About me
Suzi Walsh is an expert dog behaviourist and trainer. Suzi has a Honours Degree in Zoology and Masters in Applied Animal Welfare and Behaviour. Suzi has worked professionally as a dog behaviour consultant for the past 16 years and loves every second of it. Suzi is a founding member of the Irish Veterinary Behaviour Association and is passionate about improving the lives of dogs in Ireland. Suzi is a contributing writer for The Journal and can be frequently heard on Irish radio speaking about all things dog. As well as working with dogs who have behavioural problems Suzi also teaches puppy classes and gives workshops, courses and seminars to pet parents and other professionals in the industry as well as working as an expert assessor when things go wrong. When there is time Suzi also enjoys working with dogs in TV and film as well as a volunteer behaviour expert for several animal charities.
Suzi has previously worked for Dogs Trust Ireland and with the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind as a supervisor. She has also worked with the veterinary department of Dublin Zoo on a nutritional research project for captive wild animals.
In 2009 Suzi was nominated for an Ireland Involved award for her extensive work with rescue dogs and was a runner up in the Animals and Environment category.
Suzi has a special interest in puppy development and preventing behaviour problems.
Qualifications and Certifications
BSc. Honours Degree in Zoology from University College Dublin, 2001-2006
MSc. Masters Degree in Applied Animal Welfare and Behaviour, Edinburgh University, 2006-2007
Certificate in Canine First Aid (canine first responder course), 2009 & 2011
FETAC level 6 Canine Obedience & Training, Dog Training Ireland, 2012
Qualified Puppy Trainer , Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, 2010
Approved behaviourist with Allianz Insurance (vet referral required).
Companion Animal micro-chipping certification, International Animal Care College, 2011
Competency Assessment Programme in Clicker Training – Level 1
Member of the Pet Professionals Guild
Associate member of the IAABC
Member of APDT (No. o14)
Certificate in Dog daycare from the Companion Animal Sciences Institute
Certificate in Dog Emotion and Cognition, Duke University, 2015
Certificate in Feline Body Language, 2017
Certificate in Dogs with resource guarding issues from International College of Canine Studies
Certificate in Dog Body Language ICC
Certificate for the reversal of aggression in dogs and cats Dr Sophia Yin
Certificate in dog aggression ICC
Certificate in Treatment and Prevention of Dog Aggression Dr Ian Dunbar, 2017
Certificate in Canine Anxiety ICC, 2018
Certificate in reactive dog training Dr Ian Dunbar, 2018
Certificate introducing babies to dogs, 2019
Certificate in common behaviour problems in dogs Dr Ian Dunbar, 2019
Certificate in training advanced recall, Pet Professional Guild, 2019
Certificate in Understanding and Solving Separation Anxiety in Dogs, ICC, 2019
Advanced Accredited Certificate in Canine Reactivity Behaviour, Canine Principles, 2019
Certificate in Canine Impulse Control, 2019
Certificate Motivating Dogs (for dogs who won’t work for food), 2019
Certificate in Dog and Cat behaviour problems, Dr.Ian Dunbar 2019.
Certificate in dog behaviour (in the dogs mind), Victoria Stilwell, 2019.
Certificate in Dog - Dog Aggression and Reactivity, Scott Sheaffer, 2019.
Qualifications and Certifications continued
Certificate in Practical Ethology: Breeding Selection and Training Choices, Chris Redenbach, 2020.
Trainer & Behaviourist COVID-19 Certificate, Sarah Whitehead, 202o.
Canine Pharmacology Accredited Advanced Certificate certification, Canine Principles, 2020.
Certificate in Keeping Dogs Safe - Barbara Handelman M.Ed., CDBC, 2021.
Certificate in Rescue dogs - Canine Principles, 2021.
Remote Consultations for Aggression Cases, Raising Canine, 2021.
Certificate Canine Sex, Hormones & Neutering, Sarah Whitehead, 2021.
Certificate in Separation Anxiety - Simply Behaviour, 2021.
Heelwork (How To Stop A Dog Pulling On The Lead) Instructor Course, Simply Behaviour, 2021.
Recall (how to train your dog to come back) Instructor level, Simply Behaviour, 2021.
Certificate in Canine Play and Bonding, Canine Principles, 2021.
Certificate in Loose lead walking, Canine Principles, 2021.
Certificate Inspiring Resilience In Fearful and Reactive Dogs, Canine Principles, 2021.
21 days to a clever dog course. Sarah Whitehead, 2021.
Certificate in Canine Nutrition & Behaviour, The School of Canine Science, 2021.
Certificate in Canine Enrichment, 2021.
Certificate in the impact of dog play groups, Aimee Sadler, 2022.
Certificate in assessing pain in Dogs, Vet Ed, 2022.
Course Learning How to Recognize and Understand Pain in Dogs , Dr. Hannah Capon, 2022.
Recognizing Brewing Fear and Aggression in Dogs and Cats, Dr. Sophia Yin, 2022.
Rapid Reversal of Fear and Aggression in Dogs and Cats, Dr. Sophia Yin, 2022.
Restraint of Difficult Dogs and Cats, Dr. Sophia Yin, 2022.
Low Stress Handling® Silver Certification program, Dr. Sophia Yin, 2022.
Certificate Working with dogs who are not food motivated, Kathy Sdao, 2022.
Certificate Impulse control level 1 & 2, Donna Hill, 2022.
Reactivity in Herding Breeds, Emily Priestley, 2023.
Certificate Cooperative Care for Touch Aggressive Dogs, Sarah Dixon, 2023.
Identifying discomfort in dogs, APBC, 2023.
Certificate How to spot pain through movement and posture, Gemma Hodson, 2023.
Certificate Phantom pregnancy the silent killer, Dr Sara Davies, 2023.
Course in Puppy development and socialisation, Amplified behaviour. 2023.
Certificate Reactivity and Over Arousal, FDSA, 2023.
Certificate Tackling reactivity, Spirit Dog Training, 2023.
Certificate Forensic Dog Bite Investigations, Dr James Crosby, Amplified Behaviour, 2023.
Certificate Stop Jumping Course, Spirit Dog Training, 2023.
Course Car Chasing to Calm, Sarah Hederly, 2023.
Course Selecting drugs for pain trials, Dr. Kathy Murphy, BehavioUr Vets, 2024.
Course Stop Pulling! Loose Leash Walking, Grisha Stewart, 2024.
Cooperative Care, Dr.E’Lise Christensen, Behaviour Vets, 2024.
Behaviour-Supporting Medications and Supplements, Behaviour Vets, 2024.
Silence is Golden (solving barking issues) with Leslie McDevitt, 2024.
Separation Case Study Masterclass, Lauren Hewitt-Watts, 2024.
Defensive Handling with Aggressive Dogs, Michael Shikashio & Trish McMillan, IAABC, 2024.
Incorporating Enrichment into Your Behaviour Modification Plan, Allie Bender, IAABC, 2024.
Course Canine Compulsive Disorder, Toni Shelbourne, Canine Principles, 2024.
Course Reactive and aggressive behaviour, BehaviourVets, 2024.
Course on the Power of Play, BehaviourVets, 2024.
Course Resolving Resource Guarding, Sarah Dixon, IAABC, 2024.
Recognizing Pain: Physical vs Behavioural, Debbie Gross Torraca, IAABC, 2024.
Working with Separation Issues in Dogs, IAABC, 2024.
Functional Assessment Tracking, Suzanne Clothier, 2004.
Patellar luxation - diagnosis and management, John Innes, 2004.
Working Complex Aggression Cases, Laurie Lawless, IAABC, 2004.