How To Become a Dog Behaviourist in Australia with Camille Hartnett From Trail Sniffers

Описание: In this episode of the Careers Podcast, I sit down with Camille Hartnett from Trail Sniffers for a deeply personal and honest conversation about dog behaviour, fear-based reactivity, and what it really takes to build a meaningful career working with dogs and their guardians.

This is our second conversation together, and this time the focus shifts away from surface-level industry discussion and toward Camille’s lived experience. We unpack how her upbringing surrounded by animals shaped her values, how her early studies in captive animal management, zoology, and animal psychology influenced her thinking, and how her time working as a vet nurse laid the foundation for a much deeper interest in behaviour.

Camille shares how her dog, Jeffrey, became the catalyst for everything. After experiencing severe fear-based reactivity and trauma with him, she reached a point where traditional training approaches were no longer enough. What she needed was understanding, not control. That experience forced her to confront gaps in her own knowledge and pushed her to seek mentorship, further education, and a completely different way of looking at dogs and behaviour.

We explore fear-based reactivity in depth, including why it is so often misunderstood and mislabeled as aggression. Camille explains how behaviour is communication rather than disobedience, and why dogs that appear difficult or reactive are often trying to create safety in a world that feels overwhelming. This episode challenges outdated training narratives and highlights the importance of seeing dogs as individuals shaped by genetics, learning history, environment, and emotional experience.

This conversation also dives into the emotional realities of working in dog behaviour. Camille speaks openly about the weight carried by guardians living with reactive dogs, the shame and isolation many people experience, and the responsibility behaviourists carry when entering someone’s home during a vulnerable time. We talk about the importance of educating and empowering people rather than positioning dogs as problems that need fixing.

Camille reflects on the role of mentorship in her journey, particularly the influence of working with Ian from Bondi Behaviourist. She explains how mentorship helped her build confidence, refine her philosophy, and learn how to support both dogs and humans through complex behavioural challenges. We also discuss how Trail Sniffers evolved from an idea into a business grounded in empathy, evidence-based practice, and ethical decision making.

You will hear real success stories from Camille’s work, including long-term cases involving severe fear and reactivity, and how small shifts in understanding can completely transform a dog’s quality of life. We also discuss the realities of running a behaviour-based business, the emotional highs and lows of the work, and what aspiring dog behaviourists should consider before turning their passion into a profession.

This episode is especially relevant for dog guardians living with reactive or fearful dogs, people interested in ethical and evidence-based training, and anyone considering a career in dog behaviour. It is also a valuable listen for anyone who wants to better understand the relationship between humans and dogs, and what it truly means to work with behaviour rather than against it.

Where to Find Camille
Instagram:   / trailsniffers  
Website: https://www.trailsniffers.com.au/contact

Timestamp Chapters
00:00 Understanding Fear-Based Reactivity in Dogs
12:44 Seeking Help and Finding the Right Support
15:32 Learning from Mentors and Ian’s Influence
16:47 Pursuing Further Education in Dog Behaviour
18:00 Understanding Dogs as Individuals
20:10 Challenging Traditional Training Narratives
21:05 The Role of Mentorship in Dog Training
22:19 The Birth of Trail Sniffers
24:36 Building Confidence Through Experience
28:07 The Philosophy Behind Trail Sniffers
29:05 Empowering Dog Guardians
35:00 Emotional Weight of Dog Training
36:11 The Rewarding Moments in Dog Behaviour Work
37:23 Success Stories and Transforming Lives
42:36 Collaborative Projects and Future Endeavours
44:39 Advice for Aspiring Dog Behaviourists