Mindfulness4Dogs

Mindfulness4Dogs I am presently the President of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers New Zealand - APDTNZ.

Mindfulness4dogs provides personalised dog training, puppy training and Dog Behavioural Issues in New Plymouth, Stratford, Inglewood, Hawera, Eltham, Cambridge, Hamilton. Darran Rowe - Qualified Clinical Canine Behaviourist

I have been working professionally as a Canine behaviourist and dog trainer for over 20 years, so I really understand how to make your life with your dog enjoyable and rewardi

ng. My training utilises only Force Free and Fear Free, positive techniques, so you can rest assured that I’m not going to hurt your dog, just to make them do things for you. I’m all about teaching dogs to make the right choice for themselves, that way you don’t have to shout and scream at them. Coming from a competitive dog agility background, my training is focused on building and promoting a positive relationship between you and your dog, one based on mutual trust and respect using mindful techniques. At the moment I live with 10 dogs at present, 2 Irish Setters, 6 Border collies of various ages (3 of which are rescue dogs) and 2 Groodle. They are all amazing dogs and have taught me so much about the canine world. Education :

Masters in Clinical Animal Behaviour - Royal (Dicks) Veterinary College, Edinburgh University. – In Progress (Studying in my second year)

Waikato University. PSYC501-15A NET (Level 7) – Introduction to Theoretical Foundations of Clinical Animal Behaviour. Post Graduate Certificate in Education, South Bank University, United Kingdom. BSc (Hons) Degree in Biology from Cardiff University , United Kingdom.

A lot of dog training is about control. Getting the dog to do what they're told. Managing behaviour. Correcting mistakes...
02/06/2026

A lot of dog training is about control. Getting the dog to do what they're told. Managing behaviour. Correcting mistakes.

THAT"S NOT HOW WE WORK!

At Mindfulness4Dogs, we build calm, focus and communication through positive reinforcement and clicker training. Rather than simply teaching dogs what to do, we help them learn how to make great choices.

We focus on practical doggy life skills that make everyday living easier, more enjoyable, and less stressful for both ends of the lead.

The result?

Dogs who are more relaxed.

Owners who are more confident.

And a relationship built on trust, understanding and connection.

Our 6-week small group classes cover:

• Clicker training fundamentals
• Position, duration, distance and distraction work
• Place and stationary behaviours
• Doggy life skills for everyday living
• Focus and engagement around real-world distractions
• Building confidence for both dogs and humans

Classes are now running at:

📍 Hounds Hangout Doggy Daycare – New Plymouth
- Starts 15th July 6:30pm
BOOKING - https://helpmydog.mindfulness4dogs.com/workshops/mindful-manners-foundation-training-2/

📍 Mindfulpaws Doggy Daycare – Stratford
- Starts 23rd June 6:30pm
BOOKING - https://helpmydog.mindfulness4dogs.com/workshops/mindful-manners-foundation-training/

$195 for the full 6-week block.

To book your place, visit mindfulness4dogs.com

Meet Beau — not a fan of rainy days! 🌧️ He wants to go out and play in the paddocks, but no one wants to join him in the...
02/06/2026

Meet Beau — not a fan of rainy days! 🌧️ He wants to go out and play in the paddocks, but no one wants to join him in the wet! We don't blame you Beau, but that look says it all 😅🐶 Does your dog give you the sad-eye on rainy days too? Drop a 🌧️ below! :

New Plymouth — can I ask you something?Do you ever feel like your dog is the one who actually gets you?More than most pe...
01/06/2026

New Plymouth — can I ask you something?

Do you ever feel like your dog is the one who actually gets you?

More than most people in your life?

There's a reason for that. Dogs are wired for emotional attunement. They read our faces, our breath, our body language better than any human ever will.

That bond you have with your dog isn't 'just' a dog thing.

It's one of the most powerful relationships in your life.

Mindfulness4dogs helps Taranaki women deepen that bond — in practical, gentle ways that fit into real life.

No complicated training. No equipment. Just you, your dog, and 10 minutes a day.

👇 Tell me — what's your dog's name and what's their superpower? :

Maggie's Mindful MomentToday, Maggie reminded me that not every day needs to be filled with activity.While the rain tapp...
01/06/2026

Maggie's Mindful Moment

Today, Maggie reminded me that not every day needs to be filled with activity.

While the rain tapped gently against the windows, she simply watched. No rushing. No worrying about what she couldn't do. No frustration that the usual adventures would have to wait.

Just sitting quietly, listening, watching, and being present.

Dogs have a wonderful way of accepting the day that is in front of them. They don't spend their time wishing for sunshine when it's raining. They simply adjust and find a different way to enjoy the moment.

Perhaps there's a lesson in that for all of us.

Some days are for running. Some days are for resting. Some days are for watching the rain and appreciating the slower pace it brings.

Maggie seems to have mastered that art.

What has the rain encouraged you to slow down and notice today?

Something beautiful is happening in our community. People are coming in saying their dogs are anxious, reactive, impossi...
29/05/2026

Something beautiful is happening in our community. People are coming in saying their dogs are anxious, reactive, impossible.

And within a few weeks they're sending photos of their dogs asleep at their feet. Settled. Finally.

But here's the thing they all say surprised them most:
They feel calmer too.

Not because the dog changed first. But because THEY changed first — and the dog followed.

This is what happens when you stop trying to fix your dog and start connecting with them instead.

We'd love for you to experience this too. 💜

What's your dog's name? Drop it below and tell us one thing about them. ⬇️ :

Tuesday morning. School run done. House quiet.I sat on the floor with my coffee and my dog just… climbed into my lap.No ...
28/05/2026

Tuesday morning. School run done. House quiet.

I sat on the floor with my coffee and my dog just… climbed into my lap.

No reason. Just because I finally stopped moving.

And I thought: she's been waiting for this all morning. For me to just stop.

We talk about giving our dogs exercise and enrichment and the best food — and yes, all of that matters.

But sometimes what they want is simpler than any of that.

They want the version of you that isn't rushing.

When did you last just sit with your dog and do absolutely nothing? 🐶☕

Tell me in the comments — I'd love to hear. :

27/05/2026

Clicker training is all about technique and timing. At the 1st Lesson of our Mindful Manners course last night our dog parents were practicing their Clicker Training skills and timing before any dogs were in the picture. The one biggest thing that changes the effectiveness of any dog training is the Human factor, so getting that right before dogs are in the picture always increases the learning potential.

If you missed this round of classes we have now advertised our next classes in New Plymouth (Hounds Hangout Doggy Daycare). and at our training centre in Stratford (Mindfulpaws Doggydaycare). Checkout the website homepage for more details. https://mindfulness4dogs.com

(On mobile click the 'NEW Events' at the top of the screen.)

🔴 If your dog's behaviour is making you anxious too — I want you to read this.Living with a reactive or aggressive dog i...
27/05/2026

🔴 If your dog's behaviour is making you anxious too — I want you to read this.

Living with a reactive or aggressive dog is exhausting. You plan your walks around avoiding other dogs. You hold your breath when someone comes to the door. You apologise for your dog before they've even done anything.

I know. I hear this from owners across Taranaki every single week.

And here's what I also know: behaviour like this rarely comes from nowhere. There's always a reason — and when we find it, we can work with it.

My 1-1 consultations for aggression and anxiety are calm, practical, and tailored entirely to your dog and your situation. We look at what's driving the behaviour, we build a plan that fits your life, and we take it one step at a time.

I offer sessions in New Plymouth and across Taranaki, and online for anyone based outside the region.

You don't have to keep white-knuckling it. Message me today and let's figure out where to start. 🐾 :

If your dog is anxious, reactive, or clingy…Before you book another training session, ask yourself:→ Am I sleeping enoug...
25/05/2026

If your dog is anxious, reactive, or clingy…

Before you book another training session, ask yourself:

→ Am I sleeping enough?

→ Am I eating properly?

→ Do I have one hour a week that's just mine?

→ When did I last feel genuinely relaxed in my own home?

I'm not saying don't train your dog.

I'm saying the most powerful thing you can do for your dog's behaviour might be the simplest:

Take care of yourself first.

Dogs don't need perfect owners. They need present ones.

Save this for the next time you feel like you're failing your dog. You're not. 💜 :

Last week Maggie got a small cut on her paw and we had two days where our morning walks were shortened to a slow hobble ...
25/05/2026

Last week Maggie got a small cut on her paw and we had two days where our morning walks were shortened to a slow hobble up the road and back. She didn't complain. She didn't sulk. The moment she was allowed out the door, tail going like a metronome, nose already working, she was completely and utterly in it — not comparing it to longer walks, not frustrated by the limitation, just fully alive to the ten minutes she had.

I stood there on our street in Taranaki watching her and felt something I can only describe as grateful shame. Here I am, a grown man with two working legs and all the time in the world for a morning walk, and I've spent no small portion of those walks mentally elsewhere. Planning the day. Replaying yesterday. Missing the actual walk entirely.

Gratitude, in the truest sense, isn't something you feel when everything is perfect. It's something you access when you're fully present to what's actually here. And dogs live at that address permanently. They don't need conditions to be right before they enjoy things. Every single walk, every bowl of food, every scratch behind the ears is met with this full-bodied, uncomplicated joy that most of us have to work at deliberately.

This is the heart of what I try to share through Mindfulness4Dogs. Not complicated techniques. Not expensive equipment. Just the invitation to look at the world through your dog's eyes for a few minutes each day, and let that perspective do its quiet, powerful work on you.

Autumn here in Taranaki is extraordinary right now — the light is different, the air has that particular cold-morning smell, the maunga is clear more mornings than not. There is genuine beauty available every single day on a dog walk. But you have to be present to collect it.

Try this today: As you step outside for your walk, take one deliberate breath and say quietly to yourself — even just mentally — 'I'm glad I'm here.' Then let your dog show you what here looks like. Follow their attention. Notice what they notice. Let their enthusiasm for the ordinary be contagious.

Ending this month's Mindful Moments with a question that matters: what's one thing your dog has genuinely taught you about how to live? I'd really love to read your answers. 👇

Address

Stratford

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+64274585872

Website

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