Hello, I'm Meiren!

I am the person behind Sun Hound Tas.

Dogs have been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. Looking back, I think they've always been the place where life felt a little quieter. I was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD at the start of 2026 (at the ripe age of 22), which helped me understand a bit more as to why my passion for dogs is so important to me. When everything else felt busy or overwhelming, I was surrounded by dogs that somehow made the world slow down to a manageable pace. They taught me to pay attention, be present, and appreciate the little things.

I don't know if that's why I naturally notice the small details, but I do know it's shaped the way I work today. I enjoy taking the time to understand the dog in front of me rather than expecting every dog to fit the same mould. I strongly believe good training starts with listening before teaching.

Through Sun Hound, I work with families across Tasmania, with a regular presence in Hobart, offering training and small-scale dog care. I genuinely love what I do, and I still feel grateful every time someone trusts me with their dog.

I am currently in the very last steps of becoming a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP) and hold a Certificate in Dog Training and Behaviour through Austin's Education. These qualifications have given me an amazing foundation, but they have only been a fraction of my development as a dog professional. I have been incredibly fortunate to learn under and alongside trainers like Mary, Maddie, Abby, and many others who have generously shared their knowledge, encouraged me to keep asking questions, and given me opportunities I never imagined were possible for me. Their support has shaped not only the trainer I am today, but the trainer I hope to keep becoming.

I'm also someone who loves creating things. Over the years, my work with dogs has naturally spilled over into my most recent project and business offering - designing dog gear. After spending countless hours training, travelling, exploring, and, admittedly (not a proud confession), treating dog gear shopping as a form of "professional development", I found myself wanting equipment that combined practicality, durability, and thoughtful design. Creating products by hand has become another way for me to solve problems, further support dogs and their people, and put the same care into the equipment they use as I do into the training itself. Find out more about the products I have developed and have available here (coming soon).

My Border Collie, Oat, has taught me just as much, if not more, than any of my education. She continues to challenge me, inspire me, and remind me that no two dogs are ever the same. Scroll down if you'd like to meet her; she has, of course, got her own dedicated section below. Between Oat and the dogs that spend time with me through Sun Hound, I am very rarely without a few dogs at my feet. Spending so much time living and working alongside dogs of different breeds, ages, and personalities has sparked a real personal interest in puppy development, early learning, and the role that responsible breeding, socialisation, and positive experiences play in shaping confident, resilient dogs.

I am extremely passionate about what happens before formal training even begins. I love learning about the early weeks of a puppy's life and how small, thoughtful experiences can influence the dog they grow into. It's an area I'm excited to keep learning about for many years to come, and I have some exciting developments in the works.

I would describe my approach, not only for my business but towards my whole life, as "organised chaos." I don't believe dogs only learn in perfectly set-up training sessions. Real life is where we spend most of our time, so I want training to feel practical, achievable, and enjoyable for both dogs and their people.

More than anything, I hope the dogs I work with get to enjoy being dogs. I have no desire to create perfectly obedient robot dogs. My goal is to help people understand the dog in front of them, build a relationship based on trust and communication, and make everyday life together a little bit easier.