ESTELLE LEYSHON
Dog Trainer and Behaviour Consultant

Estelle has a long history and experience with a large range of dogs. Growing up with a various animals, she went on to study a Bachelor of Science at Birmingham University before landing her dream job as head of re-homing at a branch of Battersea Dog’s & Cat’s Home in the UK. 

Over the next eight years Estelle was able to hone her skills with a huge range of dog breeds with a huge range of behavioural challenges. She quickly discovered that many serious behavioural issues were resolved when she utilised a dog’s natural breed traits or working talent. This resulted in her successfully rehoming many dogs to specialist fields such as the armed forces, biosecurity and as assistance dogs. 

She has attended a variety of dog behaviour and training courses whilst at Battersea and was a resident at the Northern Centre for Canine Behaviour in the UK, under the guidance of the late Behaviourist John Rogerson . Today she still believes in continuing her education and is currently completing a 3 year behaviour qualification with the School for Canine Science and the Professional Trainer Course at Karen Pryor Academy.  She is a full member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers NZ (APDTNZ) and works in line with their code of ethics.

In the UK she qualified as an Area Search and Rescue Dog Handler with her beloved Border Collie Rush, successfully completing operational searches for missing people. She then went on to instruct others to become qualified handlers with their dogs.
She has also competed in a variety of dog sports. In the past she focused particularly on Heelwork to Music ( a form of dog tricks), as the creative training appealed to her more than mainstream obedience. Scent sports are a particular favourite and she continues to share her knowledge and skills with others through Nosework, Tracking and Area Search Training which are now more mainstream than when she started teaching classes over 12 years ago.

When she moved to New Zealand in 2011 she flew both her dogs Brock and Rush, and her 2 cats, with her as she could not bear to be parted from them.
A recent move from the Bay of Plenty to Dunedin came about after seeing her dream 20 hectare lifestyle property whilst on holiday. She is currently home to a range of animals - 2 cats, 5 goats, 1 horse and of course dogs:

• Rusty, a 12 yr old rescue Papillon x JRT (Taumarunui SPCA)
• Luna, a 10yr old rescue heading dog (Wanganui Pound)
• Hope, a 5 year old Beardie x from a litter she whelped and raised along with 7 of her siblings and from a fostered pregnant rescue dog
• Chevy - a 7 year old wire haired Terrier x - rehomed from a family who's circumstances changed
• Murphy - a 3 year old wire haired Lurcher (Rotorua Pound)
• Bear - a 3 year old rehomed Border Collie
• Pepe - a 2.5 year old rescue Papillon x (Hamilton Pound)

PLUS 2 LONG TERM FOSTER DOGS (who will stay with us because of their special needs)

• Kora, a 6 year old Bull Terrier x Cattle Dog - partially deaf - territorial, easily spooked and nervous of some new people
• Wallace - a 3.5 year old rescue Cane Corso x - naturally territorial, highly driven and knows no personal space boundaries once he gets to know you​
  
  She continues to be passionate about rescue dogs and work closely with a number of NZ Rescue Charities. She can foster several at any one time and works with them pro bono until they are successfully placed in to new loving homes. In total she has fostered over 50 since being in NZ. She has already successfully placed 3 more foster dogs since moving to Dunedin
  
  ​It is through watching the interactions of the dogs together that Estelle has learnt how to read dog's body language, understand how they may be feeling and what positive training methods are required to help them. She believes that all relationships are one based on trust, mutual benefit, support and understanding. She feels privileged to be able to share her life with them all and be the stepping stone to a more positive future for many of them. 
  
  ​Educating and teaching people how to bring out he very best version of their dog, or how to teach others has become a true passion as she is always keen to share her knowledge, skills and experiences with the public, other trainers and those in the industry.​

Estelle is a full member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers NZ and complies with their code of ethics.