Decide which service your dog requires - Behavioural Training or a Behaviour
Consult? If you’re unsure refer to the section at the top of this page.
Visit our booking site for availability & book your session. Remember behavioural
training requires a double slot (1 hour total) for the first session.
Complete the profile - be sure to select the
right option.
The link is on the Home Page of the booking
site.
Let’s do this! The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see results.
Our behavioural training is grounded in positive reinforcement and evidence-
based techniques. We focus on understanding the root cause of your dog’s
behaviour and creating a plan to address it effectively.
Key features of our approach include:
One-on-One Consultations: Comprehensive assessments to
understand your dog’s history, triggers and behaviour in detail
Customised Training Plans: Tailored strategies to help your
dog overcome challenges at their own pace
Guidance for Owners: Equipping you with the knowledge and tools
needed to support your dog’s progress
Initial Consultation: A thorough evaluation of your dog’s behaviour, including discussions about
triggers, routines and past training efforts. This can be conducted in person or virtually.
Personalised Plan: We will create a custom plan to address your dog’s unique needs. This may
include management strategies, training exercises or recommendations for environmental
adjustments.
Ongoing Support: Follow-up sessions to monitor progress, adjust strategies and ensure lasting
improvement.
© McKaynine (Pty) Ltd t/a McKaynine Training Centre - Established 1999
Image: Snapdragon Pictures
At McKaynine we understand that every dog
is unique and may face challenges that
go beyond the scope of standard group
training classes.
As this need for specialised behavioural
training and consultation has grown, we
decided to dedicate a division of McKaynine to
helping these dogs and their owners.
McKaynine Behaviour deals exclusively with specialised
Behavioural Training and Consultations tailored to dogs
with behavioural issues, which fall outside of the scope
of normal training classes.
We specialise in helping dogs with:
•
Reactivity to other dogs or people
•
Separation anxiety
•
Resource guarding
•
Aggression
•
Fear-based behaviours
•
Excessive barking
A large percentage of problem behaviours are motivated by fear,
anxious expectation or discomfort.
In our sessions we will help you identify the triggers and learn how to
desensitise your dog, provide acceptable alternative behaviours and also learn
how to physically manage the stuation while your dog learns an different
response to the trigger.
Experienced Professionals: Our team has multiple qualifications and years
of expertise in both training and behavioural modification. The team is
headed up by Shannon McKay MSc CBCC-KA, who has 30 years of
experience and is the only canine behaviourist in Africa to have
international certification from the CCPDT (USA) as well as two post
graduate degrees in animal behaviour. Shannon is also an experienced
show handler of working breeds.
Holistic Approach: We focus on the whole dog, considering physical,
mental and emotional well-being.
Results-Driven Methods: Our techniques are designed to achieve
real, sustainable improvements.
Support for Owners: We provide clear, compassionate guidance to
help you confidently support your dog.
Humane Practices: We are duty bound to adherance to LIMA Principles, which
ensures a systematic approach to behaviour modification and does not rely on
punishment for a “quick fix”.
If your dog is struggling in a group setting or you’re facing challenging behaviour at home, we’re here to
help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a happier, more
balanced relationship with your dog.
So fortunate to have
found an incredible
trainer in Shannon.
She is generous in
sharing her immense
knowledge of canine
behaviour. Lily is
besotted with her.
Our 1-on-1 sessions
gave me a range of
skills to effectively
communicate with
Lily, whilst Lily gained
confidence and trust
in me as her handler.
We confidently
recommend private 1-
on-1 sessions with
Shannon.
Lily (Cane Corso),
Rochelle & Geraldine
Shannon from
McKaynine Behaviour
forever changed our
lives. We are eternally
grateful for her
practical, outcomes-
based approach and
care in both Dusty's
and my own training
to address and
overcome anxious
and reactive
behaviours. Shannon
has the answers. We
are now fully
equipped to handle
whatever comes our
way. Words are not
enough to express
the heartfelt
gratitude we have for
her life and vocation
— she is one of a
kind.
Dusty (Aussie
Shepherd) & Nicole
We adopted 2 dogs
that were past the
puppy stage and
needed assistance.
Shannon and her
team were fantastic.
Our Meeko was (and
unfortunately still is)
very reactive but we
were given the tools
and guidelines on
what to do in these
situations. These
training classes have
made it possible for
us to go on walks
with Meeko and take
him places that we
wouldn't have, if we
weren't given the
proper guidelines,
information and
training.
Meeko (rescue
Pitbull), Sonja & Jaco
We have had the
privilege and
pleasure of
Shannon’s expertise
and guidance for 10
years and can highly
recommend her.
There is simply no
other person I would
recommend above
her and I can
guarantee that you
won’t go wrong.
Through her training
and guidance, our
Whippets live a full
and vibrant life. We
are forever grateful
to Shannon for this.
Romeo and Björn
(Whippets), Joy &
Sharise.
Our behavioural training is grounded in
positive reinforcement and evidence-
based techniques. We focus on
understanding the root cause of
your dog’s behaviour and creating a
plan to address it effectively.
Key features of our approach
include:
One-on-One Consultations:
Comprehensive assessments
to understand your dog’s history,
triggers and behaviour in detail
Customised Training Plans: Tailored strategies
to help your dog overcome challenges at their
own pace
Guidance for Owners: Equipping you with the
knowledge and tools needed to support your
dog’s progress
Initial Consultation: A thorough evaluation of your
dog’s behaviour, including discussions about
triggers, routines and past training efforts. This
can be conducted in person or virtually.
Personalised Plan: We will create a custom plan to
address your dog’s unique needs. This may
include management strategies, training
exercises or recommendations for
environmental adjustments.
Ongoing Support: Follow-up sessions to monitor
progress, adjust strategies and ensure lasting
improvement.
(C) McKaynine (Pty) Ltd t/a McKaynine Training Centre
Established 1999
At McKaynine we understand that every
dog is unique and may face challenges
that go beyond the scope of
standard group training
classes.
As this need for
specialised behavioural
training and consultation
has grown, we decided to
dedicate a division of
McKaynine to helping these
dogs and their owners.
McKaynine Behaviour deals exclusively with
specialised Behavioural Training and Consultations
tailored to dogs with behavioural issues, which fall
outside of the scope of normal training classes.
Behavioural Training
•
Dogs struggling to participate in group classes
due to moderate reactivity, anxiety or fear
•
Dogs with limited ability to focus and engage
with their owner
•
Dogs exhibiting behaviours such as reactivity
or aggression with no bite history
•
Dogs with excessive barking or destructive
tendencies
•
Dogs with nuisance behaviours which are not
covered in typical dog training classes
First session: 1 hour (2 x 30 min sessions)
Thereafter: 30 min per session
Behaviour Consult
•
Dogs with a bite history or severe reactivity or
aggression to people, dogs or other animals
•
Dogs experiencing difficulties in adjusting to
new environments, routines or family
changes
•
Dogs with separation distress
•
Dogs that resource guard (food, toys or space)
•
Dogs which are fearful of specific objects,
sounds or situations
•
Dogs with compulsive behaviours (e.g., tail-
chasing, licking) or self-injurious behaviour
•
Dogs with pathological behaviour issues (only
via veterinary referral)
2 Hours (1.5 hour consultation) plus 30 min
follow-up within 10 days
We specialise in helping dogs with:
•
Reactivity to other dogs or
people
•
Separation anxiety
•
Resource guarding
•
Aggression
•
Fear-based behaviours
•
Excessive barking
A large percentage of problem
behaviours are motivated by fear,
anxious expectation or discomfort.
In our sessions we will help you identify the
triggers and learn how to desensitise your dog,
provide acceptable alternative behaviours and also
learn how to physically manage the stuation while
your dog learns an different response to the trigger.
Experienced Professionals: Our team
has multiple qualifications and years of
expertise in both training and
behavioural modification. The
team is headed up by
Shannon McKay MSc CBCC-KA,
who has 30 years of
experience and is the only
canine behaviourist in Africa
to have international
certification from the CCPDT
(USA) as well as two post
graduate degrees in animal
behaviour. Shannon is also an
experienced show handler of working
breeds.
Holistic Approach: We focus on the whole dog,
considering physical, mental and emotional well-
being.
Results-Driven Methods: Our techniques are
designed to achieve real, sustainable improvements.
Support for Owners: We provide clear,
compassionate guidance to help you confidently
support your dog.
Humane Practices: We are duty bound to adherance
to LIMA Principles, which ensures a systematic
approach to behaviour modification and does not
rely on punishment for a “quick fix”.
If your dog is struggling in a group setting or you’re
facing challenging behaviour at home, we’re here to
help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation
and take the first step toward a happier, more
balanced relationship with your dog.
Decide which service your dog requires -
Behavioural Training or a Behaviour
Consult? If you’re unsure refer to the
section at the top of this page.
Visit our booking site for availability &
book your session. Remember
behavioural training requires a double slot
(1 hour total) for the first session.
Complete the profile form - be sure to
select the right option. The link is on the
Home Page of the booking site..
Let’s do this! The sooner you start, the
sooner you’ll see results.
So fortunate to have found an
incredible trainer in Shannon. She
is generous in sharing her
immense knowledge of canine
behaviour. Lily is besotted with her.
Our 1-on-1 sessions gave me a range of
skills to effectively communicate with Lily, whilst Lily
gained confidence and trust in me as her handler.
We confidently recommend private 1-on-1 sessions
with Shannon.
Lily (Cane Corso), Rochelle & Geraldine
Shannon from McKaynine forever
changed our lives. We are
eternally grateful for her practical,
outcomes-based approach and
care in both Dusty's and my own
training to address and overcome
anxious and reactive behaviours.
Shannon has the answers. We are now fully
equipped to handle whatever comes our way.
Words are not enough to express the heartfelt
gratitude we have for her life and vocation — she is
one of a kind.
Dusty (Aussie Shepherd) & Nicole
We adopted 2 dogs that were past
the puppy stage and needed
assistance. Shannon and her
team were fantastic. Our Meeko
was (and unfortunately still is) very
reactive but we were given the tools
and guidelines on what to do in these situations.
These training classes have made it possible for us
to go on walks with Meeko and take him places that
we wouldn't have, if we weren't given the proper
guidelines, information and training.
Meeko (rescue Pitbull), Sonja & Jaco
We have had the privilege and
pleasure of Shannon’s expertise
and guidance for 10 years and
can highly recommend her.
There is simply no other person I
would recommend above her and I
can guarantee that you won’t go wrong. Through
her training and guidance, our Whippets live a full
and vibrant life. We are forever grateful to Shannon
for this.
Romeo and Björn (Whippets), Joy & Sharise.
