Who this is for
The PACE Intensive is for people who work with dogs, plan to, or are seriously curious about what it would take. Past students fall into one of five groups:
- Working dog trainers who want a method to anchor their practice in, not another generic certification.
- Career changers moving into dog training from another field. Often vet techs, vet nurses, or related professional work.
- Aspiring trainers without prior credentials but with serious intent. About a third of past students.
- Dog professionals (groomers, daycare staff, dog walkers) who want to train as well.
- Dog enthusiasts who've been through their own training journey with their dog and want to go deeper. Some end up running sessions on the side.
Why the cross-industry background matters
Most trainer education is built around domestic dogs. That is not the only way to learn. I came up through zoo work, wildlife reserves, and assistance dog programs. The animals you cannot manage by force teach you everything that gets watered down in pet training. By the time I started working with pet dogs, I was already used to thinking about regulation first and behaviour second.
Add Vet Science (how the body works) and Early Childhood Education (how a developing brain regulates), and you get a lens that very few trainers in Australia have. That is what the intensive transfers.
What you learn
The framework I teach is PACE: PLAY, ANCHOR, CALM, EXPLORE. It is the structure I use to organise a dog's day so that good behaviour falls out of the routine rather than being commanded into existence. Each mode has a clear expectation, a clear cue, and a clear boundary. The modes hold. They do not shift based on how the dog is behaving or how the handler is feeling.
On top of PACE: body language reading at the level you need for behaviour cases, the waterline model for arousal, the cycles framework that replaces walks for reactive dogs, and the handler-side bottlenecks that produce most "my dog isn't listening" complaints.
How the program runs
Part 1 · Theory ($1,500, online, six sessions)
Six live group sessions over six weeks. Each session is two hours, delivered online to the cohort. Recordings are made available for catch-up but are not on-sold.
Covers: types of dog training and learning theory, body language reading, equipment selection and use, behavioural needs across life stages, the PACE framework in detail, and session structure for in-home work.
Required before Part 2.
Part 2 · Shadowing in Melbourne ($2,200, in person, eight sessions)
Eight sessions in Melbourne. You sit in on real client work, in pairs where the case suits it. Cases range from puppy work to reactivity to off-leash transitions. You watch the consultation, the body language reading, the timing, and the handover to the owner. We debrief after each session.
International students travel for Part 2. Past cohorts have included students from New Zealand and the UK.
Bundle ($3,500, Parts 1 + 2 together)
Both parts together, with a $200 saving on the separate-part price. Payment plans are available, email happydogs@dionathetrainer.com to arrange.
Hand-holding add-on
Optional 1-on-1 coaching with me, available during or after the intensive. Sold as a 4-hour pack for $1,000. Useful if you want to talk through your own client cases between cohort sessions.
What the work looks like, week to week
- Live group theory sessions, weekly for six weeks
- Cohort WhatsApp group for questions and case discussions throughout the program
- In-person shadowing at my Melbourne client sessions across the cohort window
- Post-session debriefs after each shadow
- A final group session at the end of the cohort to debrief the whole program
Outcomes
Past graduates of the older 1-on-1 mentorship version of this program have:
- Started their own dog training businesses (Paws With Purpose, Mary Puppins Brisbane, The Daily Dog Trainer, Mindfulness Dog Training, Golden Dog Training)
- Specialised in reactivity work after years of generic pet training
- Refreshed their knowledge after time away from professional training
- Built referral relationships with local vets they did not have before
Application and selection
The cohort is application-based. Small group. I read every application personally. Shortlisted applicants get a 15-minute call. Selection is on fit, not first-come-first-served.
The next cohort is aimed to start at the end of July. Register your interest below and I'll let you know personally when applications open — you'll hear before it goes public.