Julie Hancox - Director

Julie is arguably the best qualified Domestic Dog Trainer in New Zealand. Hers has been a life time spent with dogs in recreation, sport and paid employment. She has worked for nearly a decade in one of only three recognised professional dog training organisations – the RNZFB Guide Dog Services. She achieved a world-first in training a multi-tasking dog able to work as both a farm Working Dog and as a Guide Dog for the Blind.

Julie is a proffesional member of the IACP (International Association of Canine Proffessionals and an Associate Member of IAABC (International Association of Behavioural Consultants)

Training Guide Dogs, unlike Police and Customs, is a superb foundation for Domestic Dog training because it is precisely oriented on positive, multi-faceted relationships between dogs, owners, other animals and other people. Julie’s internationally recognised qualifications as a Guide Dog Trainer and Guide Dog Instructor with the International Federation of Guide Dog Schools for the Blind demonstrates a unique ability to create effective and positive human/canine relationships.

Her academic qualifications through Massey University include studying with Animal Behaviourist Vicky Erceg in the Faculty of Veterinarian Science and completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Rehabilitation, Principles of Canine Behaviour and Canine Studies for the Rehabilitation Practitioner. From Unitec she holds a Certificate in Animal Care.

Julie’s experience in film and television include providing an expert guest appearance on TV One’s Good Morning and representing the NZ Guide Dog Services in the Documentary series Dogs with Jobs and in other programmes such as Inside New Zealand, Kohe Comes Home.

Robyn Grey - Specialist trainer - Domestic, Agility & Sports

Robyn is a specialist trainer in the field of agility – a sport for which she has a great passion and has been competing in for the last 10 years. She brought her Golden Retriever up to Test A and Senior in Obedience and Agility disciplines gaining both CDX and ADX qualifications.

Her Border Collie/Kelpie cross was another champion with whom she gained both CDX and ADX qualifications, achieved Test A in Obedience and represented her Zone on two occasions at the National Dog Agility Competition. In one of those years she has won the National Agility Championship.

Robyn’s experience in television includes placing second in the 2005 Tux Wonder Dogs and training dogs for film work.

Alan Willox - Specialist trainer - Agility, Sports & Aggression

Alan is a highly qualified canine specialist who again has a life-time of experience to draw upon across a wide-range of canine disciplines including being the founding Chairman of the first organisation devoted solely to establishing Agility as a sport in New Zealand. Alan has himself won the Agility Champion title and since 1990 has been on the judging panel for Agility Competitions including the National Competition.

Alan was the first in New Zealand to gain the Schutzhund standard which is a sport focussed on the disciplines of Obedience, Tracking and Protection work. It forms the foundation of his teaching and training in the field of Aggressive Dog Management.

Alan has worked as a Lecturer/trainer at Unitec teaching Animal Health and Welfare Specialising in Canine Behaviour and Training. He has also lectured for the National College of Security in the NZQA recognised Certificate in Dog Training. Some fields of Alan’s portfolio of experience cannot be published.

In terms of television and film work Alan has worked alongside Mark Vette for TV series’ such as Xena and Hercules. He has also worked on a number of other movies filmed in NZ requiring the working dogs to fulfil aggressive, guard dog or police dog type roles.