Hey, I’m Dr Liam
I have always been fascinated by animals, but my real passion lies in behaviour — specifically, how we communicate with each other.
Dogs and cats are talking to us all the time. The problem isn’t that they aren’t communicating; it’s that we are so focused on spoken language that we miss what they are saying. As humans, we are actually incredibly well-designed to read body language, but we often aren't consciously aware of it. In the animal world, communication is almost entirely physical. When we work with dogs and cats, we have to understand what they are telling us with their bodies, and just as importantly, we have to be aware of what our own body language is telling them.
My goal is to bridge that gap. If an owner can come away with a better understanding of who their dog is, what their needs are, and how to meet them, so many behavioural problems simply fade away.
A Lifetime of Experience
My experience with animals did not start in a clinic. I grew up with dogs, cats, and horses, and that early immersion shaped everything that followed.
Over the years I have competed in the obedience and show ring with my own dogs, gaining titles in both areas, spent time working with thoroughbred horses, and more recently gained a champion title with my Dobermann, Bernard, and entered the scent work ring.
During university I worked in the large dog section of a busy boarding kennels, gaining daily hands-on experience with anxious, fearful, and sometimes aggressive dogs. I also volunteered as a trainer at obedience clubs and with rescue organisations, including picking up dogs from the pound.
After graduating I moved into emergency veterinary medicine, spending three years working with pets in crisis — an experience that gave me a lasting clinical perspective on fear, pain, and stress. I then owned my own veterinary clinic in East Fremantle, focused exclusively on dogs and cats. Our commitment to low-stress handling led to Gold Level certification from the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM), and I gained Fear Free and Stress Free animal handling certifications during this time. I also spent a period in mobile veterinary practice, which gave me a valuable perspective on how behaviour changes when animals are seen in their own environment rather than a clinical one.
Now working exclusively in veterinary behaviour medicine, I focus entirely on behaviour problems and behaviour modification — drawing on every one of those experiences to understand not just what a dog is doing, but why.
Qualifications & Training
My formal qualifications in veterinary medicine and animal behaviour include:
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery (Murdoch University, 2007)
Membership - by examination - into the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (MANZCVS) - Veterinary Behaviour Chapter
Continuing Veterinary Education one-year course in Veterinary Behaviour (University of Sydney)
The MANZCVS membership by examination is well regarded within the veterinary community as an indication of advanced expertise in an area of Veterinary Medicine (Behaviour. It is not a course you complete — it is an examination you pass, and the standard is high.
It is often assumed that a veterinary behaviour qualification is primarily about prescribing medications. In reality, the postgraduate training covers a much broader scope. A large proportion of the coursework is focused on ethology — the scientific study of animal behaviour, encompassing how animals function normally, how they reproduce, how they communicate, and what constitutes normal behaviour across species. It also covers abnormal behaviours, the science of how animals learn, training methodology, and behaviour modification techniques. The effects of illness and medication on behaviour, and the appropriate use of behaviour-modifying medications where indicated, are also covered in depth.
This means I am well qualified to understand why an animal is behaving in a certain way, how to create a structured training and management programme, and — importantly — what is actually achievable for that individual animal.
I also have a strong commitment to ongoing professional development and regularly attend seminars, workshops, and training programmes in areas including reactivity, behaviour modification, and veterinary behavioural medicine.
My Goal
“Helping animals has always been my calling. As a Veterinary Behaviour Consultant and dog trainer, I bring together the science of veterinary medicine, neuroscience, and behaviour modification with the practical skills of training — to help pets and their families live calmer, safer, and happier lives. At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: that when owners truly understand their animals, and animals feel genuinely understood, the bond between them becomes something remarkable. My goal is to build that understanding, strengthen that relationship, and give every pet the best possible chance to thrive.”
