Dan's passion for dogs began at a young age, growing up alongside his grandfather's Rottweilers. After spending many years involved in obedience training with breeds such as Rottweilers and Dogue de Bordeaux, he discovered the world of herding breeds in 2016 when he purchased his first Kelpie — a decision that would shape much of his future in dogs.

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Since then, Dan has dedicated himself to developing working stock dogs and has established the foundations of his own working Kelpie bloodline. He is an accomplished competitor who spends many weekends trialling throughout NSW, regularly competing in Yard and Utility Trials and occasionally testing his skills in Three Sheep competitions.

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In recent years, Dan has expanded his interests into protection sports and scent detection work, disciplines he continues to pursue with enthusiasm and commitment.

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A firm believer that learning never stops, Dan is constantly seeking opportunities to expand his knowledge and refine his skills across a wide range of canine disciplines. His practical experience, combined with a genuine passion for education, allows him to help both dogs and handlers reach their full potential.

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Beyond Hooked on Hounds, Dan is an ambassador for the RuffTRACK program and Hypro Premium Pet Food, co-hosts the DogTorque podcast, and, together with Nat, operates their working Kelpie breeding program. 

Nat's journey with dogs began at the age of seven, but it was after moving to Australia in 2014 that her passion truly took hold. Over the past decade, she has dedicated herself to learning about canine behaviour, training and communication, turning that passion into a career.

Her introduction to dog training came through teaching her first Kelpie, Zac, to work cattle on a 76000 acre beef cattle station in CNQ. What started as a practical goal quickly grew into a lifelong pursuit of understanding dogs and discovering more effective ways to communicate with them.

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Today, Nat shares her life with a Dachshund, two Kelpies, a German Shepherd and two Swiss Shepherds. She has a particular soft spot for German/Swiss Shepherds, Boston Terriers and Greyhounds, appreciating the unique traits and personalities each breed brings.

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While Nat enjoys all aspects of training, she is especially passionate about behavioural work, including reactivity, aggression, resource guarding, fear-based behaviours and canine development.

Her favourite part of being a trainer is helping owners better understand their dogs, strengthening the relationship between them and creating lasting change through education.

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In 2023, she formalised years of practical experience by completing a Certificate in Dog Psychology, Behaviour and Training.

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Alongside running Hooked on Hounds with Dan, Nat is actively involved in breeding and developing working and companion dogs through their Kelpie breeding program and her White Swiss Shepherd kennel.