Dog trainer in Coffs Harbour
About The Operant Dog.
The Operant Dog is run by Will, a dog trainer based on the
Coffs Coast focused on practical training, behaviour and
helping people understand the dog at the other end of the lead.
I am less interested in how impressive your dog looks for five
minutes in a training session than whether the training makes
everyday life together better.
Calmer dogs. Clearer communication. People who understand what
they are doing and why.
Trainer and owner. Best boy and Best Man.
How I approach training
Training should make sense to
both ends of the lead.
Dogs are always learning. Not just when we decide it is
training time, but on walks, around visitors, at the park,
in the car and during all the ordinary moments in between.
That means good training needs to do more than produce
obedience in a controlled environment.
I want you to understand what your dog is learning, what is
reinforcing their behaviour, what success actually looks like
and how to communicate clearly enough that your dog can find
the right answer again.
The goal is not a dog that only knows what to do when the
trainer is standing beside you. The goal is to give you
the skills to train the dog you live with every day.
That is the idea behind the name.
Learn what we mean by an Operant Dog →
How this started
Man gets dog. Dog changes
everything.
Like a lot of people who end up taking dog training far more
seriously than they ever intended, my path into it started
with my own dog.
Man gets dog. Dog has issue number one. Man Googles how to fix
issue number one, follows the advice and it sort of works.
Confidence grows.
Then dog issue number two appears. Google again. Same
confidence, less success. Somehow now both issues are worse.
What started as trying to solve individual problems gradually
became something much more interesting: understanding why the
behaviour was happening in the first place.
Learning about behaviour, reinforcement, emotion, arousal and
communication changed the questions I was asking.
Instead of asking,
“How do I stop this?”
I started asking,
“Why is this working for the dog, and what would
I rather teach instead?”
That distinction still shapes the way I train today.
The experience that changed everything
Then Alfie was
attacked.
My understanding of dog training stepped up a gear when Alfie
was attacked by two off-leash dogs while walking with my wife.
It was a frightening experience, and one I hope you never have
to go through.
Initially Alfie seemed fine apart from the physical injuries.
A few days later it became clear that something else had
changed. Situations that had previously felt normal suddenly
became difficult for him.
I did what people often do when they are worried about their
dog: I tried to fix it with the knowledge I had.
I had good intentions. I also made things worse.
Eventually I found a knowledgeable trainer who helped me
understand what Alfie was experiencing and, importantly,
helped me understand what I needed to do differently.
We worked on rebuilding his confidence and changing how he
experienced the situations that had become difficult.
That experience changed how I saw behaviour and what good dog
training could actually achieve.
It was not just about getting a behaviour under control.
Good training gave Alfie more of his life back, and gave
us the skills to help him navigate it.
That is a large part of why The Operant Dog exists.
Education and professional development
Keep learning. Keep asking
better questions.
Dog training continues to develop as our understanding of
behaviour and learning improves. Ongoing education is part of
doing this work responsibly.
Certificate III in Dog Behaviour and Training
National Dog Trainers Federation
April 2022 to November 2023
School of Canine Science
- 30 Days of Canine Science, September 2022
- Behaviour Bible Chapter 1, September 2023 to August 2024
- Behaviour Bible Chapter 2, August 2024 to November 2025
- Behaviour Bible Chapter 3, December 2025 to present
Continued practical development
- Michael Ellis Seminar, Sydney 2023
- Michael Ellis Experience, Sunshine Coast 2024
- Andrew Clarke, Safe Dog Handling, Apprehension and
Bite Prevention Workshop, Melbourne 2025
Meet the team
The humans and dogs keeping
everything honest.
Dogs are excellent teachers and particularly effective at
exposing holes in a training plan.
Will
Dog trainer, behaviour nerd and the person at the other
end of The Operant Dog. Particularly interested in
practical life skills, reactivity and helping people
understand how to train rather than simply handing them
a list of commands.
Alfie
Alfie changed how I understand behaviour, training and
what dogs need when the world becomes difficult.
Agility and scentwork partner, Best Man and master of
the Burrito.
Photo credit:
Wild Talons
Gwen
Still learning, still testing things and exceptionally
talented at finding gaps in a training plan.
Also known as Gweniifer, Gwennace the Menace,
Gwen-asaurus-Rex and Baby.
What training with me is like
★★★★★
Patience, trust and
clear communication.
“I have trained with Will for easily over two years and have
found him pleasant, cheerful and kindly, characterised by his
patience, friendliness and easygoing attitude. His knowledge
and ability to instil trust focuses on communication and
confidence building between you and your dog, making each
session enjoyable for your dog.”
Elizabeth Walker
Training with The Operant Dog
Two starting points.
One training philosophy.
The right starting point depends on the environment your dog
can currently handle. Both pathways focus on practical skills,
clear communication and training that transfers into everyday
life.
01 · Small group training
Life Skills Group Program
For dogs who can comfortably work around other dogs but
need better engagement, lead skills, recall, emotional
regulation and everyday manners.
- Seven-week structured program
- Maximum six dogs
- Practical real-world skills
- Pocket Trainer Support between classes
02 · One-on-one support
Reactivity Support
For dogs who bark, lunge, freeze, fixate or become
overwhelmed around dogs, people, movement or busy
environments.
- Free initial assessment process
- Individual training plan
- Recommended blocks of ongoing support
- Pocket Trainer Support between sessions
Where to start
Ready to make everyday life
feel easier?
Tell me what happens when your dog is around other dogs,
people and everyday distractions and I will help you find
the most appropriate place to start.