Our Story
Daniela started Take the LEAD back in South Africa to help dogs from rescues. The purpose of this training was to help dogs in the rescue facilities grow and learn to trust humans, along with creating a dog that knows how to behave in their new home, and the aim was to minimize rescue returns. When Covid hit, it caused a switch in what Take the LEAD focused on, moving more towards online based individual training. Daniela then decided to relocate her family from South Africa to New Zealand, working under the Take the LEAD NZ name. This move sparked the idea of creating more availability to guided reactive dog training. When Sam joined the pack the decision was made to switch Take the LEAD over to Scent Ways NZ Ltd where we now focuses on not only behavioral modification through scent work but are also offering a wide range of Scent Sports, being the first company to start running Trail Hunt International in New Zealand. We have big plans to continue to grow the scent sport availability across the country and help as many dogs we can find fulfillment.
Daniela
With over 10 years of hands-on experience working with dogs, my journey into the world of canine behavior and training began long before that. I grew up around working police dogs, which sparked a deep respect and understanding for these incredible animals from a young age.
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Originally, I pursued a career as a horse rider, but after an accident changed my path, I turned to dogs—my lifelong passion. Back home in South Africa, I founded and ran a dog rescue where I focused on rehabilitating dogs affected by cruelty, trauma, and behavioral challenges. At the same time, I established Take the Lead, a dog training business dedicated to building trust-based relationships between dogs and their owners.
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When my family relocated to New Zealand, I brought my loyal dog Princess along for the journey and continued to grow the Take the Lead name here. Over the years, I’ve worked with a wide range of dogs, from basic obedience to severe behavioral rehabilitation. My training experience includes obedience, IGP (Internationale Gebrauchshunde Prüfungsordnung), poaching prevention, and scent detection of illicit substances. I am a trusted instructor of both Kids Around Dogs UK and Enigma Canine, focusing on Trail Hunt, Mantrailing, and Scent Detection.
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Helping dogs overcome their pasts and thrive is not just my job—it's my calling.
Sam
I've always had a deep love for animals. Growing up, I was surrounded by dogs and learned to appreciate their unique personalities and needs from a young age. While studying at university, I spent five years working at a pet shop, where I gained hands-on experience in everything from dog behavior, animal nutrition to habitat care.
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After completing my studies, I spent several years in the design and construction industry, but I eventually felt the pull to return to my true passion—working with animals. That moment came when I adopted Toru, a spirited three-legged greyhound cross from the SPCA. Training and bonding with Toru reignited my interest in animal behavior and inspired me to take a new path.
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I made the switch to dog training under the guidance of Daniela which has helped me deepen my understanding of canine behavior and positive reinforcement training techniques. Today, I’m passionate about helping dogs and their humans build better communication and stronger relationships—one training session at a time. I am a trusted instructor of both Kids Around Dogs UK and Enigma Canine, focusing on Trail Hunt and Scent Detection.
