Hi, I’m Maria and that adorable canine below is my doghter Soneca! I am passionate about fostering harmonious relationships between dogs and their owners. I created Fluent Fido with the idea of focusing on effective communication to strengthen the bond between pets and humans. I run this with my dear husband Nick, an aussie bloke. In 2017, I started working with my own dog out of curiosity about how dogs learn and a desire to give them the best life possible. My first steps in what I call the path to “Positive Reinforcement” started in Brazil, at the EFAC school of Veri Martins and Tomas Szpigel in 2021 and continued with the Specialization Course in Positive Reinforcement Training conducted by Bruno Leite in 2022. Soon after I moved to Europe where I continued my studies in Canine Health & Nutrition Diploma with the British College of Canine Studies and at present I am studying to become a Canine Osteopath with the London College of Animal Osteopathy. I am a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) through Malena DeMartini, as well as a Certified Fear Free Professional, working with science- and evidence-informed, stress- and force-free methods, with ongoing education in canine emotions and welfare and a special interest in stress physiology and pain–behaviour links.

My mission: to bridge the communication gap between dogs and their owners. We believe that by unlocking the language of dogs and empowering owners with techniques and strategies that focus on positive reinforcement, pet owners will create positive and lasting change in their relationship with their pets.

My approach to working with behavioural modifications: identify and address any underlying issues that may be contributing to a dog’s problematic behaviour. By delving deeper into these potential causes, I can provide you with long-term solutions rather than quick fixes. Each session will be different because I always start from the premise that each dog is an individual and my work is to understand what each dog wants or needs. So, if you decide to work together, we will begin with a questionnaire that you will fill out at your own pace followed by a 1-hour consultation in which we will focus on the key issues and I will propose methods to solve them but always being respectful of your pups time to do so. Behavioral modifications don’t happen overnight for us, humans, and they certainly won’t happen that fast for our beloved pets either. It takes time but in the end, it is always rewarding. One of the fundamental aspects of effective communication is teaching dog owners to observe and interpret their pet’s body language. Dogs communicate primarily through non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions, body posture, and tail wagging. By becoming attuned to these signals, you will better understand what your dog may be feeling.

It is important to note that my methods are not a one-size-fits-all solution but rather emphasizing the importance of a holistic perspective. If you are still unsure about working together, you can book a 15-minute consultation so we can get to know each other.