Our Contributors

Joanne Halliwell — founder of Urbandogz Pet Dog Training and a graduate in 2006 of the Delta Society's Canine Good Citizens Instructors' Course, Certificate IV. She has been involved in dog training as a training instructor since 2000 and operated Urbandogz Pet Dog Training from 2004-2010. Joanne has had a long association with dogs, showing cocker spaniels in her youth and working for a period of time in boarding kennels in Victoria. She has in recent years been involved with the Dogs' Homes of Tasmania, providing training to people adopting dogs, and to staff managing dogs for adoption. She has had the pleasure of raising several dogs in her adult life, her current canine companion, Max, shares her home with her and husband, Bill. She has a full-time job as a team manager.

Samantha Morris — a graduate in 2004 of the Delta Society's Canine Good Citizens Instructors' Course, Certificate IV. Sam is a qualified veterinary nurse and the State assessor for the Delta Pet Partners programme. She has been working with animals of all types for the past 14 years and has worked in the area of animal management for local government since 1998. She is currently the only Education Officer for Animal Management  in the State of Tasmania. Sam is a regular presenter on ABC radio, 'Talking Dogs', an active member of the Animal Management Officers Association in Tasmania developing policy and best procedures for this group of professionals, and a member of the Australian Institute of Animal Management, looking at issues on at a national level. She is currently studying part time for her Bachelor of Education.  Her canine companion, Sidney, is part of her family which includes cat, Hooper.

Kim Robertson — a graduate in 2006 of the Delta Society's Canine Good Citizens Instructors' Course, Certificate IV. Kim is a full-time behavioural trainer and has 16 years of experience as a trainer, in a private capacity as well as in the dog shelter environment. She has worked closely with the RSPCA and Dogs' Homes of Tasmania in the areas of behavioural assessments and ran a successful puppy group for many years with a local veterinary surgery. Kim runs her own small business as a behavioural counsellor and trainer, Paws N People Positive Dog Training, and she shares her home with her two young children, canine companion, Kayla, two cats, two rats, chickens and several goldfish. 

All the trainers are members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia and the Professional Dog Trainers Association of Australia, and undertake continuous learning and seminars. In the past we have attended:

• 2 day seminars with Ian Dunbar
• 3 day conference with Suzanne Hetz and Debbie Calnon
• 3 day conference with Sue Sternberg and Kerrie Haynes-Lovell
• 3 day conference with Pat Miller
• 3 day workshop with Terry Ryan
• 3 day conference with Nicole Wilde
• 3 day conference with Pamela Dennison, Jennifer Messer & Roger Abrantes
• 3 day conference with Sarah Kalnajs and Dr Pamela Reid