
Sydney Inner West Dog Training & Puppy Training Experts Since 1994
Fido Flashcards
Obedience Training made easy!
Dog Behaviour Problems Sydney | Reactive, Aggressive & Anxious Dogs
Sydney's Behaviour Specialists Since 1994 | In-Home Training
Is your dog's behaviour causing stress? Aggression toward other dogs, fear and anxiety, barking complaints from neighbours, or destructive behaviour when left alone? We specialise in transforming problem behaviours into good manners.

You can have the dog as he naturally is, or you can help him to be the dog you want...
Common Behaviour Problems We Fix
🐕 Dog Aggression & Reactivity Training Sydney:
The problem: your dog barks, lunges, or growls at other dogs on walks, shows aggression at dog parks or when other dogs approach. Makes walks stressful because you never know what will happen, or reacts aggressively when dogs pass your home or property…
Why We DON'T Use Group Classes: Putting a fearful, reactive dog into a group setting usually makes things worse, not better.
Our Approach:
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Build confidence and communication (obedience) at home first in a safe, controlled environment
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Gradual, controlled exposure to your dog's specific triggers at safe distances
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Teach you to read body language and stress signals
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Work at your and your dog's pace - no rushing
Timeline: 2-5 sessions, depending on the severity of the behaviour, and how thoroughly the program has been implemented.
Success Story: "We thought our rescue dog's aggression was unfixable. Three months with Mutts with Manners and he's a different dog. We can actually take him for walks now." – Sarah, Newtown
Get Help with Dog Aggression →
❤️ Rescue Dog Behaviour Training
The Problem: You've adopted a rescue dog and they have baggage – fear, anxiety, unknown history, lack of basic training, or problem behaviours from their past.
Why Rescue Dogs Are Special: Rescue dogs often come with challenges, but they also come with incredible resilience. They may not have had proper socialisation, may have experienced trauma, or simply never learned basic manners. They need patience, understanding, and the right training approach.
How We Help:
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Build trust first – Confidence-building is our priority and we understand rescue dogs need time
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Address fear and anxiety – Not just symptoms, but root causes
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Home integration – Help them understand their new life and rules with a patient, gentle approach
Our Rescue Dog Commitment: We've offered our Rescued Dog Rewards discount program for over 20 years because we believe every rescue dog deserves a chance to succeed in their forever home.
Common Rescue Dog Issues We Address:
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Fear and anxiety
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Lack of toilet training
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No basic obedience training
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Reactivity to people or dogs
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Separation anxiety
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Resource guarding
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Unknown triggers from past trauma
Timeline: Every rescue dog is different. Some adjust quickly, others need several months. We work at your dog's pace.
Contact us for a personalised quote based on your dog’s needs →
🔊 Excessive Barking & Noise Complaints
The Problem:
Barking constantly when left alone, barking at every person or dog passing by, alert bark at noises throughout day and night. Have neighbours complaining about the noise?
Our Approach:
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Dogs bark for different reasons - we determine the specific trigger
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Address underlying anxiety, boredom, or fear
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Build dogs’ confidence so they don’t need to bark
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Create management strategies, working with neighbours if needed
Before We Visit: Ask ALL neighbours: What time does your dog bark? How long? What does it sound like? This helps us understand patterns.
Timeline: Initial improvements within 1-2 weeks, complete resolution 2-3 sessions.
Perfect for: Apartment dwellers, attached homes, anyone facing noise complaints.
Stop Your Dog's Barking →
😰 Separation Anxiety & Destructive Behaviour
The Problem: Your dog destroys furniture, doors, or belongings when left alone, barks or howls constantly when you're gone, follows you everywhere and panics when you leave, or digs holes in the yard or tear up carpet.
Our Approach:
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Identify if it's true separation anxiety or boredom/energy
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Build your dog's confidence and independence gradually
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Create positive associations with alone time with calm, settled behaviour
Timeline: 1-2 sessions for noticeable improvement. Severe cases take longer but are absolutely treatable.
Fix Destructive Behaviour →
❤️ Rescue Dog Behaviour Training - Special Discount Program
Just adopted a rescue dog with behaviour challenges?
Rescue dogs are resilient but often come with challenges from their past:
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Fear and anxiety around people, dogs, or situations
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No basic training or household rules understanding
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Reactivity, aggression, or guarding behaviours
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Toilet training issues
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Unknown triggers from past trauma
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Our Rescue Dog Commitment: We've offered our Rescued Dog Rewards discount program for over 20 years because every rescue deserves a chance to succeed in their forever home.
Our Approach:
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Patient, gentle methods that build trust
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Confidence-building as our #1 priority
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Address root causes of fear and anxiety
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Work at your dog's pace
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Home integration support
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Common Rescue Issues We Address: Fear and anxiety | Lack of toilet training | No basic obedience | Reactivity to people or dogs | Separation anxiety | Resource guarding | Unknown triggers
Timeline: Every rescue dog is different. Some adjust quickly, others need several months. We work at your dog's pace.
Ask About Rescue Dog Discounts →
Why Choose Mutts with Manners for Behaviour Problems?
✅ 30+ Years Solving Sydney's Toughest Cases We've seen every behaviour problem imaginable - what looks impossible to you is routine for us.
✅ In-Home Training Where Problems Actually Happen All training happens in your home environment where real change occurs.
✅ Individual Attention, Not Group Classes Behaviour problems need personalised attention. We work one-on-one at your dog's pace.
✅ We Train You Too We teach YOU how to maintain and reinforce training long-term.
✅ Positive, Force-Free Methods Reward-based training that builds confidence and trust. No shock collars, no harsh corrections.
✅ Improvement Guaranteed If you don't see improvement, your first lesson is free.
How Behaviour Training Works
1. Initial Assessment We visit your home, assess behaviour, identify triggers and patterns, create a customised plan.
2. Training Sessions Usually 1-hour sessions at your home, weekly or fortnightly depending on the issue.
3. Between-Session Practice You practice what we've taught. We provide clear instructions and ongoing support.
4. Progress Reviews We adjust the plan based on your dog's progress, adding new elements as they master each stage.
5. Long-Term Success Once resolved, we teach maintenance strategies so your dog stays well-behaved for life.
Service Areas
We provide in-home behaviour training across all Sydney metro areas:
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Inner West Sydney
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Sydney City
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Inner City Suburbs
Check if We Service Your Area →
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does behaviour training take? Simple problems: 2-3 weeks. Complex issues like dog aggression: 2-3 months. We'll give you a realistic timeline in your first session.
Will my dog's behaviour ever be completely fixed? Yes, in most cases. Some dogs may need ongoing management in certain situations, but the vast majority of behaviour problems can be completely resolved.
Is my dog too old to change? No. Dogs can learn at any age. Older dogs may take longer to change established habits, but they absolutely can change.
What if my dog's behaviour is really severe? We've worked with severe cases for 30 years. If we feel your dog needs veterinary behavioural intervention, we'll let you know - but most don't.
Do you use punishment or harsh corrections? Never. We use positive reinforcement methods. Punishment often makes behaviour problems worse, especially fear-based issues.
See All FAQs →
Ready to Fix Your Dog's Behaviour?
Book your behaviour assessment today. We'll come to your home, identify what's happening, and create a plan to transform your dog's behaviour.
Most clients see noticeable improvements within 2 weeks.
Improvement guaranteed or your first lesson is FREE.
Book Your Assessment Now →
Or call: [Your Phone Number]
Special Offers:
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Rescue Dog Rewards: Special discount for adopted dogs
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Multiple Dog Households: Package discounts available
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Refer a Friend: Both receive a discount
Mutts with Manners – Solving Sydney's Dog Behaviour Problems Since 1994
Can't have us visit in person? We also offer Remote Training Sessions via video call - perfect for:
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Regional NSW or interstate clients
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Busy schedules
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Follow-up sessions after in-home training
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Specific training questions [Learn About Remote Training →]
Utilising Dog psychology, our goal is to help you to understand your dog and build a strong and trusting relationship with them. Stressed, anxious dogs, and even reactive dogs are dogs who aren't confident in their relationships, so as dog behaviourists, our personal dog training sessions guide you to modify your behaviours so that your dog can modify theirs.
If you are not willing to change your behaviour, then you will get limited results, and perhaps this technique isn't for you. If you want someone to train your dog for you (which will have only temporary results) then this technique is not for you. If you want to turn your relationship with your dog from one of potential co-dependence into one of confident trust and joyful friendship, then this is the right technique for you.
We must thank you for putting our problem "child" on the right track. Having traumatic beginnings early in his life, Ben proved to be of a stronger character than the normal large breed. With your humane psychological training it was good to see him toe the line and behave. Thanks again for your hi-tech methods in training up our dog to our acceptable standard.
Nick & Marilyn
Thank you for saving our 'pack' from total domination!!!! Before your wonderful dog obedience training, we were the ones sitting and fetching. The change in him is unbelievable. He's transformed from a monster to an angel. Keep up the fabulous work and Ralph would like to give you a big lick and a tail wag. Thanks again .
Yanina, Khufu and Ralph