handling than dogs. I maintain their schedules precisely, keep litter boxes clean, interact based on their personality. Some want play time. Some want to be left alone. I adjust accordingly.

Board and Train Starting 2026

Next year I'm adding board and train. Five intensive days with your dog at my facility. Small client numbers only. It's the one programme where I handle full-time care rather than teaching you to do it.

Why Clovelly Training Differs

Geography shapes everything here. That narrow bay means tight quarters constantly. Concrete platforms create unusual dynamics. Snorkelling brings people into water all day. Dogs unfamiliar with this setup get confused or reactive.

Calm water attracts families with young kids. Children jumping off platforms, playing in shallow areas, swimming near edges. Your dog can't avoid this activity if you use the bay area. They need to ignore it completely.

The coastal walk funnels heavy traffic through Clovelly. Walkers and joggers passing through between Gordon's Bay and Coogee use this route daily. Encountering other dogs on narrow sections requires your dog to remain calm in tight spaces.

Limited beach space means exercise happens on leash, on paths, or at Burrows Park. No wide sandy areas for running around. Dogs need excellent leash behaviour and mental engagement during structured walks.

I know Burrows Park fills up after school with kids playing. I know the coastal section near the old diving platform is toughest for reactive dogs. I know which streets work for lower-distraction training. Local knowledge prevents wasting your time with routes that set dogs up to fail.

Training Locations

Your home is where most work happens. That's where your dog lives, where issues surface, where they need to function correctly. We address real-life situations - visitors arriving, settling calmly, not jumping on furniture, managing doorways.

Outside work uses actual Clovelly locations. Back streets for foundational leash work. Burrows Park during quieter times for distraction training. Bay area only when dogs demonstrate readiness for high-stimulation environments.

Reactive dogs start in low-distraction zones, building skills before facing harder situations. Progression happens at each dog's individual pace.

What Bridget Experienced

After our session, Bridget had clear, practical tools that worked right away. What impressed her was the ongoing support - having guidance available whenever she needed it. That access gave her confidence managing her dog through different situations.

She appreciated the professionalism and approachable style. Training made sense. Questions got answered. Her dog improved. She recommends the service to others looking for reliable support.

That's the standard. Clear communication, practical methods, real backup afterwards.

How This Works

Dog training isn't complicated once you understand learning principles. I help you interpret your dog's behaviour so you respond effectively instead of guessing. We fix root problems, not just visible symptoms.

You're actively involved the entire session. I'm teaching you, not just working with your dog while you watch. If you don't maintain the skills afterwards, they fade. Sessions are hands-on - you practice techniques while I coach and correct.

Post-session, the Online Dog Trainer platform provides ongoing resources. Video tutorials for various scenarios. When implementation questions arise, you have answers available.

Consistent work for 30 days typically produces noticeable changes. Some owners see shifts sooner. But consistency means daily practice, not occasional attempts. Sporadic effort fails.

Serious issues take longer. Deep anxiety doesn't resolve in weeks. Ingrained aggression needs months of careful work. I'm honest about realistic timelines upfront.

About Clovelly

Clovelly occupies a unique spot on Sydney's eastern coast between Bronte and Coogee. Instead of a typical beach, it's a narrow bay between rocky headlands. Concrete platforms line much of the water access instead of sand.

The sheltered bay creates calm water perfect for snorkelling. Year-round swimmers and snorkellers use the bay regularly. Marine life visibility draws people interested in underwater viewing. Dogs walking past see constant water activity.

Limited bay width means crowding happens fast on nice days. Nowhere to spread out. People sit on platforms, enter water from edges, swim close to shore. Dogs unfamiliar with this setup often react poorly initially.

Burrows Park behind the bay provides grassed recreation space with playground equipment. Families use it heavily. Dogs navigating through encounter children, picnics, varying activity levels throughout days.

Housing is predominantly apartments and townhouses. High-density living. Limited private outdoor space. Dogs depend entirely on walks for exercise and mental stimulation. This demands excellent leash behaviour and engagement.

Clovelly Road handles local business and the 360 bus route connecting to Bondi Junction. Most residents use buses rather than cars. Creates foot traffic on residential streets during commute times.

The coastal walk passes directly through Clovelly, linking Gordon's Bay north and Coogee south. This path brings constant through-traffic - walkers, joggers, tourists. Dogs living here encounter this traffic regularly, requiring calm responses to close encounters.

Dog beach access follows restricted hours. Mornings and late afternoons in summer, different times in winter. On-leash requirements always. No off-leash beach access exists here.

Wind protection from the bay's configuration makes Clovelly calmer than exposed beaches. Popular on windy days when other beaches become unpleasant. Expect bigger crowds when weather's rough elsewhere.

Swimming is generally safe due to shelter. Lifeguards patrol summers. Main hazards involve rocks and platform edges rather than surf. Dogs need to avoid edges where falls could occur.

The community includes families drawn by safe swimming, long-term residents, and apartment-dwelling professionals. Quieter character than Bondi or Coogee. Dog behaviour expectations remain high - barking disturbs neighbours, poor leash manners frustrate path users.

Weather follows typical Sydney coastal patterns. Mild winters, warm summers, afternoon breezes (less intense than exposed beaches). Summer brings crowds despite limited space. Winter stays popular with dedicated swimmers and snorkellers.

The narrow bay makes sound carry significantly. Barking echoes across the water. Dogs who bark at water activity create noise affecting everyone nearby. Bark control matters more here than at wider beaches where sound disperses.

Transport depends on buses. The 360 route runs frequently. Coastal walk provides pedestrian access. Limited parking pushes people toward buses or walking. Increases foot traffic on paths and streets.

Dining options are limited compared to larger beach suburbs. People often walk to Coogee or Bronte for more variety. Means your dog needs skills for longer walking distances if combining beach time with dining.

The suburb's compact size means repeatedly seeing the same people and dogs. Poor behaviour gets noticed and remembered. Social pressure exists because anonymity isn't possible in small communities.

Getting Started

First, we talk about what's actually happening with your dog. What specific behaviours are problems? What's your living situation? What's a typical day like? Where do you walk? What haven't worked so far?

Then we schedule one 2-hour session at your place. Working in your real environment where your dog needs to function. You'll see progress during the session and understand what to do next. I'm teaching you how to work with your dog, not just fixing things temporarily.

Afterwards, you have online support through the Online Dog Trainer platform. Video tutorials for different situations. Questions come up during implementation - you're not figuring everything out alone.

Puppies should start before bad habits form. Fixing established problems is harder than preventing them. A 10-week-old learning correctly from the start has huge advantages over a 6-month-old who's practiced problems for months.

Give it 30 days of genuine consistent effort. Most owners see changes within that month. Some notice shifts sooner. But genuine effort means doing the work properly every day.

Common Questions

My dog keeps jumping off the platforms. Can you fix this?

Platform jumping needs impulse control work and boundary training. Your dog must learn edges aren't for launching. This takes consistent practice from you after I show you the techniques.

Why does my dog go crazy around snorkellers?

Water activity in wetsuits confuses many dogs. The movement, the gear, people entering and exiting water - it's overstimulating. We desensitise them gradually to these specific triggers.

How long before my dog improves?

Depends on your consistency. Most owners doing the work properly see changes within a month. Some notice shifts in two weeks. But you have to actually do the daily practice, not just try occasionally.

Can you help with aggression on the narrow coastal path?

Yes. That tight space with limited escape routes triggers anxiety in many dogs. We work on the underlying anxiety and teach better responses when encountering other dogs in confined spaces.

What happens in the training session?

Two hours at your home working on your dog's specific issues. I teach you how to address them. You practice with my coaching. Then you have online support and video tutorials afterwards for ongoing guidance.

Do you walk dogs alone or in groups?

Both options exist. Solo walks suit dogs needing focused work or managing reactivity. Groups work for social dogs benefiting from controlled exposure to others. I match the approach to your dog's needs.

My dog won't come back at Burrows Park. Can you help?

Recall needs structured building, not just random calling. We work on making you more interesting than everything else and creating a reliable response to your call command.

When can I do board and train?

That starts in 2026. Five intensive days with your dog at my facility. Limited spots. It's my only programme involving full-time care rather than teaching you to handle training.