Choosing a dog trainer can be a difficult task and as a dog owner myself I completely understand the need to trust your trainer, the idea behind this blog entry is to help you get to know me not only as a trainer but as a person.

I had always wanted to work with animals in some way (initially I had wanted to go into the veterinary field). I started off by doing an animal care course at college securing a work placement at an animal sanctuary. It didn't take long before I had totally fallen in love with not only the animals but the sanctuary itself and here I am ten years later now working as a Dog Training Specialist at the same sanctuary. ( For those who are interested, I will write another blog about working in the sanctuary at some stage.)

Whilst working at the rescue I knew I had to expand my knowledge base in order to be able to help not only the dogs in the sanctuary but the dogs in homes as well. I wanted to be able to help owners who were struggling with their dogs and avoid the dogs having to come into rescue in the first place. I am extremely grateful to have found a number of brilliant trainers who have helped me grow not only as a trainer but as a person. Over the years I have completed various different courses on dog training and behaviour, as I write this I am currently in the middle of completing two more courses, to me it seems the more I learn the more I want to learn. I always end up falling down a rabbit hole after discovering a new subject or aspect of a subject related to dogs. I passed my IMDT assessment in August of 2022 which gave me the confidence I needed to take the leap and start my own dog training business.

Through my work in the rescue, I often foster puppies for a short time before they go off to their new homes and as much as I love my foster puppies I am so pleased to see them go off to start their lives with their families. I understand how difficult the first few weeks of puppy ownership can be as my foster puppies don't usually stay with me longer than two weeks, the sleepless nights, getting started with house training, teething, zoomies in the evening and everything in between. No two puppies are the same and I have had a few puppies that I have had to really think outside the box for when they have stayed with me. I occasionally foster adult dogs who are recovering from surgery.

I currently have one little dog called Sheeny, a Chihuahua cross who I rescued when she was six years old. Sheeny is now 14 (although you wouldn't know it to look at her) she is my absolute world and I think she has taught me far more than I could ever teach her. She loves learning new things and through trick training I have developed a really strong relationship with her built on trust and consent.

So there you have it, a little insight into how and why I got started with dog training. To say that my work is rewarding would be an understatement. I love my work, helping people and dogs, meeting the most dedicated owners and making life long friends along the way. I am so grateful to my clients who have trusted me to help them with their dogs. I have big plans for the future and hope to be able to help as many dogs and owners as possible.