★★★★★ 5.0 from 64 reviews (Aug 2026)Do you have a Irish Water Spaniel that needs some training help? Natalie from Crazy Kind Calm dog training can help!
With over 900 dogs trained across the Macedon Ranges, Natalie understands the unique personality and needs that come with this wonderful breed.
Irish Water Spaniels are the largest and one of the oldest spaniel breeds — distinctive, curly-coated dogs bred for retrieving in cold water. They're intelligent, energetic, and have a clownish sense of humour, but can be reserved with strangers.
Irish Water Spaniel owners have one of the most distinctive dogs at the park — and one of the cleverest. If yours makes a beeline for every puddle, mud hole, and creek, reserves their enthusiasm for family only, or has a mischievous streak that keeps you guessing — that's the breed. Their intelligence and drive make them excellent training partners when you work with their natural instincts.
Whether your Irish Water Spaniel is a new puppy or an older dog with some habits to work on, we've got options to suit.
Personalised sessions in your home, where the challenges actually happen. We work together on your specific goals — whether it's pulling on lead, barking, poor recall, jumping up, or something else entirely.
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Group classes in Kyneton for puppies aged 8-16 weeks. Build confidence, learn essential skills, and socialise with other pups in a safe, supportive environment.
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"Nat was fabulous with our anxious rescue border collie. We learnt a lot and our training notes have given us recommendations for us to work on in between visits. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Nat!"
— Melinda burgess
"I was really impressed with Natalie's knowledge and experience when she visited our 3 resident dogs at home this morning to advise on the management of a really difficult situation in which one dog is attacking another, with me injured as well, and literally thousands spent on vet bills. The situation has been exacerbated by recent stressors such as moving house and inadequate room, and Natalie gave some important guidance and insights to manage the situation, including where it is likely to go from here (high risk of serious injuries to dogs and humans or a death, which I totally see happening) and what we can do to control and manage the dogs, as I do not wish to euthanise or re-home the stressed-out, attacking dog without trying to work on this. She advised on strategies, equipment and training that will all actually work because it was personalised and done with the doggers present, displaying all their wonderful behaviours. The visit was much better than a phone consult could ever be because Natalie was able to review the house, property and dog pen and suggest points for barriers and ways to provide time out and decompression, including specific types of play to encourage calmness and focus. She also noted behaviours that we didn't see and explained what they meant and what was going on, and how we needed to manage and distract from them. Am really happy with Natalie's services, it was money well spent - but I rather wish I'd sought help for this some time ago before it all escalated to a crisis of serious proportions. I hope that with Natalie's insights, notes and support materials we will be able to develop into a manageable, moderately tolerant 3-dog household. Thank you so much Natalie."
— I Dobell November 2025
"The Best lesson I could asked for my pup :) he came out happy and more relaxed thanks to the patience of Nat our trainer. Would definitely recommend :)"
— Jack C June 2019
Let's talk about your goals and how we can help your Irish Water Spaniel become the best dog they can be.
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