About

Dedicated To Positive and Ethical Behaviour Solutions

Founded by Erin Hart in 2022, We offer a variety of solutions that focus on understanding and effective communication with your pet. Our goal is to help you live in harmony with your animal.

Rewards based training focuses on why your pet behaves the way they do so that instead of suppressing behaviours, we can treat the underlying cause and emotion. This ensures long lasting success in your training and improved welfare for your animals.

Behaviour Consultant

Erin Hart

I am currently studying a Bachelor Veterinary Science (Honours) with Diploma of Canine Behaviour. I am a Certified Separation Anxiety Behaviour Consultant and have completed the Aggression in Dogs Mastercourse. Animal behaviour is my passion and I have special interest in canine neuroscience and cognition and applied ethology. When it comes to training, I enjoy working complex aggression, anxiety and OCD cases and client counselling. I aim to become a Veterinary Behaviour specialist after graduating with my Honours so that I can help people provide an outstanding quality of life for their animals.

I started professionally training animals in 2017 and have experiences with horses and a wide range of small animals. I am dedicated to my own constant and ongoing education. My aim is to support my clients and their pets through difficult behaviours by providing them with up to date information that is backed by science.

I am a current member and in good standing with the AVBM, AVSAB, APDT and PPGA. I am a registered trainer with Mind Dog Australia and Assistance Paws International. I am dedicated to upholding their codes of ethics and provide force free, positive reinforcement solutions.

In my downtime I enjoy mountain biking and caring for orphan neonate kittens. I am lucky to share my home with my american bulldog Hector, 4 native snakes and a small army of cats.

Puppy Trainer

Melina Newnham-Kirby

Melina is a current Veterinary Science Honours student at JCU. With a kind, caring, and compassionate approach to animals and their humans, Melina has been a wonderful addition to Training With Hart since 2024 and brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience with dogs, cats, and large animals.

Melina has a special interest in animal communication and feline behaviour. Her favourite part of the job is seeing the moment that training techniques suddenly *click* between an owner and their pup.

Her passion for understanding and connecting with animals is evident in everything she does, and she is able to apply these skills to help dogs and their owners build stronger, more harmonious relationships.

Outside of work, Melina enjoys mountain biking, hiking and spending time with her two cats (Levi and Mira). We are so excited to have Melina on board and to teach Puppy Preschool and 1:1 in home Puppy courses.