Mad Dogs
Canine Services
Professional dog walking and puppy training
services across West and Central Auckland.
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Our Head Trainer
Meet our Head Trainer, Maddy! Passionate about working alongside owners to achieve the best results for them and their dogs, Maddy believes in a tailored approach that caters to the needs of each dog using fear-free methods.
With over a decade of experience in the canine industry, her knowledge is extensive. Following her qualification in Canine Behaviour and Training at Unitec, Maddy has held senior roles at the SPCA, Pet Refuge and Kiwi Vet Behaviour.
Our Services
No two dogs are the same, and we take pride in tailoring each service to the specific needs of your dog. We encourage fear-free methods to foster positive relationships between dogs and their owners.
Meet & Greet
Let’s get to know one another! Before any other training, we come to you, meet your dog, and learn first-hand what makes them tick. This allows your dog to become familiar with us while enabling us to tailor the session to your dog's specific needs.
Dog Walking
Incorporating both walking, training and enrichment, your dog will not only be worked physically but also mentally. After getting to know your dog, Maddy will structure a session that is productive for your dog's holistic health and development.
Homeschool
Those first few weeks till your puppy's vaccinations are complete can be isolating; that's where we come in! Our in-home puppy sessions ensure your pup doesn't miss out on those formative weeks of learning because they aren't vaccinated.
Puppy Classes
Ready to build confidence, connection, and key skills? Our group puppy classes offer a fun, supportive space for pups to learn and socialise. Join Puppy Pre-School (8–15 weeks) or Puppy School (16 weeks–7 months) and set your dog up for success.
Why Choose Positive Reinforcement Training?
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Builds Trust and a Strong Bond
Positive reinforcement focuses on rewarding good behaviour instead of punishing mistakes. This creates a safe, trusting relationship between you and your dog—one where your dog wants to work with you, not avoid you.
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Encourages Willing Learning
Dogs learn faster and more enthusiastically when they know good things happen when they get it right — treats, praise, toys or play. This makes training sessions fun and keeps your dog motivated.
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Reduces Fear and Anxiety
Punishment-based methods can create fear or aggression. Positive reinforcement keeps training clear, consistent and kind—helping dogs feel safe and confident about learning new behaviours.
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Works for All Breeds and Ages
Positive reinforcement can work for everyone, whether you have a puppy, a rescue dog, or an older pet. It can be adapted to different needs, helping with everything from basic manners to complex tricks.
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Proven by Science
Modern animal behaviour research strongly supports positive reinforcement as the most effective, humane and ethical way to train animals.
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Teaches You Better Communication
You learn to watch for good behaviour and reward it, which improves how you understand and communicate with your dog. This will strengthen your relationship.
Testimonials
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“Our boy Owen has the best time with Maddy! He always returns from his walks exhausted, which is a massive accomplishment in itself, as he is a very energetic Staffy/Collie. We are starting to see improvements in his behaviour as weeks go by and will definitely be continuing with her services.”
— Charlie & Avya Hlavac | Owen
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Our two Golden Retrievers love their weekly walk and enrichment sessions with Maddy! We chose this service because both our dogs have some training work-ons that we weren’t spending enough time on; it’s great to have someone with Maddy’s skills and experience help us with those, and tire the boys out too! After three sessions, Barney, our rescue dog, is already very excited to see Maddy arrive, even though he was a little uncertain initially. She is doing wonders for his confidence - I have seen videos of him doing ‘paws up’ and ‘touch’ without hesitation. Maddy’s communication and Insta posts on the sessions are great too, we appreciate seeing what the boys are doing! We’re really happy with Maddy and would 100% recommend her to any dog owners.
— Samantha Kay | Barney & Oscar
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We love Mad Dogs! Maddy provided us with a range of options for our two Italian Greyhounds. Mad Dogs provides a unique combination of dog walking and training. Our boys gained both physical and mental enrichment in the same session. Great communication through the entire process with awesome advice as well. Highly recommend.
— Becca O'Shea | Monti & Diego
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Maddy works magic! We had an anxious dog who couldn't walk near the road and got overwhelmed after 30 mins of exercise. Maddy transformed her, to the point where she could sit before crossing the road and buses going past didn't worry her. She also helped us with enrichment ideas to keep our dog busy and stimulated when she couldn't cope with as much walking as she really needed. Maddy was fantastic for teaching her new tricks and helping us understand how to train her more effectively so we understood how to communicate with her. Thank you Maddy!
— Erika Soffe
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Kyra and Flex had a wonderful time with Maddy while we were away on holiday. I love how Maddy listened to Flex as he has strong feelings and if he didn't want to go for a walk, she listened and didn't force him. Instead, Maddy spent time with him at home. She also had great communication on this matter. I love Maddy's force free approach, as this is something important to me.
— Margaret Stanaway | Kyra & Flex
Frequently Asked Questions
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Positive reinforcement training rewards good behaviour instead of punishing mistakes. It helps build a strong bond between you and your dog, encourages willing learning, and reduces fear or anxiety. It's backed by science and tailored to each dog's unique personality and needs.
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Yes! A Meet & Greet is required for all new clients. It gives Maddy a chance to meet your dog, understand their needs, and create a plan tailored just for them. It also helps your dog feel more relaxed and familiar before we begin.
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Mad Dogs currently services Onehunga, Hillsborough, Royal Oak, One Tree Hill, Three Kings, Mt Eden, Ellerslie, Avondale, Lynfield, Blockhouse Bay, New Lynn, Greenlane, Remuera, New Windsor, Mt Roskill, Epsom and Oranga.
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Absolutely! That's exactly what our Puppy Homeschool is for. These in-home sessions are designed for pups who aren't ready to explore the outside world just yet but still need early learning, enrichment and social development.
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Maddy has over a decade of experience in the canine industry, with qualifications from Unitec in Animal Care and Canine Behaviour & Training. She's also Fear Free Shelter certified and has hands-on experience in vet clinics, shelters, doggy daycares and alongside dog behaviour specialists.
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