A Pyes Pā dog behaviourist is closing the doors to her pet lodge so that she can tour the country and educate parents about dog aggression.

Dog Logic training and Pyes Pā Pet Lodge owner Maree Hart decided to take action after reading articles about dog attacks in the NZ Herald.

ACC data revealed an upward trend in national dog-attack-related claims.

A steady upward trend has also been seen in the Bay of Plenty.

Hart said over-trust was a common factor, highlighting the need for better prevention through responsible dog ownership and consistent safety advice.

Dog Logic training focuses on adult dogs with aggressive behaviour issues.

She said what she had seen coming into her training room reflected those statistics.

“When that child got bitten and killed by dogs in Katikati a few months ago, that is when I realised parents need to be educated.”

This struck a chord for her as a 4-year-old boy, Timothy Tu’uaki Rolleston-Bryan, also known as Timoti, was critically injured by dogs while visiting a property in Tuapiro on Friday, March 28.

Timoti was taken to Katikati Medical Centre but died soon after, just 18 days after his fourth birthday.

The three dogs – American bulldog cross, border collie-mastiff cross and Staffordshire bull terrier – were euthanised.

Timoti was farewelled at Ōtāwhiwhi Marae in Waihī Beach.

Hart’s three-year property lease ends on December 1, making the timing right for her.

“The place has seen better days and needs a lot of money spent on it to do another stint as a boarding kennel.

“I have had the wonderful pleasure of helping hundreds of people with their dogs in that time with boarding and training but it is very restricting being in one spot.”

Maree Hart with a client's dog in her training room. Photo / Brydie Thompson

Hart said she had a Pet Lodge client pick their dog up last week, and their young child was so excited to see their dog that they rushed up to it and gave it a full-body hug.

“The dog got a fright and showed white or whale eye, they were not happy, and the body language showed the dog was afraid of this young child.

Hart said the dog was a 9-month-old golden retriever cross.

“The dog was showing behaviours like jumping up, over excitement, not calming, mouthing.

“I explained to the mother, this is not over excitement - it was overwhelm.”

Hart calmed the dog and said the owners could not believe their dog could be that calm.

“If this was not dealt with, that dog would have started biting that child, it was not the dog’s fault, but most likely it would have been put to death just for protecting itself.”

Hart wants to educate parents to ensure that healthy habits are established at home.

“It is the parents who need to change what they are telling their children and how they are handling their dogs.”

Hart has spent over 30 years in the dog training industry and has completed formal courses at international and national levels.

She worked as a vet nurse, leaving the job after two years, after feeling heartbroken that people were putting down dogs they could not control.

“I have dedicated my life to helping humans with their dogs.

“Teaching people how to communicate effectively and build strong relationships with their dogs is incredibly rewarding.”

Hart aimed to travel the country and educate adults about getting back to the basics and keeping children safe.

“There are still so many parents letting their kids go up to dogs and pat them, that should not be happening.”

Hart said the way people were patting their dogs was often hurting them.

“You would become aggressive if I touched you like some touch and slap dogs.”

Hart will host stage shows and workshops and would ask for two naughty dogs between 1 and 5 years old to use as examples.

“I will train them in front of everyone. I have never met the dogs before going on stage.”

The shows would be two hours long with a Q&A session afterwards.

Hart said most dogs don’t want to become aggressive, and it was usually caused by incorrect training, aggressive people or, most commonly, dogs who have been over-loved and smothered with few rules and boundaries.

She said there were many reasons why a kind, gentle dog can turn aggressive.

“Aggression is normally from fear.”

In her training shows and workshops, Hart would train parents to see the signs a dog might show if they were about to become aggressive.

Hart will start her 12-month mission to educate parents at schools, clubs and communities around New Zealand in 2026.

For more information, visit www.nobitetour.com