Dog Training Auckland
Unlock your dog’s full potential! I provide results-driven, bespoke dog training and expert behaviour modification for discerning pet owners in South Auckland. Expect personalised attention, reliability and exceptional outcomes that build a seamless partnership between you and your dog.
Welcome to The Driven Dog
Grounded in real-world experience and guided by proven principles, we bring balance, precision and clarity to every interaction. Shaping behaviour with intention and helping dogs and owners build lasting understanding.
About Me
Originally born in the West Sussex in the UK, my passion started from a very young age, being brought up on a farm, coming from a big family with 8 siblings and every kind of animal you could think of, horses and dogs being the main two I was handling day in day out.
Dog Training Services
Our training programs are designed to create meaningful change- not quick fixes. Each service combines structure, skill and real-world application so both dog and owner can move forward with confidence and clarity.
Unlimited training advice 24/7 with our Visual Training Hub & Online Training Modules
We offer personalized 1-on-1 dog training tailored to your dog’s unique needs in the Pukekohe area. For those outside of Pukekohe or seeking flexible learning, our comprehensive online dog training modules and interactive Zoom sessions bring expert guidance directly to you.
Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. Davina has been an incredible support for me and my puppy Archie. She supported me through both home-based training sessions and 10 day-train sessions, where she took my puppy out and about for real-world socialisation. Thanks to her and her team’s work, I now have a well-rounded, confident puppy who is an absolute delight. When I first met Davina, I was deep in the puppy blues, but she instantly put me at ease. Her advice is practical, easy to follow, and delivers results you can see straight away. The care, professionalism, and dedication that Davina and her staff bring to their work have made such a difference for both me and my Archie. If you’re looking for expert guidance, genuine support, and a trainer who truly understands both puppies and their owners, Positive Paws is the place to go.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. I got in touch with Davina from Positive Paws about 18 months ago, as I was moving from the country to town with my reactive morkie terrier. She wasn't able to be in an urban environment. Davina's help meant that Ellie is now able to walk in busy environments, attend dog daycare, meet other dogs, meet new people. She has even traveled on the Inter-island ferry. I have the portable dog I wanted!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. I cannot speak highly enough of Davina and the team at Positive Paws! Our 16week old Pomeranian puppy Zorro came to us completely unsocialised and was terrified of everything! He would shake, salivate excessively, defecate and run away from anyone and everything and we were at a loss of how to help him. I tried 2 different trainers and saw very little improvement and ended up being recommend to medicate him. I hated this idea but was at such a loss that we gave it a go but I was still struggling to achieve much with him. Walks were impossible he was too scared to get very far, I couldn’t have people to the house because he was terrified and our world got smaller and smaller. By the time he was 18months old i was seriously second guessing bringing him into our family but at home with just us he was a funny, quirky little character that I didn’t want to give up on but had no idea what to do next. I spent hours searching the internet, Facebook & instagram for solutions and I came across the positive paws page. At first I wasn’t sure if I should give another trainer a go…if I was just throwing more money away but I kept watching the page and reading the reviews and thought what have I got to lose? So I emailed Davina & then we spoke and decided to meet for a consult. She saw potential in him which gave me back a small amount of hope. I knew he needed intensive help more than a training session for an hour every week then leaving it up to me….and so we embarked upon a board and train programme where he would stay and train with Davina for 4 days per week and come home for the weekend with homework after a coaching session at the weeks end. I was so nervous dropping him off for the first time! He had never been away from us and never interacted with anyone else so i was worried he wouldn’t cope. But he did!! And he didn’t just cope he flourished! Davina welcomed him into her home, into her family. She introduced him to her dogs, novel people and to the outside world and helped him to see more clearly that everything isn’t a threat. She taught him that even when something is scary or feels too big it’s ok and those feelings can be worked through. He genuinely adores her and the positive paws team which is so heartwarming to see! Our 5 weeks has now come to an end and I’m so happy with what he’s achieved!! He is no longer medicated, he is loving going for walks and is so much more confident and relaxed and his personality and character is finally able to shine through all that fear! Now that he has found his confidence we will continue his journey with Davina and the positive paws team so that he can be the best he can be and our world will get bigger and bigger! I am so glad I took the plunge and wrote that email. I honestly cannot thank Davina and the positive paws team enough.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. A Heartfelt Thank You! I was first introduced to Davina through several recommendations, most notably from Harlo’s breeder, who had seen first hand the dedication I was putting into helping Harlo become the well-adjusted dog I always knew she could be. Despite my best efforts and working with other trainers along the way, I couldn’t seem to get on top of Harlo’s over-arousal around unfamiliar dogs. I spent nearly a year following varying trainers’ advice, hoping it would help—but instead, her reactivity only became more explosive. Our world was getting smaller. That’s when I booked a behavioural assessment with Davina, followed by a couple one-on-one coaching sessions— and everything changed. From the very beginning, I was struck by Davina’s professionalism and calm confidence. She handled Harlo with such ease and grace. It was immediately clear how experienced she was with reactive dogs, especially with my Harlo; a 19 month old entire female Rottweiler. Davina didn’t sugar-coat the challenges ahead, but she met us exactly where we were—with empathy, honesty, and a clear plan forward. Her communication was thoughtful and compassionate, and I felt truly heard for the first time in a long time. Davina is the perfect balance of firm but fair— kind and deeply respectful of the dogs she works with. She took the time to understand not just Harlo’s behaviour, but also my worries, my hopes, and the future I envisioned for my girl. That level of care and connection meant the world to me. I decided to commit to a five-week day train package. At this point, I had no doubt Davina would be able to help Harlo, but I had huge concerns when Harlo was in my care we would go backwards. This has not been the case. Davina has reassured, taught, and modelled for me every step of the way. I knew she was truly invested in helping me become the best handler, and mum to my girl, that I could be. It didn’t take long for Harlo to build a trusting relationship with Davina. Watching her melt into Davina during our sessions was all the reassurance I needed—my dog was in safe, capable, and loving hands. Not only did we work on the practicalities of reactivity, but also all the other components that contribute to a fulfilled dog: engagement, play, having expectations, and most of all, providing clarity for Harlo. It was refreshing to see a trainer who actively modifies training as they go—one size does not fit all. Davina put the perfect amount of stress on both Harlo and I to help us rise to the challenge. No more hiding off the path with oncoming dogs. Because of her belief in me, I’ve learned to lead calmly, with clarity. Davina’s passion for her work shines through in everything she does. She doesn’t just train dogs—she empowers owners. I am endlessly grateful for her guidance, her wisdom, and her unwavering support. Thanks to her, Harlo and I are finally on a path that feels hopeful, connected, and full of possibility. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Davina. I highly recommend Davina and the Positive Paws team to anyone seeking real, lasting change. This has been an incredible experience—one that I’m genuinely sad has come to an end, but so happy knowing we’re now on a better path.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. We came to Davina for our dog’s reactivity towards other dogs which had escalated in the previous months. Davina had been recommended to us by our local obedience training club, and I completely understand why after 7 weeks of 1-2-1 coaching. She really is so knowledgeable about dogs’ behaviour, genetics, drive, and also has a very empathetic approach with the dog owner, still having the dog’s fulfilment at heart. We have learnt a lot with her, managed to read our dog’s triggers and reactions better, became better handlers and also had fun along the way. We were quite helpless when coming to Davina, not knowing what was causing the reactivity. Her support with, first understanding the underlying cause, then managing the reaction, made a real difference! It is a long journey and it needs commitment but it is so rewarding! Thanks to all the learnings, my bond with my dog is so much stronger, her engagement with me has increased and we enjoy doing the exercises together. We still have some way to go but we’re in a much better path with the professional help of Davina. Thank you so much!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. Cannot sing Positive Paw’s praises enough! Davina has been an absolute life saver throughout our entire training journey. Our Golden Retriever boy, Oscar, was just 7 months old when we did our initial assessment and boy has he (and my husband and I) come such a long way! Our boy had strong basic foundations as we started working on him as soon as we brought him home, however like many Goldie’s, he lacked impulse control and didn’t have a clear understanding of our expectations of him in different contexts - particularly around novel dogs and people which was leading to a lot of frustration based behaviours such as lunging, pulling on the leash etc. Like many owners, we were struggling with the influx of information online of what to do and what not to do - I spent HOURS researching the ‘right’ way to train him and modify behaviours. One thing Davina taught us, is that there is no one size fits all. You need to work with the dog in front of you and understanding motives, body language, personality and behaviour is vital in identifying what is the best approach to modifying a behaviour. Our ultimate goal before we got Oscar, was to have a companion that we could take anywhere and do anything with. We wanted to reach several training goals and give him a life full of possibilities and freedom, whilst ensuring he understood what we expected of him - Davina has, and continues to make that possible for us! From the very first session, Davina took the time to understand what our goals were and then immediately got into getting to know Oscar’s personality, needs and motives. She opened up a whole new realm for us in terms of how to effectively communicate and hold him accountable whilst continuing to build on our relationship. Oscar is now 15 months old and has great off leash recall, clearly understands what is expected of him in all contexts, is able to behave neutrally around novel people and dogs and has excellent on and off leash manners - all thanks to the ongoing support and coaching we have from Davina. NONE of this would have been possible without Davina’s patience, precision, advice and guidance. Not to mention he is absolutely obsessed with Davina and that is a true testament to just how invested she is into building a relationship with each and every dog. Oscar could be in a completely different room and will hear Davina’s voice on a voice message and come running full steam only to be disappointed that her voice is only on the phone 😂 We cannot recommend Davina highly enough. Working with her has been nothing short of an incredible experience and am beyond grateful for everything she has done for us and our boy. We will always turn to Davina if we need advice/coaching on certain areas of his behaviour as he continues throughout adolescence and beyond - when you find someone as skilled as Davina, you never let go ❤️Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. We recently had the absolute pleasure of working with Davina from Positive Paws, and we can’t overstate how transformative the experience has been - for both us and our dog. From our very first meeting, it was clear that Davina is not only incredibly knowledgeable in dog training but also deeply passionate about what she does. She truly cares about helping dogs and their humans build strong, lasting connections. Our one-year-old American Staffordshire, Brook, had no prior training, and we were feeling overwhelmed by the endless (and often conflicting) advice online. As first-time dog owners - especially with a "bully breed" - we knew how important it was to get the basics right. Brook struggled with recall and would constantly pull on the leash, making daily walks more stressful than enjoyable. We enrolled Brook in a four-week "board and train" program, where she stayed with Davina during the week and came home on weekends. This setup was perfect - it kept us actively involved in her progress and allowed us to reinforce what she was learning in real-time. Davina took the time to get to know Brook’s unique personality and tailored the training to suit her needs. The environment she created was calm, positive, and full of encouragement. She was endlessly patient, incredibly knowledgeable, and always available to answer our questions (no matter how small). Thanks to Davina’s clear explanations and thoughtful guidance, we now feel far more confident reading Brook’s signals and communicating what we expect from her. The improvement in Brook’s behaviour has been nothing short of amazing. Walks are now something we look forward to, and we feel so much more connected with her. We can’t recommend Davina highly enough. If you’re looking for a trainer who is skilled, compassionate, and truly invested in your dog’s development - and in your journey as an owner - Davina is the one. Working with her has been an incredible experience, and we’re so grateful for everything she’s helped us achieve.Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. We were struggling big time with our highly reactive 5 month old rescue puppy Beth, could not even take her on a walk. In one session with Davina we learnt so much about what was going on for our dog and why and now she is enthusiastically going on 2 walks a day! We (parents and kids) are now so much more confident in managing her behaviour and have great relationships with our puppy. Highly recommend Positive Paws!!!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. Davina is an amazing trainer! She has done phenomenal work with Konbu and me. Konbu is an anxious boy who used to get nervous about everything—bikes, strangers, rustling leaves, the wind, and more. He would panic when things became overwhelming and would do anything to run away. His anxiety got so bad that we would often spend hours just circling our driveway, unable to step onto the street. Any movement in the distance would send him into a panic, causing him to want to run back home. I had tried various methods with other trainers in the past, but there was little to no improvement. However, our training with Davina truly made a difference for both Konbu and me. Now, we're at a point where we can happily take a stroll down the street and relax on a patch of grass in Cornwall Park, watching people, bikes, and other dogs pass by—something I never thought was possible before! What I appreciate the most about Davina and her training methods was how she helped me understand Konbu's body language, why he reacts the way he does, and what signs to look for. She also taught me how to best support him in different situations. Davina helped me build trust with Konbu, and, more importantly, she helped him gain confidence in making the right decisions on his own. I'm so happy with how far we've come, and it's all thanks to Davina and her team. I can't recommend her enough!Posted onTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Facebook. Davina has seen our puppy Blu for 20 sessions now and he is growing into such an amazing dog. Davina and her team have worked with both Blu and us to set him up for a great future. She is so caring and we couldn’t have got through the tough puppy stage without her.
