Top Dog Pawformance
Nicole has turned around multiple dogs that other trainers had already written off as unworkable.
These aren't beginner puppy cases; the bulk of the work here is serious behavioural rehabilitation, and the reviews document real, specific progress over months rather than one-off wins. Clients working with Nicole for six months or more are a recurring feature of this review set, which is a meaningful signal — people don't keep paying a trainer they aren't seeing results from. If you have a dog with entrenched reactivity, anxiety, or a working breed you're struggling to manage, this profile is worth a serious look.
Their work
What it's like working with them
Based on a sample of Google reviews (31 total)
“in depth reasoning as to why she employs her tactics for training”
“immediately saw her methods working and can't wait to see more”
“support and feedback between the sessions when you need it”
What they help with
Based on what their customers hired them for
How they stack up
Context from 21 dog trainings in Brisbane
Credentials & background
Sourced from 5 public records so you don't have to look them up yourself
About Top Dog Pawformance
Nicole — the sole trainer behind Top Dog Pawformance — specialises in behavioural rehabilitation for reactive dogs, with a particular track record helping herding breeds like Border Collies and Australian Cattle Dogs overcome reactivity to cars, bikes, people, and other animals. What sets her apart from general obedience schools is her diagnostic approach: she traces problem behaviours back to relationship and communication gaps between dog and handler, then rebuilds from foundational skills up, rather than just patching symptoms. She offers private in-home consultations, structured group classes, and a board-and-train program where dogs stay with her — a format multiple reviewers credit as the single biggest turning point in their dog's progress. Nicole also works with non-standard cases: one owner documents training an owner-operated assistance dog from puppyhood, and several reviewers note she's one of the few trainers in the Brisbane area who genuinely understands primitive and working breeds like Shibas and ACDs. Her sessions include detailed written follow-ups explaining the reasoning behind each technique, and she stays available to clients between appointments — something repeat long-term clients specifically highlight as what keeps them coming back across months or years of ongoing work.
Best for: dogs with entrenched reactivity or anxiety that haven't responded to standard training, owners of working or herding breeds needing breed-literate handling, and clients who want structured long-term support rather than a one-off session.
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Claim This Profile — Free →Common questions about Top Dog Pawformance
What types of dogs does Top Dog Pawformance work with?+
Nicole works across a wide range of breeds, but reviewers most frequently mention herding breeds (Border Collies, Australian Cattle Dogs, Corgis) and primitive breeds like Shibas — dogs she's noted for understanding when other trainers haven't. She also has experience training an owner-operated assistance dog from puppyhood. Her caseload skews heavily toward dogs with reactivity, anxiety, or fear-based behaviours rather than basic obedience cases, so if your dog has an entrenched behavioural issue, that appears to be where she has the most depth.
Does Nicole offer anything beyond one-off training sessions?+
Yes — several reviewers describe working with Nicole across months or even a couple of years, using a mix of private sessions, group classes, and her board-and-train program. The board-and-train option (where your dog stays with Nicole for a period) is specifically called out as a turning point by multiple clients whose dogs had plateaued with other methods. She also stays in contact between scheduled sessions, which long-term clients say is a key part of why the training sticks.
What areas around Brisbane does Top Dog Pawformance service?+
The business is based in Kuraby, QLD, in Brisbane's southern suburbs. Reviews mention sessions conducted in clients' homes and in parks, suggesting Nicole travels to clients rather than operating from a fixed training facility. Reviews don't specify exact service boundaries, so if you're outside Brisbane's south side, it's worth confirming your location is within her usual travel range when you enquire.
How quickly do clients typically see results?+
Multiple reviewers describe noticeable changes within the first session — Nicole appears to demonstrate techniques on the spot from the moment she arrives rather than spending the first visit on assessment alone. That said, the cases with the most significant transformations (serious reactivity, anxiety, working breeds) are documented over months of combined private lessons, group classes, and board-and-train stays. Expect fast early wins, but plan for ongoing work if your dog's issues are complex.
What does Nicole's group class format look like?+
Reviews describe rolling group classes that accommodate busy schedules with flexible attendance rather than a fixed-start program. Several clients use group classes as a follow-on from private lessons — working on the foundational relationship in private sessions first, then using group classes to expose their dog to other dogs and people in a controlled setting. One reviewer notes that group classes felt more stressful for a highly reactive dog, and that private lessons were where the real breakthroughs happened — worth keeping in mind if your dog is particularly reactive.