About Me

Hi, I’m Sciona Riley – founder and sole carer at Sciona’s Dog Care Services.

I established the business in 2023 in memory of my beloved canine companion, Gidget. With a lifelong love for animals and years of hands-on experience, I’ve built a service dedicated to providing attentive, compassionate, and reliable care for dogs across the Central Coast, NSW.

As the sole carer, I intentionally keep my service area and client intake limited to ensure every dog receives the time, consistency, and personalised care they deserve. This allows me to remain reliable, flexible, and fully present for each client and their individual needs.

SCIONA'S DOG CARE SERVICES currently offers:

  • Private Dog Walking & Beach adventures

  • Overnight Care (Dog & House Sitting)

All services are provided within the comfort and familiarity of your dog’s own home environment.

My focus is on building trusting relationships with both dogs and their owners, ensuring every dog feels safe, enriched, understood, and genuinely cared for while in my care.

Specialising in Large & High-Energy Breeds

I provide tailored care for large, working, and high-energy breeds, including but not limited to Staffies, Border Collies, Kelpies, German Short Haired Pointers, Shepherds, Australian Cattle Dogs, Koolies, Vizslas, and Labradours.

From structured walks and enrichment to engaging play and personalised companionship, every service is designed to meet the physical and mental needs of active dogs.

Professional Development

Alongside hands-on experience working with high-energy and working breeds, I am committed to continually expanding my education through seminars, workshops, and practical learning opportunities within the dog training industry.

I am currently enrolled as a student for the National Dog Trainers Federation (NDTF) course and, in the meantime, have been actively auditing seminars and workshops focused on dog behaviour, engagement, handling skills, enrichment, and working breeds.

  • Dog behaviour

  • Engagement and motivation

  • Handling skills

  • Enrichment

  • Working breeds

  • Obedience and communication systems

I strongly believe there is always more to learn when it comes to understanding dogs and building better communication and relationships with them.

Recent Seminars

Tom Davis Seminar Audit - November 2025

  • Relationship optimisation

  • Behavioural problem solving

  • Obedience troubleshooting

  • Clear communication systems

  • Handler development

Emma Raven K9 Seminar Audit - February 2026

  • Motivation in obedience

  • Focused heeling

  • Troubleshooting behaviours in PSA

  • Obedience in the protection phase

Louise Bayliss Seminar Audit - May 2026

  • Building drive and motivation

  • Focused Heeling (Obedience & Dog sports)

  • Clicker training

  • High-value food rewards and reinforcement strategies

  • 'Switch on, switch off' training – developing focus, engagement, and calmness.

Jamie The Dog Trainer Seminar Audit - June 2026

  • Building engagement through play and movement.

  • Teaching position changes and foundation behaviours.

  • Developing reliable, enthusiastic recalls.

  • Trick training and heelwork foundations

  • Impulse control with food and toy rewards.

  • Puppy development and effective socialisation strategies.

  • Foundation exercises using a Cato Board and Pivot Box to improve body awareness and handler focus.

  • Flirt pole training for engagement, motivation, and controlled play.

Michele Ellertson Seminar Audit - July 2026

  • Setting hides for training success

  • Chasing Odours

  • Inaccessible hides

  • Pooling & Converging

Kamal Fernandez Seminar Audit - August 2026

Overarousal in Dog Sports

  • “Is Your Dog in Control or Out of Control?”

    • Genetics, drive and arousal

    • Understanding the individual dog

    • Relationship, motivation and reinforcement

    • Managing frustration and overarousal

    • Physical wellbeing, fitness and mental capacity

Karmal Fernandez Seminar Audit - August 2026

Is your dog locked in? Playskills & engagement

  • Understanding motivation, engagement and individual learning needs

  • Lifestyle, boundaries and the human–dog relationship

  • Using food and toys effectively as rewards

  • Developing play skills and shaping behaviours

  • Adapting training to suit each individual dog

Workshop focus: Building engagement, motivation and connection through play and training.

Insured & Business Certified

✅ National Police Check
✅ Trained in Canine First Aid & CPR
ABN: 698 673 983 28

Dog sitter smiling and patting a white dog during an indoor visit, showcasing personalized in-home dog care services on the Central Coast NSW.
Dog sitter relaxing indoors with a content staffy crossbreed, showcasing loving pet care on the Central Coast NSW.
Dog walker playing with a small dog on Avoca Beach, NSW, during a sunny day on the Central Coast.