A person in a patterned faux fur jacket kneeling on the ground in a park, holding and playing with two small dogs, a black and white one and a brown one. The park has large trees, fallen leaves, and a fence in the background.

Before I was a trainer,
I was just a guy losing to his Shiba.

Now I help Melbourne dog owners build the same understanding in a fun way.

One-on-one training for puppies, behaviour and primitive breeds, grounded in positive reinforcement.

Book an Initial Consult

No such thing as an untrainable dog

Shibas especially get a bad rep online. Spend five minutes in the comments and you'd think they were sent here to ruin our lives.

I went against the grain and learned the dog in front of me instead of the internet's version of him.

Turns out he's not stubborn, he's just Pochi.

And once you stop fighting your dog and start understanding them, training stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like the best part of your day.

From My Clients

  • “Xavier has an incredible connection with dogs and humans! His patience, knowledge, and genuine love for animals make him one of a kind. We are so grateful for everything he has done.”

  • “I found myself reflecting on how far we've come over the last 12 months - no halti, learning to trust him and him learning to trust me. But the most important part was just learning to enjoy the moment together. ”

  • "Xavier is not only incredibly knowledgeable but also very personable, patient and professional, which made every session enjoyable and easy to follow."

My Approach


I'm currently completing my Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training through Delta Institute, with over 50 hours shadowing positive reinforcement trainers and hands-on experience at the RSPCA working with shelter dogs of all temperaments.

Every dog is different, and so is every owner. I take the time to understand what's really going on before we start, then build a creative and effective plan around what you and your dog actually need.

My Services

  • Initial Consult

    $220
    Approx. 90 Minutes

    We start here to figure out you and your dog's needs. Includes a behaviour assessment, hands-on training session, and personalised training plan.

  • Follow Up Session

    $160
    Approx. 60 Minutes

    For existing clients continuing training - progressing previous work, troubleshooting challenges, refining behaviours.

  • Complex Behaviour

    $220
    Approx. 90 Minutes • In-Person Only

    For reactivity, multi-dog household conflict, separation distress and resource guarding.

  • Virtual Session

    $140
    Approx. 60 Minutes via Google Meet

    For guardians who need guidance between sessions, live outside Melbourne, or want help troubleshooting specific issues.

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 FAQs

  • Yes. Most sessions take place in your home environment where your dog’s most comfortable.

    This allows us to work on real-life situations and create practical solutions that suit you and your dog.

  • Dogs are capable of learning at any age!

    While puppies may learn certain skills faster, older dogs can absolutely develop new habits and behaviours with the right training approach.

  • Not at all. Many owners come to training after trying methods that didn’t work or didn’t feel right for them.

    Dogs are incredibly adaptable and it’s absolutely possible to rebuild trust, motivation and clear communication through positive reinforcement training. The fact that you’re looking for better solutions already puts you on the right track.

    During our sessions, we focus on creating clarity for your dog and building behaviours they want to repeat.

  • It really depends on your goals and needs.

    Some dogs and their guardians only need a few follow-up sessions, while more complex behaviours may require ongoing training.

  • In many cases we’ll begin by working with each dog individually.

    Training dogs separately at first allows us to build clear communication and focus without the distraction of the other dog. Once each dog understands the behaviours we’re working on, we can then start practicing with them together.

    This approach usually leads to faster progress and clearer results for multi-dog households.

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