Dog training & behaviour · North Canterbury
In-home training and behaviour help across North Canterbury and Christchurch. I work with your whole household — not against your dog — to build the calm, steady relationship you were after when you brought them home.
Sound familiar?
Most people call me a little embarrassed, as though the way their dog behaves says something about them. It doesn't. It usually just means nobody has shown the dog what you actually want — clearly, calmly, and the same way every time.
I dread the walk. He pulls so hard my shoulder aches.
Lead pulling is rarely about strength. It's about arousal levels before you even reach the gate, which is where we start.
She barks at every single person who walks past.
Barking is your dog doing a job nobody gave them. We hand that job back to you, and the noise settles.
He lunges at other dogs and I've stopped going out.
Reactivity shrinks your world fast. We rebuild it in small, manageable steps, at a distance your dog can cope with.
She panics the moment I leave the house.
Separation distress is genuinely distressing for everyone. It responds well to a structured plan and a bit of patience.
He completely ignores me when I call him.
Recall isn't a command, it's a relationship. If coming back is always the best option available, they come back.
Our new puppy is lovely, and we don't want to get this wrong.
The easiest work I ever do. Get the foundations right early and most of the problems above never arrive.
About Debi
I'm Debi De Lange, and I run Kindred K9 from Swannanoa in North Canterbury. I'm a fully qualified dog trainer and behaviour consultant, and a licensed affiliate of The Online Dog Trainer.
I'm also a partner and owner of Bark Royal Boarding Kennels, which has run from this same property for nearly fifteen years and has been recognised as one of the best kennels in Canterbury. That isn't a side note — it's where a great deal of my experience comes from. Thousands of dogs have come through our gates in that time, of every breed, age and temperament.
Boarding lets me watch the thing owners never get to see: how a dog behaves once you've driven away. Settling into a strange place, sorting things out with other dogs, coping without you. You learn an enormous amount about dogs that way, and very little of it is in any textbook.
Almost every dog I meet is a perfectly normal dog responding sensibly to a situation that isn't working. So I don't spend our time drilling the dog through commands. I spend it in your kitchen and on your driveway, showing you and everyone else in the house how to be consistent — because a dog getting three different answers from three different people can't possibly get it right.
My approach is calm, consistent and kind. No shouting, no intimidation, no gadgets that hurt. Just a clear structure your dog can understand, built on a proven foundation programme that I'll walk you through step by step when we meet.
Debi is a partner and owner. Nearly fifteen years of boarding, award-winning, and on the same property — so your dog can stay somewhere that already knows them.
Visit barkroyal.co.nz →— Debi
Services
Not sure which one fits? Ring me and we'll work it out together on the phone. There's no charge for that conversation.
The core of what I do. I come to your home — or a local park if that's where the trouble is — and we work with your dog in the environment where the behaviour actually happens. You get a tailored plan and practical daily exercises.
Best for: most dogs and most problems. Start here if you're unsure.
Small, friendly group classes covering the foundations — settling, lead manners, recall and calm greetings — plus the early socialisation that makes everything afterwards easier. Numbers are kept low so nobody gets overwhelmed.
Best for: new puppies, and young dogs who need the basics.
Live video sessions from wherever you are in New Zealand. Surprisingly effective, because I get to see your dog behaving normally at home rather than reacting to a stranger at the door. You'll get the same written plan and follow-up support.
Best for: clients outside North Canterbury, or anyone who prefers remote.
Specialist help for the harder cases — reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety, resource guarding, fear and persistent barking. These take longer and need commitment from everyone in the house, but they're often the most rewarding work there is.
Best for: established or serious behaviour concerns.
How it works
You'll know exactly what's happening at every stage. No packages to commit to before we've even spoken.
Fill in the enquiry form or ring me. Tell me about your dog and what's been going wrong.
We talk it through properly. If I'm not the right person to help, I'll tell you and point you somewhere better.
No charge · No obligation
I come to your home and assess your dog in their own environment. You'll get a written plan and practical exercises to start straight away.
We build on it at a pace that suits you. Most people need a handful of sessions, not an endless programme.
My approach
Dog training is an unregulated industry in New Zealand, and methods vary enormously. You deserve to know exactly what you're inviting into your home before you book.
Client stories
Within a fortnight we could walk past another dog without the whole thing falling apart. I honestly didn't think that was possible for him.Placeholder — Rangiora
Debi spent as much time with our teenagers as she did with the dog, and that turned out to be the point. We're all doing the same thing now.Placeholder — Kaiapoi
No gadgets, no shouting, no drama. Just a plan we could actually stick to. The house is so much calmer.Placeholder — Christchurch
These are placeholder quotes. Real client testimonials will replace them before launch.
Questions
I'm based at Swannanoa and regularly travel to Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Woodend, Oxford, Cust, Ohoka and greater Christchurch. If you're further out, get in touch anyway — I may still be able to come to you, or we can work together online.
The first consultation is the longest, because I need to see your dog properly, talk to everyone in the household and build you a plan. Follow-up sessions are shorter and more focused. I'll confirm exact timings when we speak.
Fees depend on what you need, how far I'm travelling and whether we're doing one-to-one work, a group class or an online consultation. Get in touch and I'll give you a straight answer for your situation before you commit to anything.
No, and I'd be wary of anyone who does. Your dog is a living animal, not a machine. What I can promise is that I'll work honestly toward your goals, give you a clear plan, and tell you plainly if I don't think I can help. The households who get the best results are the ones who practise consistently between sessions.
Never. No electric or shock collars, no prong collars, no alpha rolls, no intimidation. My method is built on calm, consistent, kind leadership — you set clear boundaries your dog can understand, and you apply them the same way every time.
Often yes, and it's some of the most worthwhile work I do. Please be completely honest about the history when you first make contact, including any bites, so I can plan the session safely for everyone. In some cases I'll ask you to see your vet first, since pain and medical issues are a common and overlooked cause of sudden aggression.
Ideally, yes — at least for the first consultation. A dog who gets a different answer from every person in the house has no way of learning the right one. Consistency across the whole household is usually where the real progress comes from.
Almost certainly not. Older dogs often learn faster than puppies because they settle more easily and concentrate for longer. If your dog's behaviour has changed suddenly in later life, though, a vet check is a sensible first step.
Your dog's normal lead and collar or harness, some food they really like, any vet or previous training history, and everyone who lives with the dog. Don't tidy up or stage anything — I need to see how things genuinely are.
Payment is arranged directly with me at or after your session — internet banking or cash. There's nothing to pay online and nothing to set up in advance.
Get in touch
Fill this in and I'll ring you back within one working day for a free, no-obligation chat. The more you tell me now, the more useful that call will be.
Including yours. Let's have a chat about what's going on and work out whether I can help.
