Ready To Transform Your Relationship with Your Dog?
At The Well-Mannered Mutt, we believe that every dog deserves the opportunity to live life to the fullest — with as much freedom, enrichment and enjoyment as possible. Whether you're welcoming a brand-new puppy, navigating adolescence, or supporting a dog with behavioural concerns, we're here to guide you every step of the way.
Click the links below or scroll down for more information or to book a session.
List of Services
Private Puppy Training
Give Your Puppy The Best Possible Start
• Puppy biting, mouthing and bite inhibition
• Toilet training and establishing good routines
• Lead skills and loose lead walking
• Jumping and over-excitement
• Building engagement and focus
• Developing calmness and impulse control
• Appropriate socialisation and environmental exposure
• Building confidence around people, dogs, sounds and new experiences
• Recall and everyday obedience foundations
• Handling, grooming and cooperative care
• Play, enrichment and appropriate outlets for natural puppy behaviours
• Creating structure, boundaries and good habits at home
Session Booking Options
Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, rewarding — and sometimes a little overwhelming! Our Puppy Foundations training is designed to give you the knowledge, practical skills and support you need to raise a calm, confident and well-mannered dog from the very beginning.
The first months of your puppy’s life provide an important opportunity to establish good habits, build confidence and introduce the skills they will need to successfully navigate everyday life.
At The Well-Mannered Mutt, puppy training is about much more than teaching sit, drop and stay. We help you understand how your puppy learns, how to communicate clearly with them and how to balance training, boundaries, play, socialisation and enrichment.
Rather than simply dealing with unwanted behaviours as they appear, we focus on building strong foundations early — helping prevent many common puppy problems from becoming established habits.
Good puppy training isn't about creating the perfect puppy. It's about giving your puppy the skills and experiences they need to grow into a confident, capable and enjoyable companion.
We’ll also help you understand what normal puppy behaviour is, what may need some additional guidance, and how your own timing, consistency and communication can influence your puppy's learning.
Whether this is your first puppy or it has simply been a long time since you last raised one, Puppy Foundations provides practical, realistic guidance that you can continue using as your puppy grows.
Proudly providing puppy training for families throughout Gawler, Willaston, the Barossa and Northern Adelaide. Start building great habits now — and lay the foundations for a lifetime together.
Private Dog Training
Personalised One-on-One Training for You and Your Dog
• Lead pulling and loose lead walking
• Recall and everyday obedience
• Jumping on people and visitors
• Barking and excessive vocalisation
• Over-excitement and impulse control
• Household manners and settling
• Building engagement and focus
• Confidence building
• Environmental exposure and social skills
• Boundaries and expectations within the home
• Handling and cooperative care
• Enrichment, play and appropriate outlets for natural behaviours
• Creating greater structure and consistency in everyday life
• Barking, lunging and overreaction to everyday triggers
• Difficulty settling and switching off
• Frustration-related behaviours
• Handling concerns and cooperative care foundations
• Building appropriate social skills and neutrality
Session Booking Options
Sometimes a group class isn't the right fit, or you simply need more individual support. Our private dog training sessions provide personalised, one-on-one guidance focused entirely on you, your dog and the challenges you are experiencing.
Whether you have a young dog who needs better manners, an adolescent testing the boundaries, or an adult dog with established habits you'd like to change, private training allows us to look at the whole dog — their behaviour, temperament, environment, lifestyle and individual needs.
At The Well-Mannered Mutt, we recognise that no two dogs — or families — are the same. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, we work with you to understand what is happening, why it may be happening and what practical changes can help. We aim to give you clear, realistic strategies that make sense for your dog and your everyday life.
Private training gives us the opportunity to work at your dog's pace and concentrate on the areas that matter most to you. Just as importantly, we work with you. Dog training isn't only about changing what the dog does — it's also about helping owners understand behaviour, communicate clearly, recognise what their dog is telling them and know what to do when things don't go according to plan.
You'll receive practical guidance that you can continue using between sessions, helping you build consistency and make training part of everyday life rather than something that only happens during a lesson. Our focus is on creating sustainable progress, clearer communication and a stronger relationship between you and your dog.
We also recognise that some behavioural concerns require more specialised intervention. Where a dog's behaviour involves serious aggression, significant safety concerns or needs outside our area of expertise, we will be upfront with you and recommend referral to an appropriately experienced behaviour professional when required.
Our priority will always be ensuring that you and your dog receive the most appropriate support.
Proudly providing private dog training for families throughout Gawler, Willaston, the Barossa and Northern Adelaide.
Let's work together to create a calmer, more confident and well-mannered dog you can enjoy everyday life with.
Your Investment
Initial Consult: $300
Follow-up sessions: $150
K9 Nose Work®
Let Your Dog Discover the Incredible World of Scent
• Build confidence and independence
• Develop focus and problem-solving skills
• Provide valuable mental enrichment
• Give dogs an appropriate outlet for natural hunting and scenting behaviours
• Build resilience in new environments
• Strengthen communication between dog and handler
• Teach handlers to recognise subtle changes in their dog's behaviour
• Provide an activity that dogs and their people can enjoy together
• Be adapted for dogs of different ages, breeds and physical abilities
• Provide a valuable activity for dogs who may find traditional group environments challenging
Learn to Trust Your Dog's Nose!
Session Booking Options
Your dog's nose is extraordinary — and K9 Nose Work® gives them the opportunity to use it in a way that is natural, enriching and incredibly rewarding.
Inspired by professional detection dog training, K9 Nose Work® allows dogs to hunt independently, solve scent problems and develop confidence in their own abilities. Best of all, almost any dog can participate, regardless of breed, age or previous training experience.
At The Well-Mannered Mutt, K9 Nose Work® classes are taught by a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) through the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW), providing structured training based on the principles and methodology of K9 Nose Work®. Why K9 Nose Work®? Nose Work isn't about telling your dog exactly where to go or what to do. Instead, we give them the opportunity to take the lead and use their most powerful sense to independently solve the search.
One of the most rewarding aspects of K9 Nose Work® is learning that your dog knows far more about scent than you do. As your dog learns to search independently, you'll learn how to observe rather than direct. You'll begin recognising subtle changes in breathing, movement, body language and search behaviour that tell you when your dog has encountered scent and is working towards source.
Over time, Nose Work develops a genuine partnership: the dog learns to hunt and solve the scent problem, while the handler learns to read, support and trust the dog. From First Search to Competition Dogs begin by searching for something highly valuable to them — usually food — allowing us to build a strong desire to hunt before introducing target odours. As skills develop, dogs can progress through K9 Nose Work® training from introductory searches to odour, increasingly complex scent problems and the four search elements of Containers, Interiors, Exteriors and Vehicles.
For teams who simply want an enriching activity to enjoy together, there is absolutely no requirement to compete. For those who catch the Nose Work bug and want to take things further, training can also provide a pathway towards competitive scent work and trialling. Whether you're looking for a new activity, greater enrichment for your dog, a way to build confidence or the foundations for competition, K9 Nose Work® offers something for almost every dog. Proudly providing K9 Nose Work® training for dogs and handlers throughout Gawler, Willaston, the Barossa and Northern Adelaide. Give your dog the freedom to search, problem-solve and show you just how incredible their nose really is.
Private Slatmill Fitness Training
Supporting Strength, Fitness, Mobility & Canine Wellbeing
Slatmill work can provide:
• Cardiovascular conditioning
• Stamina and endurance building
• A structured physical outlet
• Fitness support for active and high-energy dogs
• An additional form of exercise alongside walks, training and enrichment
Session Booking Options
Keeping your dog physically fit is an important part of their overall health and wellbeing. Our Dog Fitness services provide structured, purposeful exercise designed to support strength, mobility, cardiovascular fitness, body awareness and quality of life.
Whether you have an active dog needing additional conditioning, a senior dog who benefits from gentle low-impact exercise, or a dog returning to activity following injury, sessions can be tailored to suit your dog's individual needs and abilities.
At The Well-Mannered Mutt, we look beyond simply tiring a dog out. Appropriate physical exercise can help dogs develop strength, coordination, balance, confidence and greater body awareness, while providing a valuable outlet for physical energy.
Canine Fitness & Conditioning
Good canine fitness involves much more than running or walking. Structured conditioning exercises can help develop core strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, proprioception and body awareness.
Sessions may incorporate a variety of exercises and equipment selected according to your dog's ability and training goals.
This can be particularly valuable for active and sporting dogs, older dogs, dogs needing improved body awareness, or simply owners wanting to incorporate more purposeful physical activity into their dog's life.
Slatmill Conditioning
We also offer Slatmill conditioning sessions in Willaston, providing dogs with a structured opportunity for cardiovascular exercise and physical conditioning.
Because the Slatmill is dog-powered, the dog controls the movement rather than being required to keep pace with a motorised belt. Sessions are introduced gradually and tailored to the individual dog.
Physical and behavioural wellbeing are closely connected. Appropriate exercise and conditioning can be an important part of a dog's overall lifestyle, alongside training, mental enrichment, rest, play, and opportunities to engage in natural behaviours.
Our goal is not simply to make dogs tired, but to help them become stronger, fitter, more capable and physically confident.
Every session is adapted to the individual dog, taking into consideration their age, fitness level, physical ability, temperament and relevant medical history. Where a dog is recovering from injury, surgery or has an existing medical condition, veterinary clearance or guidance may be required before commencing.
Proudly providing canine fitness and conditioning services for dogs throughout Gawler, Willaston, the Barossa and Northern Adelaide.
Build strength. Support mobility. Improve fitness. Help your dog feel their best.
Canine Hoopers Class - Elizabeth Downs
A Fun, Low-Impact Dog Sport for Dogs & Handlers
You'll work on skills such as:
• Hoop value and confidently driving through hoops
• Tunnel skills
• Barrel turns
• Directional cues
• Handler positioning and movement
• Front and rear crosses
• Building distance from the handler
• Connecting obstacles into short sequences
• Developing smooth, flowing lines
• Progressing towards complete Hoopers courses
Everything is introduced progressively, giving both dog and handler time to understand each skill before increasing the challenge.
Session Booking Options
Looking for something fun and different to do with your dog? Canine Hoopers is an exciting, flowing dog sport that combines training, teamwork, movement and plenty of fun — without the jumping and tight turns associated with traditional agility.
Our Canine Hoopers classes at Elizabeth Downs introduce dogs and handlers to courses incorporating hoops, short tunnels, barrels and gates. Dogs learn to navigate these obstacles while handlers develop the skills to guide them increasingly from a distance.
With its emphasis on “always through, never over,” Hoopers is designed to be a lower-impact activity that can be enjoyed by a wide variety of dogs and handlers. At The Well-Mannered Mutt, classes are taught by a Certified Canine Hoopers Instructor and are designed to progressively develop your dog's skills, confidence and understanding while building a stronger working partnership between you.
Hoopers Without the High Impact Unlike agility, Hoopers doesn't involve jumps, weave poles or equipment requiring dogs to climb or balance at height. Courses are designed around smooth, flowing lines, with dogs moving through ground-level hoops, tunnels and around barrels. This makes Hoopers an appealing option for owners looking for a dog sport with less physical impact.
And there's another bonus — the handler doesn't need to run the course with the dog! As your skills progress, you'll learn how your positioning, movement and cues can communicate where your dog needs to go, allowing you to gradually develop greater distance between you and your dog. You don't need any previous dog sport experience to discover Hoopers.
Whether you're looking for a new activity, an additional outlet for an active dog, a way to improve your handling skills, or simply something enjoyable to do together, Canine Hoopers offers a fantastic combination of training, enrichment and teamwork. You also don't need to have aspirations of competing. Hoopers can simply be a great way to spend time with your dog, learn new skills and have fun together. Our Canine Hoopers classes are held at Elizabeth Downs, conveniently located for dog owners throughout Gawler, Elizabeth, Salisbury and Adelaide's northern suburbs. Build confidence. Develop teamwork. Learn new skills. And most importantly — have fun with your dog!