Mark Singer

I have had an immense love of dogs for my entire life. My professional career with dogs began back in 1980 when I enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a Police Dog Handler. For twelve years I served with the RAAF as a:

Specialist Police Dog Handler & Trainer
Specialist Drug Detector Dog Handler & Trainer.

I served on Defence Bases throughout Australia, with an attachment to Malaysia as a Specialist Military Dog Handler and Trainer. As a RAAF Drug Detector Handler/Trainer I was NCO In Charge of Drug Detection Dog Section at RAAF Darwin for the RAAF Police Special Investigations Branch. During my time working with drug detection dogs in the RAAF I assisted not only to combat illegal drug use within the Defence Forces, but was also used extensively by:

Australian Customs;
Australian Federal Police; and
Northern Territory Police

After discharging from the RAAF I was employed by Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) and was involved in the Quarantine Detector Dog Program (Beagle Brigade). After leaving Australian Quarantine, I commenced a successful small dog training business in Townsville before eventually setting up permanently in Adelaide in 2000.

There is obviously a big difference between training highly specialised police dogs, and helping companion pet dog owners. My behaviour modification methods are based on your dogs natural instincts, using dog and human friendly methods that your dog understands.

My specialty now

My main focus now is dog behaviour modification and dog rehabilitation. I focus on understanding why a particular behaviour developed, by talking with the clients, and getting a full history of the dog. I then observe the dog in its environment, or where the behaviour manifests, and  the interaction between the owners and the dog. Once I get an understanding of why the unwanted behaviour developed, and continues, I then put the owners on a course of action to modify their dogs behaviour. This does not necessarily include obedience training.

I have been working with dogs professionally for over 30 years. During this time my views and beliefs on dog behaviour and training have changed immensely. The more I have worked with dogs over the past 31 years the more I have come to realise that there is so much more to dog behaviour than training and  dominance.

The most important thing we can learn about our dogs, is being able to read body language correctly, and therefore understanding their current state of mind. I have found that 'most' behaviour problems develop due to owners inadvertently rewarding or reinforcing attention seeking behaviour, assertive behaviour and unknowingly creating anxiety in their dogs.

When people understand their dogs and can read them better, then we can work on developing the right relationship, and maintaining a well balanced dog, and owner and dog relationship.

I have dedicated my working life to professional dog training and behaviour. My love of dogs and dog training is second to none...