Get to know your

WalkWise Dog Trainer

A woman with glasses and long brown hair smiling at a dog on a blanket on a couch in a living room.
A young woman smiling with glasses taking a selfie outdoors next to a smiling brown dog wearing a harness, with green trees and grass in the background on a bright sunny day.
A woman is training two dogs on a grassy field with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
A woman in an orange jacket smiling with her eyes closed and a wet, shaggy dog sharing a close moment outdoors on a cloudy day.
A young woman with brown hair lying on a couch, looking at a black and brown dog with long, curly ears sitting on her chest.
A woman wearing a green knit hat, black glasses, a red scarf, and a yellow jacket is smiling at a small, fluffy dog with light brown and white fur. The woman is looking down at the dog, which is looking up at her.
A woman wearing glasses and a striped sweater is outside with a black dog, and the dog is licking her face as sunlight shines brightly behind her.
A woman and a dog laying on a couch, with the woman looking at the dog and the dog sleeping peacefully with eyes closed. The woman is wearing a pink fleece jacket and the dog is white with brown spots.
Young woman in a pink jacket and turquoise rain boots standing on a sidewalk, holding a leash attached to a small black and white puppy, with parked cars and houses in the background.
A woman wearing glasses and a colorful scarf is smiling as a golden retriever puppy licks her nose indoors.
A woman with glasses and a red scarf smiling while holding a curly-haired brown puppy inside a room with modern decor, a pink neon sign that says "We should hang something cool here," a stained glass lamp, and large windows.
A woman in a green jacket and red beanie smiles as a white dog drops a tennis ball into her hand.
A woman wearing a beige knit hat and sunglasses sitting on a sandy beach, petting a brown dog with a green harness, with blue sky and sea in the background.

My name is Jessica Smith, I’m a Certified Dog Trainer and Body Language Specialist with 7 years experience as a professional dog walker and trainer. I have a Degree in Zoology and have furthered my studies with The School of Canine Science, The Dog Training College and The Ian Dunbar Academy.

My favourite thing about dogs is their communication. The nuanced and yet really obvious ways they talk to us and one another is one of those ‘when you see it you can’t unsee it’ phenomenon - and reading dog body language is, in my opinion, and absolutely crucial skill that is far too often missing in today’s society. I don’t think you can truly know a dog without knowing what they’re saying. And they say a lot, all the time! I suppose I always was jealous of Dr Doolittle and this is the closest I’m going to get…

Another thing I love about dogs is their fun-seeking, joyful and cooperative nature. This is definitely something I encourage people to notice and to lean into to form positive and happy relationships with their dogs. Perhaps it is a way of me forcing myself to break out of my own anxious tendencies to take things too seriously, but letting go of expectations and the opinions of others has always benefitted a dog’s learning journey, so is something I am keen to instil in people. 

With this in mind, I like to work with people who are curious about their dogs and what they’re communicating, and who are willing to be patient and see their dog in a new way in order to help them grow and thrive. I want my clients to be open to letting go of the ego that so often puts pressure on their dog’s learning process, and instead have fun with the ups and the downs as they navigate the world together!

Through my work, I want you to understand how to talk back to your dog, to motivate rather than force them and to support them to become a socially capable, independent adult dog who can navigate the world without anxiety or fear.

And lastly, I have an Irish Setter, Ernie, who is a gentle, giant goofball. He has been by my side helping me teach dogs how to exist happily in a busy suburb for 6 years now. We made it through the years of puppyhood and adolescence and came out the other side as a good team and have enjoyed a life full of fun and freedom! This is what I want for my clients and I work hard to help people achieve that.

A woman with glasses and brown hair, wearing a green sweater, gray pants, and a red plaid scarf, sitting outdoors on mossy rocks, smiling at her Irish Setter dog, which is sitting and looking up at her.
Badge with a dark blue crest and white text that reads "Canine Body Language Specialist".
Badge indicating a certified dog trainer, with the words "Vetted," "Monitored," and "Reviewed" at the bottom.
Puppy training specialist badge with a wreath and dog training college emblem at the top.

Rachael + Boyd

“Jess has consistently been a light at the end of the tunnel when things have been tricky (and seemed unmanageable!) and worked so hard to help us and Boyd be the best team. Boyd absolutely loves his sessions with Jess, working on his disengagement and positively reinforcing his good choices. We don’t know where we’d be without Jess, we can’t recommend her enough!”