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Our Owners & Instructors

Melton Assistance Dogs and Brigitte’s Dog School are supported by a dedicated team who bring together many years of practical dog training experience. Our instructors are also owners of the business, giving them a personal commitment to the ongoing development of our training programs and the people and dogs we support.

⭐ Cathie – Instructor & Assistance Dog Trainer

(Accredited Member of the Australian Association of Professional Dog Trainers)

Cathie has been part of Brigitte’s Dog School since 2012 and is also an important member of the Melton Assistance Dogs team. Her journey began when she attended Brigitte’s Dog School with her own dog, Kyah. From the beginning, her calm approach, natural ability with dogs and excellent communication skills stood out.

Her commitment to learning and her ability to connect with both dogs and their owners made her a natural choice to become an instructor. Over the years, Cathie has helped many families through their training journey, bringing patience, encouragement and practical guidance to every class.

Today, Cathie continues to teach both the Obedience and Manners and the Intermediate class st Brigitte’s Dog School, while also managing the Melton Assistance Dogs Training Program, supporting participants who experience severe anxiety or PTSD as they work towards training their dogs for assistance work.

Cathie’s experience across both organisations provides an important link between the foundation training offered through Brigitte’s Dog School and the specialised training provided through Melton Assistance Dogs.

Her dedication, compassion and genuine commitment to helping people and their dogs make Cathie an invaluable part of both teams.

 

⭐ Prue – Instructor, Assistance Dog Trainer & Administration

(Accredited Member of the Australian Association of Professional Dog Trainers)

Prue is an important member of both Brigitte’s Dog School and Melton Assistance Dogs, combining her dog training experience with responsibility for the administrative side of the school.

Prue has successfully completed the Certificate III in Dog Training with the National Dog Trainers Federation (NDTF), demonstrating her commitment to professional development and ethical, effective dog training.

At Brigitte’s Dog School, Prue teaches our Obedience & Manners and Advanced Classes, helping dogs and their owners progress from essential foundation skills through to more advanced training. Her calm, supportive approach helps owners build confidence while developing a better understanding of their dogs.

Prue also plays an important role with Melton Assistance Dogs, helping to deliver our Assistance Dog Training Program for people living with severe anxiety or PTSD. She works alongside participants and their dogs as they progress through their assistance dog training journey.

In addition to her training role, Prue is responsible for new client applications for Melton Assistance Dogs, helping prospective clients through the initial application process and their first steps towards joining the Assistance Dog Training Program.

Her combination of professional training knowledge, practical experience and behind-the-scenes support makes Prue a highly valued member of both Brigitte’s Dog School and Melton Assistance Dogs.

 

⭐ Brigitte – Co-Owner & Founder

Dogs have been a very big part of my life for as long as I can remember, and dog training has given me the opportunity to turn that love of dogs into something that has helped many owners and their families over the years.

I am an NDTF-qualified dog trainer and an accredited member of the Australian Association of Professional Dog Trainers (AAPDT), with many years of experience working with dogs and their owners through Brigitte’s Dog School.

I am also a co-owner of Melton Assistance Dogs Pty Ltd. As the businesses have developed, my role has changed. I have now stepped away from the hands-on training and administration of Melton Assistance Dogs, with Cathie and Prue taking responsibility for these areas.

These days, I concentrate mainly on the background work involved in running and supporting Brigitte’s Dog School, while remaining involved as an owner of Melton Assistance Dogs.

After so many years of teaching classes myself, it is wonderful to see Cathie and Prue continuing the work and bringing their own knowledge, experience and dedication to both organisations.