About Us…
Adaptive K9 is proudly owned and operated by Maggie Scarvell. Maggie's love of dog behaviour began in her teens, eventually turning into a heartfelt passion and a strong desire to build a career in this field. She has dedicated herself to deepening her understanding of behavioural science and honed her practical skills by working alongside experienced trainers.
To stay at the forefront, Maggie regularly attends seminars hosted by trainers from Australia and around the world. She holds a Cert III in Dog Behaviour and Training from the National Dog Trainers Federation and has been a dedicated professional in the dog training industry since 2013.
Her extensive experience includes working with dogs of all ages and breeds, helping them with obedience training and addressing confidence or behavioural challenges. Maggie especially enjoys working with dogs who find the world a little overwhelming and starting puppies on the right path early, to help prevent behavioural issues before they arise.
Our Training Philosophy
At Adaptive K9, our training philosophy focuses on building a mutually beneficial, productive relationship between a dog and its owner. We spend time identifying what motivates your dog and building on that to create a dog that is invested in their own learning. We believe that introducing a clear communication system in the early stages of training is vital, as it helps reduce confusion on the dog’s end by ensuring we are speaking the same language.
We maintain a holistic approach by focusing on the everyday needs of the individual dog, which allows us to ensure that the training applied is not hindered by underlying issues that have not been accounted for. This means that your interactions with us will include not only practising exercises to progress your dogs' training but also understanding your dogs' specific biological needs, both mentally and physically.
We believe every dog can make progress and endeavour to be as committed to each dog we work with as their owner is.
"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion".
- Taken from a LO done by Too Scrappy
Jas Whiting Seminar - July 2023
Jay Jack Play is the Way Seminar - March 2023
Jay Jack Defensive Tactics - March 2023
Dave McKelson Dog Reactivity Workshop - November 2022
Dave McKelson Dog to Dog Workshop - June 2022
The Dogfather Focus On What Matters Seminar - October 2021
Padfoot Conservation K9 Camp - September 2021
Bachelor in Animal Ecology (USC) – Graduated September 2021
Pat Stuart Seminar - June 2021
Ongoing Education
As dog training in Australia is an unregulated industry, it is vital that those working within it seek to continue their education to develop their skills and knowledge base. Below are some of the ways Maggie has continued to invest in her education surrounding her area of interest.
Dog First Aid Australia - November 2020
Fursafe Pet First Aid Course – September 2019
Precise K9 Engagement & Obedience Workshop – April 2019
Pat Stuart NePoPo Seminar – February 2019
Tyler Muto Australia Tour – July 2017
Andrew Clarke Dangerous Dog Handling Course – 2017
APDT Conference in Vegas, USA - October 2016
IGC Cert III in Pet Grooming – January 2015
AusGroom Conference - 2014
NDTF Cert III in Dog Behaviour and Training - August 2012
