Episode 373: From Elephants to Dogs with David McKelson

In Episode 373 of The Canine Paradigm, Glenn Cooke and Pat Stuart sit down with David McKelson, founder of Pro Dog Training.

David has one of the more unusual backgrounds in Australian dog training. Before moving into dogs, he spent 17 years working in zoos. Much of that time was centred around elephant handling and training.

He also worked with marine mammals and assisted with the training of many other species. Those included gorillas, giraffes and maned wolves.

That experience gave David a very different perspective on training, animal welfare, staff development and risk management.

From Elephants to Dog Training

David’s career with animals began in a small wildlife park before he eventually secured a position at a major zoo.

Early in his career, he worked across several departments. He eventually moved into elephant handling, where he remained for many years.

Working with elephants carried serious consequences. David explains that when things go wrong with an elephant, the result may not simply be an injury.

That reality shaped the way his team approached training.

Clear systems mattered. Preparation mattered. Staff development mattered. David also became increasingly focused on creating training processes that reduced unnecessary errors.

Over time, he travelled internationally and worked alongside experienced elephant trainers in Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States and Asia.

Animal Welfare, Suppression and Enrichment