​Maria Cunningham, the chief instructor at Mutts with Manners, has been a professional dog obedience trainer since 1993. She served for three years as the Assistant Trainer, then Head Trainer at the Sydney Community College in Leichhardt, where she was responsible for running group dog training classes - some of the first professionally conducted classes in Sydney (the Delta Society was not established in Australia until 1997!). Through 1993 to 1995, Maria competed in Obedience Trials with her dog Schatzi, also exploring Agility and Tracking with her.

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To deepen her understanding of dogs, dog behavior, and various behavioral influences, Maria completed a range of TAFE and online courses. These courses covered topics such as dog breeding and genetics, grooming and handling techniques, nutrition and its effects on behaviour, as well as dog behavior and psychology. Maria was one of the early members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT Australia), joining in 1998, is Delta Society qualified and has personally attended lectures by internationally renowned dog behavioural specialists, including Dr. Kersti Seksel, Dr. Robert Holmes, Dr. Ian Dunbar, Dr Patricia McConnell, Luke Hura, Steve Austin, Cesar Milan, Pat Miller, Dr Paul McGreevy, Karin Bridge, and many others.

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Her extensive expertise in dog behaviour has been compiled into three ebooks that she authored: "Ruling The Roost - What Your Dog REALLY Wants You To Know!" (2015), "Raising Fido" (2021), and "7 Days To A Happier Hound" (2024). Additionally, she has created numerous training aids, including 'cheat sheets' for raising puppies and Fido Flashcards to assist with obedience training. All of these resources are available through our 'Shop' page.

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Maria​ works primarily in Sydney's Inner City and Inner West, and prides herself on having a deep and authentic knowledge of, and experience in, the fields of dog training and dog behaviour modification.

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Learn more about our Think Dog technique​​​​​​​