About Me

Hi, I’m Niki. I’m a dog trainer, daycare provider and Family Dog Mediator, and I’ve spent the last 15+ years working with dogs and helping people understand them better. I started my business in 2010 as a dog walker, which quickly grew into home-based daycare and boarding. Somewhere along the way, I caught the ‘training bug’, becoming fascinated by dog behaviour, positive reinforcement and what makes each individual dog tick.

Before long, I’d built a bit of a reputation as “the girl with all the happy, well-behaved dogs”.

Then becoming a parent changed my perspective.

When I had my little boy in 2024, I suddenly found myself navigating life as a first-time parent.There were helplines, local groups, courses and countless resources designed to help us figure things out. And it got me thinking…

Where was the equivalent for first-time ‘puppy parents’?

Bringing home a puppy can be completely overwhelming, yet owners are so often expected to know what to do from day one. I realised I already had the pieces: years of experience in training and daycare, a wonderful group of friendly, well-trained dogs, and a real passion for helping people understand their puppies.

And that’s how Patchwork Puppies was born.

Helping puppies, and their people, thrive.

I don’t believe puppy training should simply be about obedience. For me, it’s about understanding the puppy in front of you – what makes them tick, what they need from you and how you can help them develop the confidence and skills they need for everyday life. And supporting the person at the other end of the lead is just as important.

There’s nothing I love more than that ‘Aha!’ moment when something suddenly clicks and you understand your puppy on a deeper level. Because with deeper understanding comes deeper connection, and that’s what I want Patchwork Puppies to help create.