Our Team
Dirk - Founder & Lead Trainer
Dirk has had dogs in his life for as long as he can remember, and they’ve always been rescues. Growing up with Whiskers, Archie, Tess, Gertie, Suki, and Acacia — and now sharing life with Casper, Skye, and Frodo, affectionately known as The Fluff Dynasty — he learned early on the patience, consistency, and empathy needed to help dogs thrive.
His understanding of dogs was shaped long before Steady Paw existed. From childhood memories of sitting quietly with Whiskers, to learning from Archie’s loyalty, Suki’s trust, and the many rescue dogs who helped shape his view of behaviour, Dirk came to see dogs not as problems to be fixed, but as individuals trying to make sense of the world around them.
Training became second nature to him as a child, and as an adult he was once told by a local trainer that he didn’t need their help because he already knew what to do. That moment gave him the confidence to trust his instincts and continue developing his skills, which now span more than 35 years of hands-on experience.
Outside of dogs, Dirk has worked extensively with young people in the outdoors. He has led school groups, summer camps, and even spent a year working intensively with disaffected youth. He found that the same principles that help children succeed — patience, structure, encouragement, and clear boundaries — are exactly what dogs need too.
Dirk is also the author of Calm, Clarity, Leadership, his book on dog training, rescue dogs, and the lessons dogs have taught him throughout his life. The book reflects the same philosophy that sits at the heart of Steady Paw: training should be calm, practical, honest, and built around helping owners better understand the dog in front of them.
Dirk is known for his calm presence, his love of storytelling, and his ability to connect with both people and animals in a way that builds trust and confidence.
Luisa - Trainer
Luisa grew up surrounded by animals, in a home that often felt more like a small zoo than a family house. Long before she had a dog of her own, she was teaching her cats tricks and spending her teenage years walking dogs in the neighbourhood. Working with a variety of breeds quickly taught her that every dog is different, and that training should never be treated as one-size-fits-all.
Before moving into dog training, Luisa built her career as a personal trainer, specialising in rehabilitation and long-term lifestyle change. Her work focused on helping people build confidence, create better habits, and stay accountable — skills that now support her work with both dogs and owners. Her journey into dog training became personal when she and her husband decided to foster a shelter dog. The plan was simple: foster, train, adopt out, and repeat. Their first foster, Loki, had other ideas. Loki quickly became a permanent part of the family and her greatest teacher introducing Luisa to the realities of behavioural training, health-related limitations, and living with a dog diagnosed with hip and elbow dysplasia.
Luisa has joined Steady Paw because she shares the same belief that good training is built on calm, clarity, trust, and communication. She is passionate about helping owners better understand their dogs, while giving both ends of the lead the confidence to move forward together.
Loren - Behind the Scenes & Support
Loren is the steady presence working quietly behind the scenes at Steady Paw Dog Training. By day she is a skilled financial controller, but at home her heart belongs to the dogs. Having grown up with dogs all her life, it wasn’t until 2020 — when she and Dirk adopted Acacia — that she experienced the joys and challenges of a true “house dog.” From that point on, her role as a dog mum only grew, leading to the creation of The Fluff Dynasty in 2025 with Casper, Skye, and Frodo.
While most of Loren’s work for Steady Paw is done in the background, she often joins Dirk in training sessions, bringing patience, warmth, and a natural understanding of the dogs. Her supportive partnership and love for animals play a huge part in everything Steady Paw does, even if she prefers to keep the spotlight on Dirk and the dogs.