Can AI really understand your dog? Australian behaviourist launches expert-led training app
The Canine Perspective
Australian canine behaviourist and bestselling author Sarah Rutten has launched an AI-powered dog training app designed to give dog guardians personalised, expert-backed guidance without the cost or wait time of a professional consultation.
Sarah says that when a dog does something unexpected, most people Google it, scroll through forums, or ask ChatGPT.
“The problem is general AI has no grounding in animal behaviour, it doesn’t know your dog, and has no filter for whether the advice it generates could cause harm,” she says.
Alternatively, seeking advice from an accredited trainer means booking a consultation and waiting for an appointment, which can leave people stuck when overwhelmed, confused or trying to manage a behaviour issue in the moment.
Built on Sarah’s 20 years of accredited, force-free expertise, her app The Canine Perspective: Pawfect Training Companion, creates a personalised training plan around each dog's age, breed, personality and the guardian's goals, adapting daily as the dog and guardian progress.
“Guardians get the convenience of AI with the reassurance that what they are reading actually comes from someone who knows dogs,” Sarah says.
Early testing demonstrated the app's capacity for specific, tailored guidance. A guardian with two Border Collies sought help with a dog that refused to engage with toys and barked whenever the other dog played. The app produced a step-by-step plan that named each dog individually and specified precisely when and how to introduce the second dog into the process, rather than returning generic training advice.
Rutten says the app responds to a problem she sees constantly in her work.
"Dog guardians are overwhelmed with advice. One person says one thing, another trainer says the opposite, and then Google gives you another 40 opinions. It can be really confusing, especially for new guardians who just want to do the right thing by their dog.
"This app brings my training approach, content and guidance together in one place, but in a way that adapts to the dog in front of you. It doesn’t spit generic advice. It is designed to meet the human and the dog where they are."
Rutten describes the app as a first-response resource for guardians who need support outside of business hours or between professional consultations.
"It is a bit like having a trainer-bot in your pocket. If your dog does something at 2am and you are lying there wondering what on earth is going on, you can ask the app and get an answer that actually applies to your dog, not just any dog.
"My hope is that it gives guardians more confidence and helps dogs feel better understood."
The app is suited to new dog guardians, busy households, and anyone wanting to build a stronger relationship with their dog without relying on conflicting online advice or outdated, punishment-based methods.
“When guardians understand their dog better, everything gets easier,” Sarah says.
“The dog’s needs are more likely to be met, the human feels less lost, and the behaviour often starts to shift. That’s the win-win I want this app to create.”
The Canine Perspective: Pawfect Training Companion is available globally on iOS and Android from 23 June in the United States and 24 June in Australia. It is available on iOS and Android by subscription for USD $74 per quarter or USD $179 per year, with a 20% launch offer available through https://studio.com/apps/sarah-rutten/thecanineperspective.
About us:
For more expert advice on dog behaviour and force-free training, visit Sarah’s website and her book The Canine Perspective: Using Force-Free Methods to Unleash Your Dog’s Paw-tential. The Canine Perspective: Pawfect Training Companion is available globally on iOS and Android https://studio.com/apps/sarah-rutten/thecanineperspective.
Contact details:
Millana Ayache
0499072922
