Meet the Team
who help make Sit & Stay what it is today
Tahlia
Head Trainer & Owner
My passion for dog training started in 2014 when my family purchased a dog that needed help building his confidence and booked him in for 1:1 dog training. Later that year I begged my parents to let me get my own dog to raise and train.
I then went on to complete my Cert III in Companion Animal Services, Cert IV in Vet Nursing and work placement under a dog trainer which led to my first job in the dog training industry.
I then worked in a dog daycare for 4 years as the manager which was a very eye opening experience.
In 2020, along with a good friend of mine, we opened Sit & Stay which started as just a pet siting business. It has since grown and changed and I am now the sole owner.
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Other than training dogs I like to spend my spare time reading, playing games, watching a variety of shows and I don't go a single day without listening to music. A little fun fact about me is I was born partially deaf in both ears!
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Jazz
Labrador x Border Collie
18/10/14
The dog that started it all. Anyone that's met Jazz knows that she's a pretty solid dog and put simply, a good girl. But she wasn't always like this which is what got me into dog training.
Jazz used to be quite dog selective and very anxious. Her separation anxiety had her bending crate bars, squeezing herself into tight spaces and howling whenever she was left alone.
Now Jazz has an extensive list of tricks, came comfortably stay home alone and helps me out with 1:1 sessions and training walks frequently!
She's my best girl, a fantastic role model to the many fosters and pets we've had throughout the years. She's been with me through many big life changes and I couldn't be more grateful for her being by my side.
Flynn
Australian Shepherd
29/3/24
Flynn is the latest addition to the pack and he's certainly been fun new challenge. Being a high energy working breed his requirements have been different to all my previous dogs. He's a very quick learner but has a feisty 'what if a do this instead' type of personality which has been interesting navigating. He works for both food and toys but his biggest motivation is definitely a tug toy.
He gets along well with Jazz but is best friends with Jesper the cat.
Agility is my goal for him and he loves the practice we've done so far!
Jesper
3/9/23
Jesper, his 5 siblings and his mum came to me as fosters when he was just 4 weeks old. I named the kittens after characters from my favourite book 'Six of Crows' and the mum after the author. I fostered them all for 4 weeks and then 4 of his siblings went to other foster carers whilst I kept Jesper, his mum Leigh aka Mama Cat and his brother Matthias until they were to be adopted.
From the start Jesper needed a bit of extra care and when transition to eating solids he was struggling quite a bit. After this he became quite attached to me and as the time came to put them up for adoption I found it hard to go through the process for him. His mum and brother were adopted together and after that I decided it was meant to be and officially adopted (foster failed) Jesper.
This was the best decision as he has grown into such a fantastic cat. He loves working for his food and has learnt sit, shake, spin, to come when he's called and he gets outside time on his harness and lead. He loves the dogs and is pretty confident when a new dog comes into the house. He's also been a great foster brother to the kittens I've had after him.
Kovu
Australian Shepherd
10/8/19 - 27/5/23
Kovu was my soul dog who I only got 3 years with but will be forever grateful for the time we had together.
He was a sweet boy with a go with the flow kind of personality. He also had his crazy moments and was easy to rile up and have fun with.
Kovu loved to learn and training was always so much fun with him. We completed 3 levels of obedience together and went on many adventures. But he was also happy to just chill at home together.
He learnt many tricks, my favourite being 'Selfie' (paws up on my shoulders from behind and rest his head on one shoulder) and 'Jump' (jumped into my arms from the ground). The most random trick I taught him was to take to socks off on command.
Unfortunately one day in 2023 he suddenly became very lethargic, 3 days later he severely declined and I had to make the hardest decision of my life and say goodbye to him.
Kovu will forever have a place in my heart and be my purpose to help others train their dogs and give them a better life.
Special Mentions
Stitch Border Collie
Drew Aussie x
I fostered Stitch for 7 months and he taught me so much about dog training. Stitch was born deaf and after a failed adoption we discovered he had CCD which presented in obsessive shadow chasing. He was my biggest challenge but also my biggest achievement. After consistent training he went from shadow chasing to the point he was hurting his nose from shoving it into the ground to being able to relax on his own and easily recall away from shadows and potential triggers.
It was very hard to adopt him out but he went to the most amazing forever home who have continued his training and become a close friend of mine now. I recently had the pleasure of escorting Stitch to his parents wedding where he was the ring bearer!
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Drew was another foster dog who I had for about 4 months. She was completely deaf, completely blind in one eye and partially blind in the other. She was a crazy little girl but I learnt a lot about communicating with touch rather than voice and hand signals.
