Meet your Canine Coach
Cam Barclay
G’day, I’m Cam.
I’ve had a life-time connection with dogs. My first love in life was a white Staffy named Pirate Pete. Growing up on the family boarding kennel, I’ve interacted with countless dogs. This shaped my character, and although I was distracted for a while with a career in finance, dogs have always been an important part of my life.
During Covid lockdowns in Melbourne, my wife and I adopted a Staffy puppy named Beau. This was a challenge, as we lived in a unit (without a yard!) and he didn’t get the usual development opportunities.
This experience inspired me to learn more, and I joined a mentoring group of elite dog trainers and became obsessed with behaviour. I then left a well-paid job in the corporate world to accept a role in a Melbourne Shelter as a dog trainer and behaviourist.
I have now worked with thousands of dogs of all breeds, shapes, sizes and temperaments. I’ve also been lucky enough to establish a network with amazing people in Australia, including dog trainers, behaviour experts and Vets.
I started Act of Dog to help people understand their dogs, so we can give our best mates their best chance at a healthy and fulfilled life. I now have a passion for and specialise in fear and aggression cases, as this is where many dogs are misunderstood and with management and behaviour modification can often be helped.
My wife and I now live with Beau the Staffordshire bull terrier, Mike the American Staffy cross Rottweiler and Mookie the Staffy cross Labrador, as well as our three cats (thankfully in a house now with a yard, as it would be rather crowded!)
Magic Mike
Mike is Head of inter-dog communications at Act of Dog and has proven himself to be a brilliant communicator, and dog trainer in his own right.
While working in the Shelter, Cam met Mike who came in as a stray with no history. During the assessment, Mike scored high and in particular was appropriate when meeting other dogs. Over the course of his Shelter stay, Mike had a few medical challenges and Cam went to visit him every day. Then one day when walking Mike on the street, Cam had a bright idea, why not adopt this dude and bring him into the Act of Dog team!
Mike integrated to the family quickly and now lives with Beau the male Staffy, three cats and the odd foster that visits the Act of Dog HQ.
When working through cases where a clients dog is fearful, frustrated or anxious around unfamiliar dogs, it is crucial to set up controlled and gradual introductions with an appropriate decoy dog.
This is where Mike is at his best! In fact, at times Cam will check in with Mike and together they can validate when to progress closing distance when a dog is reactive or at threshold - the joke is that Mike is the best trainer in the house!