Our Certifications

At A Bark Above, our approach is guided by education, expertise, and a genuine commitment to doing what is right, for dogs and for the people who care for them. This dedication was recognised in 2024 when we were honoured as Australian Small Business Champion, a milestone that reflects not only the standard of our work, but the expertise, ethics, and heart behind it.

Behaviour is never just about training cues. It is shaped by emotion, learning history, physical wellbeing, environment, and the relationship between dog and human. Our certifications are thoughtfully woven across these interconnected areas, allowing each dog to be supported as a whole at an exceptional standard. We continue to learn, refine, and listen; ensuring every family who walks through our doors is met with support that reflects current knowledge, ethical practice, and deep respect for the whole being in front of us.

Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour & Training (AVT)
This nationally recognised certification forms the heart of our work. It builds a deep understanding of how dogs learn, feel, and make sense of the world, grounded in ethical, science-based training practices. For our clients, this means guidance that is clear, and compassionate; training rooted in positive reinforcement, emotional safety, and trust. We focus on building understanding and confidence, supporting meaningful change.

Certified Canine Behaviour Consultant (AVT)
This advanced certification deepens our ability to support dogs with more complex emotional and behavioural needs. Through in-depth case work, professional mentoring, and reflective practice, we are able to look beneath the surface of behaviour. For families, this means thoughtful, realistic plans shaped with care, understanding, and intention that brings clarity, support, and a steady path forward through the challenging moments. This, paired with the Cert IV bring together the highest national recognised standard for Dog Training and Behaviour.

Fear Free Certified Professional Animal Trainer
Fear Free principles have guided how we work every day from the beginning. This certification reflects our commitment to minimising stress, prioritising emotional wellbeing, and supporting dogs through choice, predictability, and respectful handling. For clients, this means coaching and behaviour support that is kind, considerate, and designed to help dogs feel safe and confident while learning. Additional Fear Free certifications include Understanding Medical Conditions, Resource Guarding, Partnering with Veterinary Professionals, Enrichment and Proactive & Preventive Training.

L.E.G.S.® Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation® Professional Course 2.0
This globally recognised course enriches the way we educate and support families by giving us a clearer, more complete picture of why dogs behave the way they do. By considering learning history, environment, genetics, and emotional wellbeing, it helps us translate complex behaviour into information that is practical, accessible, and meaningful for everyday pawrents. This gives us additional resources that provide thoughtful explanations, realistic expectations, and support that help families better understand their dog, implement successful strategies, and feel confident in the path forward, always with welfare, fairness, and compassion at the centre.

Certified Animal Naturopath
This certification supports our holistic pathway by recognising that behaviour is closely connected to physical wellbeing, nutrition, and internal balance. It allows us to consider on a unique and deeper level the dog as a whole, not just the behaviour being presented. This knowledge and unique skillset help us to support dogs through thoughtful, complementary strategies that consider both body and mind. For our clients, this means a more complete understanding of their dog’s needs and a support plan that respects the interconnected nature of health, emotion, and behaviour.

Master Course: Aggression in Dogs with Michael Shikashio
This internationally respected certification deepens our understanding of aggressive behaviour and, just as importantly, how to respond to it with care, safety, and respect for everyone involved. It focuses on seeing aggression not as a flaw, but as communication shaped by experience, emotion, and context. For families, this means clear guidance during some of the most emotional moments of dog ownership. The strategies drawn from this work prioritise safety, reduce risk, and support thoughtful decision making, helping families move forward with confidence, understanding, and compassion rather than fear or blame.

Canine Reactive Behaviour Expert (Canine Principles)
This certification deepens our understanding of the emotional drivers behind reactive behaviour, including fear, frustration, and overwhelm. It supports an approach that prioritises emotional safety and regulation, helping dogs feel more secure in their environment rather than focusing on suppression or control. This work reinforces our commitment to thoughtful, compassionate strategies that support lasting behavioural change through understanding.

Certified in Canine Nutrition & Health (Canine Principles)
Behaviour and physical wellbeing are closely connected. This certification expands our understanding of how nutrition, digestion, and internal health can influence learning, emotional regulation, and behaviour. It allows us to take a more holistic view when supporting dogs, ensuring that physical factors are thoughtfully considered as part of the behavioural picture.

Care & Coaching of Sensory Impaired Dogs (Canine Principles)
Dogs who are deaf, blind, or experience the world differently require approaches that are flexible, creative, and deeply respectful. This certification supports our ability to adapt communication and learning strategies so these dogs can engage confidently and comfortably, honouring their individual experiences and needs.

Canine Trauma & Rescue Expert (Canine Principles)
Many dogs carry experiences that shape how they respond to the world around them. This certification focuses on trauma-informed care, trust building, and the importance of safety and predictability. It reinforces an approach that values patience, emotional safety, and progress that unfolds at the dog’s pace.

Canine Pharmacology (Canine Principles)
This certification supports a deeper understanding of how behavioural medications interact with the canine brain and body. It allows us to deepen our collaborative work alongside veterinary professionals, ensuring medication, when part of a dog’s journey, is considered thoughtfully within a broader behaviour and wellbeing framework.

Canine Functional Anatomy & Biomechanics (London College of Animal Osteopathy)
This certification deepens our understanding of how a dog’s body moves, carries itself, and responds to daily life. By appreciating posture, structure, and natural movement, we can make more informed choices around training exercises, equipment, and activity levels. For our clients, this means your dog’s comfort always comes first. From the harnesses we recommend to the way we design training sessions, everything is guided by respect for your dog’s body, supporting ease of movement, confidence, and long-term wellbeing as part of our whole-dog approach.

Canine Pathology & Diseases (London College of Animal Osteopathy)
Behaviour can often be influenced by what’s happening inside the body. This certification supports our ability to recognise when discomfort, illness, or underlying health concerns may be contributing to changes in behaviour. Rather than viewing behaviour in isolation, we consider the bigger picture. This allows us to gently guide families toward further support when needed and ensures your dog is seen, understood, and supported as a whole; physically and emotionally.

Canine Systemic Anatomy & Physiology I & II (London College of Animal Osteopathy)
These certifications explore how the body’s systems; including the nervous, digestive, and musculoskeletal systems work together to influence how a dog feels, learns, and responds to the world. This knowledge is woven into our unique style of education, helping clients understand their dog on a deeper level. It supports a truly whole-dog approach, where emotional wellbeing, physical health, and behaviour are considered together, not separately.

Philosophy & History of Animal Osteopathy (London College of Animal Osteopathy)
This certification provides insight into the evolution of animal-centred care, grounding modern practice in both science and compassion. Understanding where animal care has come from helps shape how we support dogs today. It aligns closely with our values and educational style, encouraging thoughtful, informed, and ethical decision-making. For our clients, it reinforces our commitment to progressive care that honours the dog in front of us, their body, their experiences, and their individual needs.

Certified Grief Coach for Pet Loss
Our support for families does not always end with training. This certification allows us to hold space for those navigating the heartbreak of anticipated loss or the passing of a deeply loved animal. A space created for the moments when words fall short, where grief is met with kindness, and the love shared with a dog is honoured without needing explanation.

Our work has also been recognised beyond our local community, with finalist placements in the 2024 and 2025 Women’s Small Business Champion Awards, at the 2025 Tasmanian Young Achiever Awards, and the honour of receiving the Open Doors Award for inclusive and community focused practice from the Central Coast Council. Our true heart lives in the spaces between these certifications and recognition; where behaviour meets biology, learning meets emotion, and care meets true understanding. These pathways allow us to hold the whole picture at once, offering guidance that is holistic, considered, and deeply attuned to the dog in front of us.

It is here that our difference lives; not in doing more, but in seeing more.