Jamie Mcgahey trains dogs like Kai to support people with special needs. Photo: Jamie Mcgahey.
Training a dog isn’t always easy, but it can be super rewarding for the trainer – and the dog itself.
The task has changed Jamie Mcgahey’s life, physically and mentally.
Jamie operates Specialist Dog Training, which runs on the motto ‘Doggos not egos’ and provides families with dogs who have the training to suit their situations.
Jamie describes his decision to become a full-time trainer as one of the best he’s ever made, but how he got there is a story in itself.
Two decades ago, Jamie was a part of the ACT Brumbies extended squad but, despite his skill, he never quite made it onto the team.
While with the squad, Jamie became a volunteer with the RSPCA.
His experience at the Canberra shelter ultimately led to him becoming a full-time trainer.
“While I was playing football, I was volunteering in the RSPCA, and then they gave me a full-time job, and then I got a job as a handler and cleaner,” he said.
“Working at the RSPCA, I saw the absolute worst of the worst. I saw dogs that had been beaten within an inch of their lives turning around and becoming amazing dogs. They don’t hold grudges.
“It actually led to my business’s motto because dogs don’t lie and they don’t have an ego.”
Jamie trains dogs like Chevy how to behave in public places. Photo: Jamie Mcgahey.
Jamie was eventually delisted from the Brumbies and worked as a chef for more than two decades but, on his days off, he would train people’s dogs. It was a way to switch off while also a way to support others.
“I had gone through childhood trauma as a kid. Football is a very good way of self-medicating, and then chefing was also another fantastic industry to self-medicating and hide your emotions and lock yourself away,” Jamie said.
“I blew up to over 150 kilos. I got depression, and the medication I was on was actually making me retain water and not actually doing anything to get rid of it. I eventually got an awakening from a nice psychologist who asked if I had ever thought about getting a dog for myself and training it to be a therapy dog.
“The thought process was, if I can’t get out of bed for myself, get out of bed for the dog, and in turn it will be beneficial for me too. Every day, I would walk to a certain spot with my dog, place a rock and then the next day walk one step further and move the rock a little bit further along.
“I’m now back down under 100 kilos.”
Jamie then started his own dog training business with the inspiration coming from his dad, who was a police officer for more than 35 years.
“Growing up, I would see a lot of cops who, after shifts, would debrief from a hard shift with a drink,” he said.
“They go to a car accident, and then they go back to have a few beers with the boys afterwards. I saw a lot of Dad’s mates go through PTSD and then self-medicate with alcohol, and then their relationships would completely fall apart.
“That inspired me to start training therapy dogs.”
Jamie started his business in 2024 and began training full-time. He now finds dogs with potential and pairs them with people who have specific needs.
“I wanted to train dogs and see if I could make that financially viable to start training PTSD therapy dogs,” he said.
“The price for a guide dog is about $135,000 start to finish; just a normal therapy dog, like a Labradoodle, you’re looking at around $75,000. So what I’m doing now is going around to farms and hand-selecting dogs.
“I’m finding unwanted working dogs that aren’t making it on sheep and things like that, and training them for people to care for people with PTSD and other similar conditions.”
Jamie said the work he was doing had changed his life as well as the lives of many others, all while supporting countless dogs.
“My home life is a lot, lot better,” he said.
“I’m now doing what I was doing on my days off as my hobby for my job. I can see people who have trauma. I can relate to them. The dogs relate to me.
“It’s something I’m extremely thankful for and I know the people I help train dogs for are thankful too.”
To see Jamie’s work, visit his Instagram page, Specialist Dog Training.
