Hi, I’m Julia, I help people to build a bond with their four-legged friends. Although the Dogs Ways is officially alive since 2016, it was actually born long ago, together with the adoption of our first rescue dog.
I’ve had dogs all my life. Easy-going, happy-go-lucky dogs – most of the time. But then I’ve rescued the 5 yr old German Shepherd (mix). He made me realize that all dogs are very individualistic, just like us, humans and there are no one-cure-fits-all solutions. To help him overcome his fears and issues I have tried all (positive) methods and approaches known. Read tones of books and educated me on the countless seminars and conferences. Thanks to that I have found the methodology that is most natural to the dogs’ way of being and very different from everything I have learned so far (and to what mainstream media create).
Digging deeper into the dogs’ behaviour world I came across many wonderful people who are not only dog lovers but are great dog behaviourists first of all. And was lucky enough to get a chance to learn from them and work with them. I’ve learned about how do dogs learn and communicate, what their normal behaviours are and how deep the instincts are wired, how to look at the whole picture and not just symptoms (or breeds) and how with a calm, informed, kind and relaxed approach life can be greatly improved for all involved.
The need to work even more on the individualistic characteristics of each dog became even stronger after adopting my second rescue – Belgian Shepherd (mix). He was almost 3 yrs old when he joined us and came with the extreme luggage of the bad experiences and deeply wired coping mechanisms that made living together quite difficult (extreme barking when home alone, scratching walls, running away, extreme sounds sensitivity). Previously adopted methods worked wonders and we were able to create a very good bond and understand each other thoroughly. That’s what I wish to all owners and all dogs out there. It is simple and extremely rewarding.
As working with animals (or any living creatures for that matter) requires constant improvement of one skills and knowledge and not to rest on my laurels I was lucky enough to join the International Dog Behavioural Trainer Education education by Turid Rugaas, who has an amazing expertise and more than 50 yrs of hands-on experience in dogs behavioural issues. This course gave me so needed confidence that the applied methodology really works and a solid scientific knowledge based on the newest research in the subject of the dogs’ behaviour.
Currently working on my first book related to stress in dogs (to be expected in the second half of 2020).
I’m proud to announce that since February 2019 I’m the Member of Pet Dog Trainers of Europe and am happy to be able to constantly learn and update my knowledge from the best dogs’ behaviourists.
Education:
Dog Behaviourist Diploma: International Dog Behaviourist Trainer Education – by Turid Rugaas, Belgium 2016 – 2018
Other:
- 20-21 September 2014 – Amstelveen, Netherlands – Sheila Harper – Reactive Dogs
- 28 February 2015 – Ghent, Belgium – Winkie Spiers – Stress and mental stimulation
- 25 April 2015 – Edinburgh, UK – Turid Rugaas – Building the right relationship with your dog
- 26 April 2015 – Edinburgh, UK – Turid Rugaas – Stress in dogs and its consequences
- 2 May 2015 – Antwerp, Belgium – Amber Batson – How stress influences dog’s behaviour
- 3 May 2015 – Antwerp, Turid Rugaas – The harmonious living with your dog
- 23 September 2016 – Barcelona, Spain – Anne Lil Kvam – Learned helplessness in dogs
- 24 September 2016 – Barcelona, Spain – Winkie Spiers – It’s a dog’s life
- 25 September 2016 – Barcelona, Spain – Julia Robertson – How physical pain impacts on dog behavior
- 20-22 October 2017 – Beervelde, Belgium – Anne Lil Kvam – Tracking, nose games, scent discrimination
- 8,9,10 December 2017/19,20,21 January 2018/16,17,18 February 2018 – Beervelde, Belgium – Amber Batson – Dog Aggression for Animal Professionals
Conferences:
Pet Dog Trainers of Europe Conference
Interesting Presentations:
- Turid Rugaas – Testing Dogs and How
- Turid Rugaas – Heart and head in dog training
- Winkie Spiers – Dogs in the City
- Maria Hense – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Karen Webb – Noise, When it’s not music to your dogs’ ears
- Heike Westedt – Play, Some biological facts and play rules for daily life
- Prof. Dr. Martin S. Fischer – Dogs in motion
Poland International Conference on Dog Social Behaviour
Interesting Presentations:
- Rafal Niziolek – First aid for dogs in emergency situations
- Aga Nojszewska – The social influence on dog’s learning
- Aneta Sitkiewicz – Adoption dogs and how to socialize them properly
- Turid Rugaas – Observing dogs for better understanding
- Amber Batson – Working with the difficult behavioural cases