DOG TRAINER
Because FREAKING AWESOME isn’t an official job title.
We focus on creating happy dogs that can adapt to your life as much as possible. We teach you how to harness your dog’s potential so that they can be the best dog they can be. We help you understand why dogs behave in certain ways and how to set them up for success in difficult situations.
We train puppies from 9 weeks of age up to adult dogs. We teach in a group setting or one on one setting depending on what your needs and your dogs’ needs are. Everything we do is to prioritise your dog and your dogs happiness. We focus on making training fun so that learning for all parties is easier. All of our classes consist of practical and theory work.
What Drives Us
Our Mission
The reason I started Bark Vader Dog School is to help educate people about humane and science-based training in a very unregulated industry. Anything and everything can be done without using intimidation, fear and punishment when it comes to training any behaviour.
EACH trainer and behaviourist at our school is accredited and force-free.
We believe in creating happy dogs, teaching them how to make good decisions and how to adapt to living with humans. We teach humans a lot about dogs, how they think, why they do certain things and how to raise your dog to be the best dog they can be.
We are growing the school and will be continually adding courses, classes and syllabuses so that we can always stay up to date with the latest science based methods of training and behaviour and help you in the best way possible. We also prioritise fun and make sure that humans and dogs learn in a fun and positive environment. Training is supposed to enhance the bond between you and your dog, not break it.
meet our jedis
Our TEAM
MICHAELA LENDOWSKY
FOUNDER
QUALIFICATIONS:
- PetSense College Canine Behaviour and Training Diploma (with merit)
- Canine Principles – Canine Predation Substitute training
- Detector Dog UK – Scent work instructor
- COAPE Diploma, MHERA Qualified (DipCABT) C.C.A.B (with distinction)
- K9 Yoga Instructor
CURRENTLY COMPLETING:
- Advanced Scent work course through Canine Principles
- K9 Hoopers Instructor Course
- Canine Nutrition through ISCP
- Canine Certified Enrichment Technician
“I have always been the person at the party who finds and plays with the dog who is there. Dogs have always made me light up in a way that nothing else has. Throughout life I believed that you need to follow your passion so that you can enjoy the work you do that much that it isn’t really work, and luckily enough for me, I followed the dogs.
Titan came into my life eight years ago and changed it forever. It was him that made me realize how amazing and intelligent dogs are, but also how forceful and harsh the dog training world is. I believed there had to be a better way of training dogs than through punishment, intimidation and fear and I went and studied through an accredited college. Years later and I have actually trained over 1000 dogs and I have learnt something from every single dog I have taught. I have learnt that you can teach a dog anything and everything through force free training and I hope I can teach as many people about it.
Siggy, was my beautiful female English Bulldog who was deaf. She taught me so much about how to handle and train deaf dogs. They are capable of just as much as normal dogs and really ignited a passion in me for working with special needs dogs.
Wagyu is my male English Bulldog who has a very big zest for life. He is the definition of “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” because he is the opposite of what anyone expects a bulldog to be. He is currently in training to be my medic alert service dog, and learning that side of dog training has been great for me to learn. Because of him, I also help Paws 4 Life, by assisting them with training their service dogs in the Pretoria area.
When it comes to dogs, you will never stop learning, so I will just keep on doing them justice and better myself constantly by continuing studying.”
TANYA CROUS
QUALIFICATION:
- Dog Behaviour & Training Pet Sense College
“I’ve always loved animals. As a child we had dogs and I would spend most afternoons out in the garden with them. I had a few years as an adult without dogs and I always felt something missing.
Now I have more than made up for it with 5 dogs, 4 cats (and 3 kids) at home 🙂 But one dog in particular, Moose, my frenchie, walked into my life and changed it completely. He has taught me so much and challenged me along the way, but he is the dog that made me change my life and study Dog Behaviour and Training through Pet Sense College.
I am also learning how to show dogs, where I have my newest additions Floki and Gypsy, challenging me in different ways. I hope that by educating people we can reduce the amount of dogs that are “put in their place” and instead have more people experiencing the wonderful and special bond that can be achieved with positive reinforcement and force-free training.”
LIZELLE Britz-chapman
QUALIFICATIONS:
- COAPE Animal Behaviour (CO2 & Diploma)
- MHERA Qualified
- Parrot Behaviour
- Foundation Training in Agility;
- Practical handling in Agility;
- Steve Mann Scent Work Training;
- Steve Mann Companion Bonding Course;
- LLB (UP) & Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa;
- Mphil Fraud & Risk Management (UP);
- Diploma in Digital Innovation (UP);
- Associate of Certified Fraud Examiners.
I have always had a love for all animals, and I have more than 10 years’ experience in the professional field of animal training and behaviour. Whilst completing my LLB, I simultaneously completed my Dog Training certification with ThinkingPets. I am a qualified COAPE Behaviourist, passing the both my CO2 and Diploma with merit. I have also completed my Diploma in Parrot Behaviour Studies, focusing on the rehabilitation, enrichment and education of parrots and their owners. I have served on various committees, such as the Animal Behaviour Consultants of South Africa, CAPBT and serve as a non-executive Director or team member on various welfare organisations.
My goal is to educate people on the relationship we can build with any companion animal, and helping them achieve this goal, without the fear of failing.”