Director

Lucas Friel

Lucas’ journey into dog training began with his own dog, Zeek. What started as a simple search for help quickly turned into a genuine passion as he discovered how much he loved learningcanine behaviour and communication. With the guidance of a skilled mentor, Lucas spent years training Zeek, building strong foundations in obedience, handling, scent detection, and relationship-based work. He and Zeek continue to enjoy scent detection together, with Lucas valuing the focus, teamwork, and problem-solving it develops in both dog and handler.

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Lucas spent the next six years training under his mentor, practising his craft through running structured group classes, leading personalised 1-on-1 sessions, and working hands-on with dogs of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments. During this time, he developed a calm, adaptable teaching style tailored to each individual dog.

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His journey expanded even further when he was introduced to decoy work and the sport of Protection Sports Association (PSA). As a decoy, Lucas works hands-on in the bite suit, helping build dogs’ confidence, drive, and control. He quickly found a passion for developing working dogs through this style of training and has since immersed himself in the sport — now training and preparing to compete with his young Belgian Malinois.

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After relocating from the Sunshine Coast to Jimboomba, Lucas founded Pup Prodigy with a simple goal: to help owners better understand and connect with their dogs. Known for his calm, patient approach and strong communication skills, Lucas believes great training comes from working with the dog in front of you — whether it’s a bouncy puppy, a beloved family pet, or a high-drive working dog.

Director

Beth Rankin

Beth’s passion for dog training began with her Dachshund and quickly grew into a lifelong commitment to understanding dogs of all breeds, temperaments, and drives. From a young age, she volunteered as a kennel hand at AWLQ and spent years fostering dogs—from tiny puppies to senior sweethearts—helping each one build confidence in people and the world around them.

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Her journey took a more technical turn when she began exploring scent detection and mantrailing with her German Shepherd. These disciplines taught her to read subtle canine cues and deepened her appreciation for how thoughtful, capable, and intelligent dogs truly are. That experience opened the door to a mentorship with a trainer who develops working dogs for corrections and security. Under this guidance, Beth gained extensive hands-on experience in high-level obedience, bitework, and working with high-drive dogs, regularly assisting in their development and environmental exposure.

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She has also played an important role in raising young puppies through their critical periods, focusing on confidence building, structured socialisation, and preparing them for the complexities of working roles.

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Today, Beth competes in the sport of PSA (Protection Sports Association) with her Belgian Malinois, Kato. Together, they’ve earned their PDC and PSA1 titles, collecting multiple podium finishes along the way. Dog sports have shown Beth just how essential trust is between a dog and their person. That bond—built through consistency, clear communication, and mutual respect—continues to shape her training philosophy and fuels her passion every single day.

CEO of Behaviour Assistant & Part-Time Menace

Zeek

Zeek is our resident chaos coordinator and Lucas’s right-hand dog, having been with him throughout his entire training journey. He’s spent the last seven years perfecting his craft, making him the ideal starting point for all our board and train dogs and 1-on-1 sessions. Calm, reliable, and full of personality, Zeek helps nervous or reactive dogs feel safe and understood as they build their confidence.

When he’s not assisting in sessions, he’s busy judging other dogs’ life choices with impressive enthusiasm. Zeek approaches his work with calm confidence which puts other dogs at ease. He’s also famous for his range of party tricks — from flashy obedience to silly crowd-pleasers — and he never misses the chance to show them off to clients.

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Zeek is the steady dog every program begins with and an invaluable member of the Pup Prodigy team.

Advanced Behaviour Assistant & Controlled Distraction Specialist

Kato

Kato is our powerhouse Malinois and Beth’s PSA competition partner — a sport he tackles with the same intensity he brings to literally everything he does. With exceptional obedience, focus, and environmental resilience, Kato adds a level of realism to training for reactive dogs. Once dogs have mastered their foundation skills around Zeek, Kato steps in as the “advanced level boss,” helping them practise neutrality around high-energy movement and real-world distractions.

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He’s brilliant, driven, and enthusiastic enough to flex his Malinois athleticism purely for dramatic effect. Kato teaches dogs how to stay calm in chaos while keeping our reflexes sharp.

Off duty, he loves joining the daycare crew and charming our regulars with his big personality. Kato is an irreplaceable part of the Pup Prodigy team.