Andy Lea of West Ipswich is a dog 'psychologist', finding the underlying problems causing a dog's fear or aggression, etc to help stop the behaviour.
Source: Quest Newspapers

Ipswich's own 'dog whisperer' is taking the psychological approach to creating well balanced pooches.

Andy Lea has turned his lifelong passion for dogs, and experience as a trainer, into a business helping families try new methods for pets' problems.

"Your normal dog training is based on excitement and rewards,'' he said.

"Dog whispering looks on excitement as an unbalanced state, it is a human state. Dog psychology looks for calmness and I show my clients techniques to have a quiet calm dog. It listens to you far more than in a mad, excited state.''

Mr Lea said educating the owners on how a dog thinks, and how it picks up on emotions, was a key part of resolving issues.

"You can't just take the dog to a school and then go home. You are looking at the whole home life because every home is different and every dog is different,'' he said.

"(Helping) the nervous ones are the most rewarding because you give them back a life,'' he said.

Andy Lea can be contacted by email doggoneandy@yahoo .com.au or by calling 0407131277.