Animals have been the centre of my life for as long as I can remember. As a child, I spent every free moment observing animals, learning everything I could about them, and (often to the annoyance of adults) sharing random facts about the rarest species I could find. I was lucky enough to be born into a home where a dog was already part of the family, and I’ve never lived without dogs since. I grew up with a variety of pets in my home and over the years, I’ve cared for many animals from rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, and chinchillas to reptiles, fish, birds and more.

When I was 12 years old, I walked into a pet shop and asked if I could help out on Saturdays. To my surprise, they said yes and I ended up going there every Saturday for a number of years, gaining hands-on experience with all kinds of animals.

All of that growing up around animals has led me to work in various roles across the animal care sector, including in pet shops, veterinary clinics, as a pet sitter and more.

My Dog Training Journey

I started training dogs over 10 years ago and while I have gained a lot of knowledge in this time, I continue to learn every day and believe that we never stop learning. I’ve studied with various organizations, and continue to do so, such as the Nordic Education Centre For Ethical Dog Training, the School of Canine Science, Galen Myotherapy, the Polish Academy of Holistic Herbal Healing and Aromatherapy for Animals by Psiaki w Zen and other courses and studies. I also hold a qualification in Animal Care and am a certified veterinary assistant.

I’m deeply passionate about animal welfare, and what drove me to pursue dog behaviour and holistic animal care full time was the frustration I felt seeing a lack of real understanding, even from highly certified professionals. For example... I once took a course taught by a vet who gave information that would have been dangerous to the health of chinchillas. I also worked with a vet who didn’t understand basic canine body language and told owners they needed to “dominate” their dogs or smack them on the nose. I’ve worked in multiple environments like vet clinics and pet shops where animals were clearly not liked or respected, seeing them bought from overseas "mass producer" breeders who bred animals for money and then sent them on a stressful journey across the sea just so that they could be mishandled and sold in pet shops with too small cages and uncomfortable, dangerous bedding and food.

What really upset me, though, was seeing how many people in Ireland seemingly advocate for animal welfare, yet continue to focus more on community and events than actually taking into account the comfort of animals. For example, people who claim to be passionate about dogs and their welfare, but organizing dog shows at agricultural events where people bring their own pet dog and there is suddenly 15-30 dogs, overwhelmed and stressed, panting away and offering signals saying "I'm stressed" while the organizers stand there going, "Aww! Look at how happy he is!"

Increasingly worrying about the future of animal welfare in Ireland - which is already at a crisis - I decided to plunge into this full-time, with my goal being to help animals feel comfortable and happy.

All of this pushed me to build something different: a practice based on compassion, science-based care, and a commitment to understanding the emotional and physical needs of all animals. I have special interests in animal enrichment, holistic health, pain in dogs, phytotherapy, and working with sensitive or fearful animals.

While I discourage bringing pets to public events where animals are present, I understand that many people enjoy the social aspect of such events. With this in mind, I created the Willow Paws Social Dog Club - a social group with activities and events such as social walks and meet-ups, made to help you meet fellow dog owners, help your dog make other dog friends in a safe and healthy way and to encourage meeting our dogs' needs and our own.

How I Advocate For Animal Welfare

I am passionate about ensuring the well-being of animals both physically and mentally. I believe that animals, just like people, deserve to live happy, healthy lives, and I am dedicated to providing the best care possible to make that a reality for as many Irish animals as possible.

I am committed to continuous education in animal care, behaviour, health and welfare and I don't believe anyone becomes an expert after one type of course or a certain number of years of experience. Therefore, I am always learning and staying up-to-date with the latest ethical research and techniques. This is also why I am wanting to find the perfect learning possibility to take up work with animals I have not worked with before, such as horses, who also suffer in the name of false animal welfare in Ireland.

I really, strongly, passionately, believe in a holistic approach, which means taking into account the mental, emotional, and physical health of animals with no exceptions. You cannot train a dog in agility just because you think he'll love it because he is a high energy dog. You need to make sure that his body is capable of such activities, and take into account the entirety of him, both mentally, physically and environmentally. I make sure to work as closely as possible with dog owners and groomers, vets and other animal professionals including referring them to trusted professionals if and when needed, to ensure that each animal is as comfortable as possible.

I feel a very deep responsibility to advocate for change in the laws, systems and policies that impact animals in Ireland. I'm not afraid to challenge laws or policies that harm animals or those in power who claim to support animal welfare while failing to implement real ethical change. I do my best to talk about and call out those in power whose actions(or often inactions) only serve to add to the animal welfare crisis in Ireland, and I will continue to stand up for what is right.

I strictly believe that training and care should never involve pain, force or confinement. I strive to use positive and holistic techniques and to train dogs and other animals in ways that help them thrive without causing harm. This is a much more effective approach anyway!

I also try to fight the growing amount of "pet friendly" events which are not pet friendly and instead, they stress animals out. This includes public dog parks, agricultural events with dog shows or petting farms, or open days at pet shops. This is why I created the social dog club, and am planning more facilities like it.

I also believe that access to quality care and training should be available to everyone, which is why I offer affordable pricing options and payment plans and certain help in affording my services to those who genuinely struggle financially and are receiving social welfare or help from organizations like St. Vincents. I understand that financial constraints can prevent some pet owners from getting the help they need, and often people will turn to social media which is full of various valuable information, but sadly also a lot of harmful techniques and misinformation. I want to ensure that every dog and pet in Ireland gets the care they deserve. I also offer discounts to animal rescues and shelters, because every animal regardless of the environment they live in or their history deserves the best quality of life.

Let's talk soon! I look forward to meeting you and your pets!