Trainers

All of the Southern Cross Animal Star trainers have extensive experience in training animals for many different applications. Each trainer is selected for their great ability to communicate and pass on the necessary information to you, the pet owner. The trainers pride themselves on their knowledge and practical experience, being able to demonstrate and work with your pet, while making you feel comfortable.

In addition to the academic degrees in science, our trainers have also completed a nationally accredited dog trainer course, the Certificate III in Dog Behaviour and Training. Further to this course the trainers have also completed the Canine Behaviour Specialist Course with the National Dog Trainers Federation. These courses have furthered their animal psychology and behaviour knowledge and have enabled them to apply modification techniques to assist animals and their owners in today’s busy world.

As a trainer, it is important to be able to work with the animals and their owners. All of the selected trainers train animals on three different levels:

training the animals one-on-one
training / educating the pet owners
training / educating the trainers (both practical and theory workshops)

All of the trainers instruct:

obedience training techniques
agility and obstacle course training
trick training

The trainers have plenty of experience conducting training in the following ways:

private lessons
group lessons at obedience clubs (puppies, beginners to advanced levels)
puppy pre-school classes at veterinary clinics
socialisation / habituation classes for puppies and adult dogs
behaviour consultations

Introducing Head Trainer - Julija Kinghorn BSc (Hons)

I have always wanted a career working with animals. I have grown up with pets galore (I think the count at one stage exceeded 50!), including dogs, cats, birds, rats, rabbits, ferrets. I wanted to do more than just keep pets… It was then that I decided to learn about and study animal behaviour.

I have completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours at Melbourne University, majoring in Animal Behaviour and Zoology. My Honours project involved working with the Little Penguins at Phillip Island, studying their marine ecology. I have worked at Melbourne Aquarium, doing public presentations about the animals and their exhibits, including feeding and handling demonstrations of rays and sharks. I have also done many hours of work at Healesville Sanctuary and Melbourne Zoo, learning about some of our more exotic animals.

I have been training animals at a professional level for over 6 years now, and have enjoyed every minute of it. I currently have three dogs; and each has taught me so much. Nellie was my first dog and is 18 this year, a Border Collie X Kelpie; Snoopy is a 5 year old Beagle and Flick is a 2 year old Border Collie. Each have or are being trained in some or all of the following: obedience, agility trialling, and tricks for demonstrations. Flick has also done some TV work, featuring as a main star in a short film for the Sydney Film Festival.

I also provide a home-away-from-home for young Archie, Dr Katrina Warren's new puppy Border Collie. We're having fun training obedience and tricks to him too. Archie and Flick have lots of fun together, getting up to all kind of mischief!!!

Flick and Archie

Call Southern Cross Animal Stars on: 0431 837 193

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