SPEAKERS | Activity Dogs

All Seminars are conducted in private conference rooms, restricted to Dog Lovers Cruise members only.

International Dog Trainer

Recognised Leader in Scent Detection

Passionate About Dogs for Conservation

Professional Mentor

Steve’s accomplishments over 40 years are numerous and wide ranging, from

winning the Sydney Royal Easter Show Dog Obedience section (Utility Dog Class);

gaining Australian Obedience Champion title, Field Trial Champion titles and

Australian (breed) Championship title; to being a part of the historical rabbit eradication programme on world-heritage, Macquarie Island. To get a picture of just how successful he has been, have a look at the following list of some of his many achievements.

Steve is often invited to lecture and help law enforcement agencies, conservation organisations, canine welfare organisations, dog training groups and zoos around the world.

He is in high demand for consultations, presentations both in Australia and overseas, provision of fully trained detection dogs on a huge range of target odours and so much more.

STEVE’S FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:

CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed)
CCPDT (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, New York, USA) Board Member
Certificate IV in Workplace Learning and Assessment
Certificate III Dog Behaviour
Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services
Licensed Judge under the Australian National Kennel Control (ANKC) in both Field Trials and Gun Dog Obedience Tests
Holds A & B class NSW Gun License.
Firearms Safety Trainer (Department of Primary Industries NSW)
Canine Temperament Assessor (Department of Local Government, NSW)
Canine Certifying Official (California Narcotic and Explosive Detector Dog Association)

Steve Austin CPDT-KA

Vicki Austin CPDT-KA

Dog Training and Behaviour

Industry Educator

Passionate About Understanding Dogs

Better Puppy Raising

Vicki’s experience ranges from achieving the title of Australian Obedience Champion (AOC) when it

included tracking titles; being a full-panel Obedience Judge; training birds and presenting the

Free-Flight Bird Show at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo; training dogs and handlers in various scent detection

applications; obedience and trick training classes; success in canine behaviour modification

consultations; and perhaps most importantly, Puppy Class Instructing.

During her extensive experience in providing behavioural consultations, Vicki became concerned that

many behavioural issues in her clients’ dogs could be traced back to poor experiences or advice

provided in puppy classes. It was this concern that motivated Vicki to provide specific education in instructing puppy classes with the aim of reducing the numbers of pet dogs being surrendered. It is during the critical or sensitive developmental phases of puppies that the greatest effects can be achieved in improving the quality of life of the dog and its family. The Puppy Class Instructors’ Course (PCI) is a must for anyone involved with puppies, whether or not you’ll be actually instructing puppy classes.

VICKI’S FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:

CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed) - CCPDT (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, New York, USA)
Certificate IV in Workplace Learning and Assessment
Certificate III Dog Behaviour
Certificate IV Substance Detection
Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services

Ryan Tate

Published author

Dog Training and Animal Behaviour

Canines for Conservation & Biosecurity

Zoo Keeper

Ryan is a highly accomplished animal trainer who has worked professionally with species from leopard

seals to zebra finches. The majority of Ryan’s time is spent training biosecurity and conservation dogs

to preserve our environment. Ryan is also an animal behaviour consultant to various zoos and

agencies around Australia. Ryan holds qualifications in dog training, zoo keeping and marine science

and has accomplished several world firsts and a world record with his dogs.

Dr. Xavier Schneider

BIT BLM(dist)

BVSc(hons)

MANZCVS (Animal Reproduction) Dip ACT

Registered Specialist in Theriogenology

(Reproduction) Canine,

Equine and Bovine reproduction,

medicine and surgery.

Xavier graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Queensland and began his veterinary career

working in mixed practice in Northern Australia focusing on Equine and Bovine Reproduction.

On returning to Brisbane, he completed a rotating internship in Equine surgery, medicine and

reproduction at The University of Queensland Equine Specialist Hospital. Xavier completed a residency in Theriogenology and is a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists, a Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists and a Registered Specialist in Reproduction at Queensland Veterinary Specialists. Xavier is also a lecturer with the Faculty of Science at The University of Queensland.

Xavier has a clinical interest in canine, equine and bovine reproduction,

Kaye McGhie

(B.Bus) National Breeder Services Manager

with Mars Petcare.

International Conformation Judge

Breeder & Exhibitor

Lecturer: Companion Animal Nutrition

Certificates in Animal Behaviour & Welfare

Dog Cognition & Emotion

Kaye is the National Breeder Services Manager with Mars Petcare.
She holds a Bachelor of Business (B.Bus) through QUT and also holds Certificates in Animal Behaviour & Welfare through University of Edinburgh, and Dog Cognition and Emotion through Duke University in the USA.
Kaye worked in the Veterinary channel for Mars Petcare as Veterinary Business Development Manager for 12 years and took up the national Breeder Services role with Mars in early 2022. This role allows her to interact and advise breeders all across Australia, and to really make a difference to the health and wellbeing of dogs throughout the country.
She is a passionate dog lover, breeder and exhibitor. An International All Breeds Championship Judge, her own breed specialties are English Springer Spaniels and Papillons, however she also has a Jack Russell Terrier. She has handled to over 150 BIS awards and judged in Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Japan, Singapore, China, South Africa, Taiwan & The Philippines.
A firm believer that education is invaluable, she is a Guest Lecturer on canine & feline nutrition at the University of QLD Veterinary School and across several TAFE facilities in QLD. Kaye frequently lectures at conferences and canine events across a range of topics, and was for many years a co-ordinator in the Dogs Queensland Judges Training Scheme.

Dr Hannah Schneider

BVSc (Hons) DipACVIM
Internal Medicine Specialist

Board Certified in Internal Medicine

Dr Schneider graduated from The University of Queensland in 2011 with Honours.

She was granted several awards, including for clinical excellence and surgery.

In 2012, she completed a rotating internship at Queensland Veterinary Specialists and

Pet Emergency, where her interest in internal medicine developed.

In 2013, she commenced a residency in small animal internal medicine at

@louisiana.state.university, completing the residency and passing her board examination in 2016.

She then returned to @queenslandvetspecialists in Queensland as part of their internal medicine

team.

Dr Schneider has had multiple articles published on the subjects of endocrinology and infectious disease. She has also published several textbook chapters and presented at the @the_acvim American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) forum on her research on short acting insulin analogues.

Dr Schneider enjoys all aspects of internal medicine, with a special interest in endocrinology, infectious diseases and critical care medicine.

Amy Smith

Certificate IV Dog Training & Behaviour NDTF

Software Developer of - Sound Proof Puppy Training App

Amy has been teaching Puppy Classes for over 14 years.

Amy's Training Philosophy

Always try to set your puppy up for success. Avoid failures.

My technique is a combination of rewarding correct behaviour and preventing undesired behaviors

from being successful or rewarding in any way. We promote management, and crate training as

soon as your puppy arrives home. If you can get it right in the first 48 hours you will prevent many

behavioural issues.

Founder of The Sound Hound - Dog Behaviour & Training

Libby has spent many years as Kennel Manager and Trainer for Dog Rescue giving her a wealth

of experience working with difficult behaviours including timid, fearful, aggressive and reactive dogs

within the shelter and in adoptive homes.

Libby runs puppy classes at VetHQ, Double Bay, Riverview Animal Hospital, Bilgola Vet as well as

providing private behavioural training and adolescent classes for Allambie Vet and other venues

around Sydney. Libby also trains. and handles dogs on set for TV and trains truffle detection dogs

for the Australian Truffle industry.

Libby has qualifications in dog behaviour, scent dectection and puppy class instruction. She

considers puppy classes to be a major factor in keeping dogs out of shelters and is passionate

about helping new puppy owners get started on the path that will prevent future problems for both

owner and dog. She has seen first hand the damage that ill-informed trainers and those with poor understanding of dog behaviour can cause and actively educates the dog owning community on the pitfalls of many methods advised both on the internet and on television by self styled dog behaviour experts.

Libby is committed to further education and continually updates her knowledge by reading and researching, using human methods and the latest science based training methods, through fun for the dogs, so they love it.

Libby understands how difficult is can be to have a dog with issues and is careful about creating custom training programs that are realistic and fit in with your daily life, so that you can achieve success.

Libby Young (Angyal)

Karen Sadler

As one of NZ's most successful obedience competitors, instructors and animal trainers,

Karen Sadler's achievements include a long list of New Zealand titles gained with her own dogs in

many dog sports.

Karen is director of Agrade Animals Action Limited, which provides training for domestic dogs,

competitive dogs sports, and trains a range of animals for film and television.

Karen's work has featured in well-known commercials such as the Roly (Purex), Wiska's Cat,

Dulux paint as well as Film and TV credits, shortland Street, Bridge to Terabithia, and Whale Rider

plus many more.

Karen's training methods have been widely tested around New Zealand and in Australia,

Adding to her vast practical experience, Karen has complete The Principal of Canine Behaviour

through Massey University to gain an even greater understanding of the way dogs think and learn.

Dip Animal Technology

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

From a young age Di has been deeply passionate about caring for animals, weather looking after the

neighbours' dog at 5, picking up every stray in the neighbourhood or begging her parents for just

one more budgie!

Throughout her career in the Animal Care and Management industry, Di has had the privilege of

teaching various animal-related topics at the Australian National University (ANU) where her desire

and skill to share knowledge was further developed

After retiring from her role at ANU, Di engaged in a rewarding opportunity at St John Ambulance (ACT)

where she developed and presented their Pet First Aid Program. It has been incredibly fulfilling

for her to share her knowledge and empower pet owners to care for their furry friends.

In addition to her professional experiences, Di thoroughly enjoys participating in various dog-related activities. Di instructs at puppy school, officiates for dog clubs, and judges Championship shows. Di also breeds and exhibit her cherished Chows and Shar Pei.

Di Gooding

There are 28 x 90 minute presentations, 6 x 60 minutes presentations presented by the above speakers on their topics of expertise.

During the 4 days of cruising you will be able to choose up to 17 presentations you wish to attend.