Expertise you Can Trust
Personalised Approach
Veterinary Collaboration
Compassionate Care
Take the Lead provides expert animal behaviour training.
Take the Lead offers tailored behaviour training services designed to support pets and their guardians through every stage of their journey together.
With a focus on private behaviour consultations, we work collaboratively with veterinary professionals to help achieve practical, lasting outcomes for pets and their families.
“Happiness at both ends of the lead”
At Take the Lead, we believe that successful training begins with trust.
We’re committed to providing the education, skills, and confidence needed to create lasting, positive change — empowering both pets and their guardians. Our approach helps strengthen and nurture the unique bond you share with your pet, fostering a relationship built on trust, understanding, and mutual respect.
Our training is force-free, fear-free, and evidence-based. We use positive, reward-based methods that make learning fun, effective, and motivating for everyone involved.
The welfare and emotional wellbeing of your pet remain at the heart of everything we do, creating happy, sustainable outcomes and healthy, harmonious relationships between you and your pet.
Professional Expertise You Can Trust
We take pride in maintaining our industry-leading formal qualifications and staying current with the latest scientific knowledge in animal behaviour.
Guided by modern, scientifically sound practices and perspectives our clients and their pets receive the highest standards of care whilst achieving their behaviour training goals—supporting long-term success.
Qualifications & Memeberships
- Certificate IV Veterinary Nursing (AIRC- Animal Industries Resource Centre)
- Certificate IV Companion Animal Services- Behaviour Training (Delta Institutue)
- Fear Free Certified Professional
- Certified Control Unleashed Instructor (CCUI)
- MindDog Australia Trainer
- MDI (CPDT) Delta Institute (Certified Professional Dog Trainer).
- Veterinary Nursing Council Australia (VNCA)
- Pet Professional Guild (PPGA)
- Association of Pet Dog Trainers Australia Inc (APDT)
“It takes someone truly special for me to feel completely confident referring my canine patients to a trainer—and with Prue, I have that confidence every time. Prue has an incredible ability to care not just for the dogs she works with, but for the wellbeing of the entire family. Her background as a veterinary nurse gives her a unique, holistic approach that supports both the mental and physical health of her canine clients.
As an experienced animal behaviour trainer, Prue has a deep understanding of learning theory and consistently achieves outstanding results. She uses modern, evidence-based, force-free methods that are both effective and kind.
I often find myself wishing there were more Prue’s to refer my patients to!”
- Dr Ashleigh Hargreaves BSc DVM MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour)
“I have two adorable anxious terrier girls. “Terrorists” my mum calls them. Prue was amazing with them, quickly gaining their trust, so we were able to have productive sessions together. Prue was able to instruct me in some dog behaviours and body language I had been missing. Her relaxed “train the trainer” style made it comfortable for me and the girls to learn. Having anxious dogs can be really lonely.
Until spending time with Prue, I always felt I was not doing enough for my girls. Always worrying about their quality of life and wellbeing. Prue taught me to take the pressure off myself and them, and to enjoy the training wins, and fun times together.
We even progressed to taking Yoda out to a coffee shop which is something I never thought I would do.”
- Fleur, “Chewy” & “Yoda”
“Prue has an almost instinctual connection with dogs (and people). She’s taken my Bordoodle, Mabel, and I on the journey from an excited puppy to a wonderful mindDog assistance dog, who is welcomed any and everywhere.
I can, wholeheartedly, recommend Prue to anyone and any fur baby.”
- Mark & “Mabel”
“I can’t recommend Prue highly enough! From puppy classes to ongoing training, her force-free approach has helped us achieve amazing results with our dog. Prue’s friendly and supportive guidance made the process enjoyable for both us and our pup. We’ve seen real progress, and it’s all thanks to her expertise and positive methods.
If you’re looking for a knowledgeable and compassionate trainer, Prue is the best!”
- Beck & “Ash”
“Prue has been an invaluable guide throughout the mindDog Assistance Dog training program for EeVee and me. Not only has this training been beneficial for EeVee, but it has also helped me better understand her behaviours and the reasons behind them.
Prue’s clear and approachable explanations made it easy for me to address and improve Eevee’s behaviours, which saw us gain certification as a mindDog team. Prue’s extensive knowledge was evident when she suggested a change to eeVee’s diet, which has significantly improved her energy levels. I’ve already recommended Prue to friends who are looking to improve their dogs’ behaviors as well.
Thank you, Prue, for all your help”
- Mike & “EeVee”
We started working with Prue in 2021, for our rescue dog Harley who has a variety of behaviour issues including OCD, separation anxiety & reactivity to other dogs. Prue, alongside our behavioural veterinarian, has worked to supply us with a toolbox of strategies to manage Harley’s difficult behaviours.
At times, Harley’s issues felt life-consuming and overwhelming, but Prue has always supported us and made it feel like there was light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to her care and dedication, we feel like we’ve walked out the other side and now enjoy a relaxed, carefree dog.
We can’t thank Prue enough and would thoroughly recommend her to anyone with a difficult dog, no matter how unfixable their problems may seem.
- Ash and Bryce & “Harley”