Clever Canines Teaching Manners to Taranaki

There is a new business in Taranaki; one that many people will be pleased to see.

Owner and operator of Clever Canines Meren Roberts says, “no one-on-one dog trainers concentrate on the Taranaki area. As a result, there a plenty of dogs in the area with almost no manners.”

In an effort to correct the ill-mannered antics of Taranaki’s dogs, Meren has started her business, concentrating on the first few years of a dog’s life. “Initially I want to consult with people before they choose their puppy. A lot depends on the fit with breed type, the personalities involved, and the environment the dog will be expected to live in.”

Meren will then be able to help struggling puppy owners to train the dog to behave itself in a variety of situations, in private and in public. “I work with the owner and the dog at their house, in their environment. A lot of what I do is really training the owner to train the dog. It takes patience from everyone, but the results are always worth it.”

Using only positive training methods, Meren has already achieved great results. “I’m a trained vet nurse, so I’ve got a good understanding of the physical needs of animals. I’ve also spent the last few years training dogs for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, based just out of New Plymouth. I competed in agility with my first dog when I was younger, and my new puppy looks like a bright spark as well.”

Rather than being called upon to fix problem behaviour, Meren hopes that dog owners will realise the benefits of teaching good dog manners from a young age, to avoid problems as the dog grows. “There are many small but important things that you can do as an owner to ensure your puppy grows into a happy, healthy and polite dog. I’d be pleased to show you.”

Meren can be contacted on (06) 7567698, 021 2537316 or online at www.clevercanines.co.nz