01
Nearly two decades with pet dogs
Before working professionally in behaviour, I spent nearly two decades as a pet sitter. That gave me years of everyday experience living with, caring for and observing pet dogs in human homes.
About
I didn’t learn about dog behaviour only from books.
A large part of what I know about dogs comes from living among them.
Who I am now
Behaviour support shaped by the dog’s whole story.
I’m a dog behaviour professional based in Sri Lanka, specialising in free-living and village dogs, fearful and anxious dogs, and dogs whose independence or sensitivity does not always fit neatly into domestic life.
My work brings together years of everyday experience with pet dogs, shelter and rescue work, formal behaviour education and research into what happens when free-living dogs transition into human homes.
Experience
From rescue work to behaviour.
My path into behaviour grew gradually — from years spent with pet dogs, through rescue and CNVR work, to wanting to understand what happens after a dog is brought into a human home.
02
From volunteering to full-time rescue work
Alongside petsitting, I spent much of my free time volunteering in shelters around the world. Eventually rescue became my full-time focus. In Sri Lanka I worked with three different shelters, organised CNVR events and took part in hands-on rescue and rehabilitation.
03
The question became bigger than rescue
Over time — especially after adopting my own two dogs — I became increasingly interested not only in rescue and rehabilitation, but in what happens when dogs are asked to adapt to an entirely different world.
04
From curiosity to behaviour work
That curiosity led me back to study. I completed my Diploma in Dog Behaviour & Psychology and began working professionally in behaviour, with a particular focus on village and free-living dogs and the transition into human homes.
Bambi & PingPong
The dogs who changed my direction.
Bambi
Bambi taught me to look beyond fear.
Living with such a fearful dog prompted me to go deeper into dog behaviour. She made me want to understand what happens when a dog feels overwhelmed by the world around them — and what actually helps them feel safe.
Through Bambi, I became increasingly interested in emotional safety, nervous-system regulation, trust, environment and relationship, rather than relying on simple training answers. In many ways, she was the dog who propelled me into behaviour work.
PingPong
PingPong taught me to listen to dogs differently.
PingPong deepened my understanding of canine communication, social life and boundaries. Watching how clearly he communicates with other dogs — when he wants space, when he is comfortable and when he is willing to engage — showed me how much dogs are already telling us when we learn how to pay attention.
He also showed me the potential these dogs have: their adaptability, social intelligence and ability to build profound relationships with people without losing who they are.
Free-living dogs
Learning from dogs who still have more choice.
I’m based in Sri Lanka, where free-living dogs are part of the everyday landscape. They move through villages, beaches, streets and communities with a degree of autonomy that most companion dogs never experience.
Watching them has shaped the way I understand behaviour. I’ve seen dogs negotiate conflict, form friendships, communicate boundaries, choose distance, adapt to people, avoid situations they don’t trust and make decisions for themselves.
That kind of learning is difficult to reproduce in a controlled training environment.
Training & research
Experience matters. So does evidence.
Level 5 Diploma
Dog Behaviour & Psychology.
Aggression in Dogs
Master Course completion.
Research
Beyond Rescue: Evaluating the Suitability and Sustainability of Free-Living Dogs as Pets.
Explore Beyond Rescue →My approach
I don’t believe every difficult behaviour needs more control.
I believe behaviour is information.
My work is relationship-based, welfare-focused and centred on understanding the individual dog. The goal is not to create a perfectly obedient dog. It is to help you understand the dog you actually have — and build a life together that works for both of you.