About Us
With a commitment to nurturing a harmonious bond between dogs and their owners, we offer effective training programs that promote good behaviour and create a trusting relationship with the owner and their dog.
Who We Are
Dogz at Home is a renowned force-free and rewards-driven training centre situated in Pinelands, Cape Town. Spearheaded by Lynda Montignies, a highly experienced certified canine behaviourist with over two decades of training expertise, the centre provides exceptional services for dogs and their owners. With a passion for positive reinforcement techniques, Dogz at Home focuses on building a strong and trusting bond between humans and their four-legged companions.
Lynda Montignies extensive knowledge and understanding of canine behaviour enable her and her team to tailor training programs that address specific needs and challenges faced by individual dogs. Through patient guidance and encouragement, our passionate and certified team will help your dog learn desirable behaviours and overcome behavioural issues in a gentle and humane manner.
At Dogz at Home, the emphasis is on creating a safe, supportive, and enriching environment where dogs can thrive and develop into well-mannered, confident pets. By utilizing force-free methods and rewarding desired behaviours, the centre promotes a positive and enjoyable training experience for both dogs and their owners.
Whether it’s basic obedience training, addressing problem behaviours, or specialized training for specific goals, Dogz at Home offers a comprehensive range of services to meet the unique requirements of every dog and their family.
Our Team
Lynda Montignies
Owner/Trainer/Behaviourist
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Lynda is the owner of Dogz at Home Training Centre.
She has over 25 years of training experience with accreditations on Canine Behaviour from both COAPE and the British College of Canine Studies.
Lynda has become a champion of force-free training methods in the local community and has inspired numerous trainers and handlers to move away from ‘old school’ correction-based methods.
She is also extremely knowledgeable and passionate about canine nutrition and raw diets and has a wealth of experience and insight to offer into managing both the physical and mental wellbeing of canine companions.
Kyle Goffe-wood
Shop Manager/Trainer
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Kyle first joined Dogz at home with his puppy “Sparky” back in 2020, this is when he got a taste for the dog training world. Since then he has done his CBTI Diploma through PetSense qualifying him as a trainer in 2021, also completing his Canine First Aid diploma in 2022. In 2022 he started running the shop on Saturday mornings, helping all the dogs to pick out their favorite treats, chews and toys.
Currently he is doing his Advanced Diploma in Applied Canine Behaviour through Petsense and during the week he walks and trains dogs all over the Durbanville area.
Aphiwe Mpashu
Equipment Manager
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Aphiwe is our superstar all-round helper and makes all of the magic happen with setting up and packing away our equipment every Saturday.
When he’s not busy with that you will find him either helping out at the shop, or showing off his soccer skills on the field.
Tyler Kemp
Trainer
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Tyler attended our training classes with her best friend, the playful and affectionate Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Maya.
She fell in love with training from the first minute and volunteered to join our team as an assistant.
Tyler is passionate about animals and strongly believes in rewards-based training and the divine relationship it creates between the pet and owner.
Her dream is to work towards becoming a veterinarian.
Jessica Botha
Trainer
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I am a qualified trainer through PetSense College & currently pursuing studies through COAPE International for their certificate in animal behavior.
I discovered my passion for clicker training in 2017 when I used this positive reinforcement technique to successfully train a pony with a bad reputation to successfully being back in the competition ring with kids. The experience ignited a passion for the power of positive reinforcement and its potential to transform the lives of animals.
In 2020, I adopted a reactive dog, which inspired me to pursue dog training professionally. I began volunteering at Dogz @ Home training center in June 2022 after completing my course with PetSense and became a puppy trainer in October the same year. I offer private dog and puppy training in the Atlantic Sea board area
Keelan Stanley Nel
Trainer
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Keelan is a COAPE qualified dog trainer, having completed her CertAT and CertAB, and the COAPE Diploma in Behavioural Studies.
Having worked with animals all her life and having been surrounded by several dogs and horses growing up, Keelan has been drawn to understanding their behaviour and providing a positive means of communication between human and dogs.
Keelan prides her work in the techniques of positive reinforcement and catering to the individual needs of the dogs she works with.
Caron Lee Heynes
Trainer/Behaviourist
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Caron has been training dogs since 2015. Inspired by the amazing CopperDog, her Hungarian Vizsla, she became the poster child for what it means to live with a high-drive working dog.
Caron and Copper have enjoyed competing in agility and flyball, and Caron has a passion for trick training.
Caron works primarily as a professional dog groomer, and qualified as an animal behaviourist in 2022.
Casey Ward
Trainer/Behaviourist
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Casey’s interest in dog training began in 2010 when she got her Boxer puppy Piper.
After completing her Honours Degree in Biological Sciences she chose to follow her passion of working with dogs.
She has a Diploma in the Foundations of Canine Behaviour Management through Pet Sense and is currently completing her Advanced Diploma in Applied Canine Behaviour.
For the past 3 years she has worked as a Certified Small Animal Hydrotherapist and has recently become a facilitator for Pet Sense training courses in Cape Town.
Theo Giannelos
Trainer
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Theo has been a trainer since 2013 and has a background in Competition Obedience at A and B level.
Theo’s classes run like clockwork and he has a fantastic eye for detail and the small adjustments that can make a big difference.
The lord of the house is Luca, the beautiful, tri-colour Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Luca shares the house with Juno, a black Labrador rescue.
Both are at DAHTC every Saturday.
Cait Pansegrouw
Trainer
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Raised by a behaviourist, dog trainer and breeder, Cait grew up in a dog-centric home. She began assisting her mom at ‘dog school’ by age 7. At 10, she got her first dog and by 12 she was competing in Obedience trials at B Test level.
Cait also competed at breed shows and made many KUSA breed champions and Best In Show winners. She became a sought-after handler and showed more than 40 breeds over the course of 8 years. She remains the first and only South African to have won the title of International Junior Handler at Crufts.
Passionate about empowering people with modern and force free methods so that they can grow respectful, trusting relationships with their dogs, Cait is now owned by her Shiba Inu, Moshi. He is a little dog with big feelings, inspiring Cait to work with dogs who may need a different approach to training.