Auckland's Certified Dog Trainer, Central & West
A CALMER DOG
A HAPPIER LIFE
I can help
Force-free training for puppies, reactivity, barking, recall and calm behaviour.
Helping dogs and their people learn together.
Fear free, science and play-based training for all breeds and ages, so you can enjoy life with your dog.
Dog reactivity, Puppy training, Loose lead walking
Recall training, Calm behaviour at home, Enrichment for dogs, Overexcited dogs, Barking at visitors
HOW IT WORKS
SIMPLE STEPS TO A CALMER DOG
A free phone chat, no judgement, just curiosity about your dog and what you're experiencing.
Sessions tailored to your dog, using play, enrichment, and positive reinforcement.
Practical skills that keep working long after sessions end, for a calmer, more enjoyable life together.
WHAT CUSTOMERS SAY
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Merran taught us step by step how to grow Diesel's confidence and calm his reactive behaviours.
Lauren & Diesel
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She gave us strategies we could immediately apply and took real time to get to know us and our dog.
Sandy & Alf
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Awhi now walks calmly on lead and has excellent recall. I highly recommend Merran to any dog owner.
Sarah & Awhi
WHY TRAIN WITH US
THE WAY WE WORK
The Dog Behaviour Academy is an Auckland-based dog training and behaviour service founded by Merran Spath, certified dog trainer, canine behaviour professional. We provide force-free, science-based dog training focused on practical skills, calm behaviour, engagement, resilience and improving the relationship between dogs and their owners.
This website is designed as both a dog training service and a free learning resource for dog owners in New Zealand. You’ll find over 130 weekly newsletter editions (2024–2026), in-depth articles on barking, reactivity, puppy development, settling, enrichment, play, focus, loose lead walking and dog welfare, along with practical behaviour advice and training support.
Resources available across the site include:
New content is added regularly at The Dog Behaviour Academy.