Our Story

A Bark Above was built from a simple belief: dogs deserve to be understood, and people deserve support; not judgement and outdated methods. It wasn’t created to follow trends or replicate what already existed. It grew from lived experience, deep love for dogs, and a clear understanding that behaviour is never just about cues. It is shaped by emotion, environment, learning history, and the relationship between dog and human. When kindness is missing, when dogs are rushed or owners are blamed; everyone loses. We knew there had to be a better way.

My professional journey with dogs didn’t begin with training manuals or certifications it began back in high school; during a time that was heavy, isolating, and deeply challenging. I experienced bullying, struggled with my mental health, and lost one of my closest friends to suicide. Life felt uncertain and dark, and for a long time I didn’t know where I belonged.

But animals were always there.

As an only child, dogs and horses were my constant. They were my companions, my safe place, and my quiet support system. They didn’t judge or demand explanations. They grounded me when everything else felt overwhelming and, in many ways, they shaped the foundation of who I am today. After leaving school, I adopted my first dog, Darcy, a little terrier mix from a questionable start. Bright, bold, and full of life, Darcy taught me patience and the early lessons of understanding behaviour beyond what we see on the surface.

About a year later, Fly came into my life at just four and a half weeks old. She was my heart dog and the missing piece I didn’t know I was searching for. At the time, I imagined Fly growing up to run alongside me while I rode horses. But at just nine months old, she was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Those plans disappeared overnight and instead, we turned to training; to support her mentally, but something shifted. Fly taught me that training should not have been about control or compliance. It’s about helping dogs feel safe enough to learn and helping humans feel confident enough to lead with clarity and care. What began to support her physical needs became a lifelong passion for finding understanding in behaviour through compassion and science. 

A few years later, I began running puppy classes at a local veterinary clinic. That was where the bigger picture came into focus. Families were searching for further guidance. For education that acknowledged that behaviour is complex and for support that didn’t shame them for struggling. A Bark Above was built brick by brick, moment by moment. I worked alongside a veteran and his assistance dog company, slowly developing programs and approaches that didn’t yet exist on the North West Coast.

I was incredibly fortunate to be guided by an incredible mentor along the way. The highly regarded and respected trainer on out coast, was the tremendous Rita Lynd. I remember attending her classes when I was just four or five years old. Looking back, that early exposure planted the seed for what would eventually grow into this work. Rita remains an inspiration and guide to this day, and I am honoured to have her influencing everything we do.

As the business grew, so did my understanding, and my responsibility. Through ongoing study, awareness and close attention to the needs of dogs and families in our community, it became clear that our region needed something more considered. An approach grounded in modern behavioural science, ethical practice, and emotional safety.

That commitment led to becoming the first trainer in the region to hold a Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour & Training, Australia’s first Nationally Recognised, Positive Reinforcement based certification, followed by Fear Free Professional Certification. Advancing into the role of Canine Behaviour Consultant further deepened the scope of our work, allowing for a more comprehensive and thoughtful approach to behaviour support in a way that the coast hadn’t seen before.

Most recently, completion of the internationally recognised Family Dog Mediation, course alongside Animal Naturopathy certification has strengthened our holistic pathway even further. Each step has been taken with intention, shaping an approach that continues to raise the standard for ethical, whole-dog care within our community. My commitment is never about titles. It is about ensuring that every dog and every family who walked through our doors received evidence led, compassionate support; not outdated methods, not force, and not blame.

A Bark Above has grown not just in knowledge, but in people. We welcomed Adrian, our enrichment king into the team. With years of zoo-world experience and an exceptional depth of knowledge, Adrian brought creativity, insight, and a shared commitment to welfare-first practice. His influence has strengthened everything we do and alongside him, we’ve built close collaborations with veterinarians, fellow ethical trainers, and behaviour professionals across Tasmania and the nation who share our Fear Free values. Together, we continue to raise standards through collaboration.

Now this journey hasn’t been without its challenges. We’ve experienced setbacks, imitation, and moments where our work has been taken, reshaped, or misunderstood. That can be difficult to navigate, especially when you lead with heart. But over time, perspective brings clarity. Innovation often invites imitation and rather than dimming our light, these moments reinforced our commitment to integrity, ethics, and continual learning. 

A Bark Above is also shaped by love and loss.

Fly was never just a dog. She was my constant, my anchor, and the quiet presence that carried me through seasons of growth, struggle, and becoming. Losing her opened a darkness that reached far beyond the home, it settled into my routines, my body, and my sense of grounding. Grief changed the way I see the world, but it also sharpened what matters most. Through Fly, I learned how deeply dogs hold us, regulate us, and walk beside us when words fail. Her absence is felt every day, yet her influence remains woven through everything we do, in the gentleness we choose, the patience we offer, and the care with which we hold both dogs and their people.

Her legacy lives on not as something we move past, but as something we carry forward, guiding our work with compassion, presence, and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to love, support, and honour the bond we share with our dogs. In the quiet that followed Fly’s passing came Aurora, my chaos gremlin, my spark, and my reminder that joy does not permanently disappear when grief arrives. She taught me that laughter can return without diminishing love, and that energy, curiosity, and movement are forms of healing in their own way. Through Aurora, I was reminded to keep play in my work, to celebrate progress loudly, and to allow space for joy to coexist with loss.

Then there’s Eric, our big rescue boy with even bigger feelings. Eric taught me patience at a deeper level. He showed me what becomes possible when dogs are given time, predictability, and the safety to unfold at their own pace. His journey is a living example of everything we stand for: that dogs are not broken, that behaviour is communication, and that with the right support, even the most uncertain souls can find their confidence and shine.

Of course, Matty our toothless icon. Small in size, enormous in spirit, and endlessly expressive. Matty reminds me daily that value is not found in excellence or performance, but in presence. He is proof that every dog, regardless of age, ability, or history, has something meaningful simply by being who they are.

Together, we carry Fly’s legacy forward. A legacy rooted in fear-free practice, emotional safety, and the belief that dogs should never be asked to give more than they are able. Through them, that legacy continues shaping the way we teach, the way we support, and the way we hold space for both dogs and the people who love them.

Today, A Bark Above is more than a training facility. It’s a community built on thoughtful learning, trust, and genuine care. Our work is grounded in modern behavioural science and guided by ongoing, nationally and internationally recognised education; but just as importantly, by how that knowledge is applied: with patience, compassion, ethics, and respect for the individual dog in front of us.

From puppyhood through to complex behavioural support, our services and programs are designed to meet dogs and families across every stage of life. We offer structured education, individual guidance, and supportive pathways that recognise both progress and pause as part of learning. Whether through group programs, private consults, online support, or specialised offerings, every service is shaped by the same principles, clarity, emotional safety, and genuine connection. Our focus is not on ticking boxes, but on providing thoughtful support that empowers families, builds confidence, and supports lasting wellbeing for dogs and the people who love them.

Through our work we speak openly about raising standards in training and behaviour support through integrity. That means choosing consent over compliance, welfare over outcomes, and supporting humans as much as dogs. While our work has been recognised on national stages, the true measure of what we do lives in quieter moments; the confidence gained, the trust rebuilt, and the dogs who finally feel safe. At our core, we stand for Fear Free, ethical practice, lifelong learning, and partnerships built on trust, consent and choice.

Wherever you are on your journey, you don’t have to do it alone.