About me

SANDRA ILIEVSKI
dog behavior consultant, animal trainer, instructor

Ever since I can remember I have been surrounded by animals. When I was seven year old, I got my first dog, little mixed breed Maza, and since then dogs have been a regular part of my life. I started horse riding at the age of eight and that adventure lasted about ten years. The behavior of animals, their welfare and training has always attracted me.

In the early nineties I went to live in Australia where I studied and worked as a graphic designer, and for a while I volunteered at the RSPCA. Shortly after, I did Companion Animal Husbandry course. I also worked as a dog walker.

After returning to Croatia, I became more and more interested in animal and dog behavior as well as in animal training. Regular dog training schools did not give me answers to the questions that interested me, nor I had any opportunities to do that in Croatia.

I started to study on my own by researching and reading scientific literature and soon after started studying at the Ethology Institute. In addition to classical and applied ethology, the study included courses such as animal learning in theory and practice (learning theory and animal training), evolution, anatomy and physiology of dogs, animal behavior, canine problem behavior solving (i.e. behavior modification techniques), first aid , pedagogy, animal welfare, etc. At the same institute, I continue my education and expand my knowledge in the field of behavior of other pets such as cats, horses, rabbits, parrots…

In order to keep up to date with the latest knowledge in the field of behavior and training of dogs and animals, I upgrade my knowledge and educate myself by attending seminars and workshops and listening to online conferences and webinars.

My work with dogs and animals is based on scientifically proven learning principles and a holistic approach, and my motto is “psychology rather than power”. Besides dogs, I worked with cats, guinea pigs, horses, donkeys, goats, crows, parrots.

I currently live with three dogs and a cat.

Education (animal related):

2000-2003. RSPCA, Sydney, Australia
2000. Companion Animal Care Management and Handling, Sydney, Australia
2011. Dog training terminology, webinar prof. Roger Abrantes
2011. Problem behavior in dogs, webinar webinar prof. Roger Abrantes
2011. Making sense of nonsense, webinar prof. Roger Abrantes
2010./11. Ethology Institute – Certificate in Applied Canine Ethology (CACE)
2011. Clicker training in dog sports, seminar Andra Pintar
2012. Love has no age limit – increasing the odds of successful adoption, webinar by Patricia McConnell
2014. Aggression and Conflict, Society for the Promotion of Applied Research in Canine Science (SPARCS)
2014. Temperament and Personality, Society for the Promotion of Applied Research in Canine Science (SPARCS)
2014. Science in Training, Society for the Promotion of Applied Research in Canine Science (SPARCS)
2014. Calming signals, seminar Turid Rugaas, Zagreb
2015. Puppy socialisation from birth to adolescence, Andrea Pintar, Zagreb
22.-24. 5. 2015. Animal Assisted Therapy Workshop, Melissa Winkle, Zagreb
2015. Learning and memory, Society for the Promotion of Applied Research in Canine Science (SPARCS)
2015. Dogs around the world, Society for the Promotion of Applied Research in Canine Science (SPARCS)
2015. Stress: physiology, cognition and behavior, Society for the Promotion of Applied Research in Canine Science (SPARCS)
2015. dr. Jaak Panksepp: The Evolved Primal Emotional Feelings of Animal Brains and Animal Minds: Clinical and Therapeutic Application, webinar
2015. Certificate in pet nutrition, ICOES
1-2. 6. 2016. Dog in Animal Assisted Intervention, international conference, Varshaw, Poland
11-13. 10. 2016. International Companion Animal Welfare Conference, Dubrovnik
November 2016. Fear Free Certification Program: Full Seminar, AAVSB | American Association of Veterinary State Boards
June 2017. The fundamentals – handling emotional states in animals, ILLIS ABC Animal Behaviour Consulting
November 2018.: Aggression In Dogs with Michael Shikashio, webinar, online workshop
November 2021.: Aggression In Dogs with Michael Shikashio, webinar, online workshop
2024 NLP practitioner

Work and experience:

volunteered in RSPCA Sydney, Australia
counseling owners with dogs with behaviour problems
working and helping dogs with various behaviour problems
I held various lectures and workshops on puppy socialisation, puppy training, adolescent dog training, problem behavior etc…
have written several articles for online papers such as Zooportal, 24 sata, T-portal, Zadovoljna.hr, Večernji list, Jutarnji list
guest at TV show Na rubu znanosti
author of educational brochures Do you want to get a dog? Guide for adoption or purchasing a dog; Noise phopias in dogs i Dogs and summer heat
translated to Croatian educational posters (with author`s permission)
author of articles about dogs, dog behaviour, dog origin, training, learning and behavior problems
published book by Barry Eaton Dominance in dogs – fact or fiction – by Barry Eaton in Croatian language
published free book by Ian Dunbar Before you get a puppy in Croatian language
first in Croatia brought program R.E.A.D. which was approved by the Ministry of science, education and sport. Program was held by the name “Priče uz psiće” (Doggy tales). I participated in a program with my now retired dog Flick and also educated other READ teams.
I implemented the program “Dijete i pas” (Children and dogs) – education of children on proper and safe interaction with dogs. Project was financed by Dog Trust and held in primary schools in Zagreb and was also approved by the Ministry of science, education and sport.
writen “Bonton za vlasnike” (Bonton for dog owners) published in Vodiču za vlasnike pasa kroz grad Zagreb