About Us
March 2008,
I have been enchanted by dogs for as long as I can remember.
I grew up in England and there was always at least one dog in my life despite repeated vows from my parents that 'this one is the last' because of the heartache that comes with losing them. And they have been dogs of all shapes and sizes. My first recollection is of a small, wire-haired terrier called Zoe who used to race around the house like a maniac, then there was Joe, a beautiful regal black Lab. Button, a rescue Greyhound, was with me through my teenage years and he was such a character that the whole neighbourhood where I grew up knew him and the smaller kids used to come to our door to ask if he could 'come out to play'!
When Button passed away my heart was shattered, but eventually a small black bundle of fluff by the name of Sophie helped me to piece it back together. Sophie was another rescue dog, a gorgeous serene Spaniel cross who stole the hearts of everyone who met her. She was super smart and revelled in showing off her tricks to anyone who came to the house. When I came to live in Australia in 1995, Sophie stayed with my Mum & Dad, but she passed away in 2000 after a long battle with her health, breaking all of our hearts.
By that time, I was sharing my life with two more four-legged friends, Kiira & Oscar (see their photos on the Photo Gallery) - they are the first dogs I ever had to bring up by myself so to speak. Kiira & Oscar both grew into sizeable dogs and I am quite petite, so in their early years I spent a lot of time training them so that I could take them for a walk rather than the other way around! Unfortunately, my boy Oscar passed away in April 2008, leaving me with my heart broken once again, but he was an amazing dog and taught me a lot about dogs and about myself. I will never be able to thank him enough for that. My old girl Kiira is still with me and she too is still teaching me new things every day.
I have spent my entire life not really knowing what I wanted to be, falling into a business career & never being truly satisfied. Until one day, I had a light bulb moment and decided to embark on a journey to formalise everything I knew about dogs and dog training.
I am now a qualified Behaviourist & Trainer, but more than that, I have a huge passion for all dogs, great and small. My services are not aimed around having 50 dogs out in a park on Saturday or Sunday morning (though I can recommend a great school if that’s what you are interested in). I am more interested in getting to know your dog and planning a personal training program that suits his or her unique needs & personality..... and one that fits in with your lifestyle. I also understand that having a dog is an on-going challenge and, much like having children, the challenges you face today may not be the ones you face tomorrow.
So Raising Rover is here to offer you peace of mind on every step of the wonderful path you take with your dog!
I look forward to sharing it with you.
Nikki Cooper
Raising Rover
