Hello there!  I’m Lesley Lynam, and I’m the trainer behind Good Manners Dog Training.  I have always had an interest in animals, as I’m sure you have too. I’ve also always had an interest in traveling, which my husband and I are really getting to enjoy now!

Good Manners Dog Training combines those two loves- traveling the countryside in our trusty caravan with our dogs, and training and working with your dogs along the way.

If you have always wanted to know how to help your dog stay calm and relaxed as you plan your big road trip, or maybe you’re in an out of the way country town where you’re feeling like there’s no one to help you with a particular problem, or perhaps you just want to know how to build a better relationship with your beloved dog, I’m here to help you find that.

So who am I?  Well, I’ve been doing this a long time now!  I started in vet nursing, worked as a kennel hand and worked my way up the ladder, achieving my Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing along the way.

I bred and showed Saint Bernard’s for twenty years, can you believe it?  As a complete lifestyle change, I purchased my first Australian Cattle Dog and started learning obedience training which quickly led to me instructing other owners and their dogs. I’ve been an instructor now since 1999.

Initially, I found the behavioural side of training quite a challenge but luckily, at the time I was working for a vet who had a huge interest in dog behaviour, and he encouraged me to do further study. I started by attending puppy behaviour seminars run by the Delta Society Australia which led to studying and obtaining my Cert IV in Dog Behavioural Training in 2004.

I left vet nursing behind to join the RSPCA as the shelter supervisor, which meant I was able to work with dogs all the time and really develop my training skills. I also performed the behavioural assessments and trained the volunteers in handling and safety.

My career then moved me into the prison service as an officer, and I was fortunate to be involved in implementing a dog training program.  As part of the program we took in shelter dogs for prisoners to train before re-homing. It was incredibly rewarding work.

I joined Polytechnic West as a lecturer, lecturing vet nursing students, and even started one of Perth’s first Dog Daycare centres, which I operated from 2007 to 2015.

Most recently I have:-

– Become a professional member of the PPG – Pet Professional Guild Australian Chapter.
– Acquired training and assessment status for both Delta Society Therapy Dogs and Story Dogs.
– Completed the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT ) training course and have become a professional member.

Right now, I conduct small size training classes for family dogs and puppies and offer one on one behavioural modification and training consultations using friendly positive reinforcement methods.

I also run and host seminars and workshops for dog clubs and trainers and dog owners on understanding dogs and their body language and all facets of training.

For me, it’s always about education …

It makes what I do really worthwhile when I see one dog benefit as the owner gains an understanding of the “how” or “why” of dog behaviour, and I can assist that owner and their family to finally come together with their beloved dog as a team.

Find out more about how I can help you, here.