Why choose me?

Why Choose Me as Your Pet Behaviourist?

Because proven experience — backed by qualifications, accreditation, and real results — matters.

In the UK, anyone can call themselves a “behaviourist”, “trainer”, or “whisperer” — without formal training or experience.

But when your dog or cat’s behaviour is causing stress, frustration, or even heartbreak, you need more than promises. You need a qualified, experienced, science-based expert you can trust.

Unmatched Qualifications and Experience

I’m Mat Ward, a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB).

  • 🎓 Bachelor of Science

  • 🎓 Master of Veterinary Studies (First Class Honours in Companion Animal Behaviour)

  • 🗓️ 26 years of experience

  • 🕰️ 7200+ hours of one-on-one behaviour consultations with dogs, cats, and their people.

  • 🐕 5000+ hours of practical hands-on animal training — dogs, cats, and other species.

Dog and cat behaviourist accreditation

Fully Accredited

Clinical dog and cat behaviourist

🏅 Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) — accredited by the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB)

  • 🏛 Full Member:

    • Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC)

    • Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians (FABC)

  • 📃 Accredited Dog and Cat Behaviour Consultant - Companion Animals NZ (CANZ)

  • 📜 Registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist – Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC)

  • 🌍 Certified Dog & Cat Behaviour Consultant – International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC)

Kind, Science-Backed, Judgment-Free Help

My approach is rooted in modern behavioural science, not outdated dominance models or punishment-based training.

That means:

  • No pain.

  • No fear.

  • No intimidation.

  • Just practical, effective methods — ones that support your pet’s emotional well-being and improve your life together.

And just as importantly — no judgment. I’m here to support you, not blame you.

Dog and cat Behaviourist

Ready to Get Help From a Trusted Expert?

If you're dealing with difficult behaviours like aggression, reactivity, anxiety, or toileting issues, let's work together to create lasting change — with empathy and expertise.

Dog behaviour book What Dogs Want

My book - “What Dogs Want”

There’s so much information out there on dog behaviour and training. Everyone has an opinion on how best to raise and train a dog – whether it’s the lady you bump into on a dog walk, or your Uncle Bob. The internet’s rife with conflicting and confusing advice, and often my clients’ heads are spinning with all this information, and not sure how to sort the wheat from the chaff.

So, I wanted to write a book which was fun, accessible, but ultimately provided people with all the important information they need to know to be a good dog guardian. With Rupert Fawcett’s wonderful illustrations, it’s a book that can be picked up and enjoyed for a page or two, or read cover to cover. Whether you are 9 or 90, experienced or inexperienced with dogs, I’m confident you will put it down with a better understanding of your dog and how to train them.

Dog body language the tail - dog behaviour book page
Dominance - dog behaviour book page
Why does my dog behave in this way - dog behaviour book page

Training animals for film and TV

Early in my career in Auckland I also worked as a senior trainer and on-set coordinator for our animals-for-film business. This involved training a wide variety of species to perform various behaviours for feature films, TV commercials, and stills photography. I was the first person in the training team to implement bridging techniques such as clicker training to positively reinforce complex behaviours.

An example of the requirements of training for film is demonstrated in the apparently straightforward cat TV commercial on the right. The filming of this shoot took a day, and required me to pre-train "Zep" to run, jump, sit, stay, watch, and immerse his arm shoulder-deep in water on command (the fish is computer animated). This may sound challenging enough, but is even harder when there is a film crew of 40 people on the set, and the action has to be completed exactly as requested by the director!

If you would like to see me training Zep for this commercial, as well as videos of me training a big black boar, cockatoo, border collie, the dogs for "Dogs Might Fly", and other animals click here.

On set with Reggie

On set with Reggie

Mat and Shadow filming for the bedtime movie

Mat and Shadow filming for the bedtime movie

On set with Zep

On set with Zep

Dogs Might Fly

Dogs Might Fly

Training Alfie to fly

Training Alfie to fly

On set

On set

Filming in London for Dogs Might Fly

Filming in London for Dogs Might Fly

Mat and Lucy Lawless on Xena

Mat and Lucy Lawless on Xena

Gloria the film star chicken! Coordinating small animals on the Tom Cruise movie The Last Samurai.

Gloria the film star chicken! Coordinating small animals on the Tom Cruise movie The Last Samurai.

The Dogs Might Fly trainers

The Dogs Might Fly trainers