Training & CPD

I take the responsibility of working with people's dogs seriously, which means learning didn't stop when I became qualified. Below is my professional training, qualifications and continued professional development for anyone who would like to know exactly what sits behind my work.

There is quite a lot of it. Apparently I am not very good at finishing one course and deciding that's enough dogs for now.

Professional qualifications

ABTC Registered Animal Training Instructor

Gundog Trainers Academy
Accredited Instructor GTA-AD

City & Guilds
Detection Dog Handler and Instructor

Clicker Assessment Programme
CAP 1 and CAP 2

Dog Parkour UK Instructor

Canine First Aid Certified

Continued professional development

My CPD covers everything from behaviour and reactivity to cooperative care, scent work, Free Work and practical training skills. Some courses have changed how I work considerably. Others have added another small piece to what is already there.

All of them form part of the ongoing process of keeping my knowledge current.

Behaviour and Reactivity

  • Animal Emotions - Illis ABC

  • Cheltenham Animal Shelter – Understanding Dog Reactivity

  • Using Patterns and Movement to Help Heal Trauma – with Leslie McDevitt MLA, CDBC, CPDT-KA

  • Helping Your Reactive On-Lead Dog (Caroline Wilkinson)

  • Calming the Storm (Jean Donaldson)

  • Cool, Calm and Connected (Sarah Fisher)

  • James French Trust Technique

  • Centre of Excellence – Understanding Canine Anxiety Diploma

  • Centre of Excellence – Canine Behaviour Training Diploma

Training

  • IMDT – The Exercises, Foundation to Advanced

  • Gundog Trainers Academy Handlers Course

  • Dognostics - Pet Bereavement Companion (in progress)

  • Dognostics - The Canine Confidence Course - Desensitization, Counterconditioning & Beyond! (in progress)

Scent Work and Enrichment

  • City & Guilds Scent Detection Dog Handling

  • Dognostics – Fostering Collaborative Care Instructor

  • Dognostics – Teaching Self-Control in the Presence of Food

  • South West Dog Skills – Introduction to ACE Free Work

  • Therapy Dog Training UK – Foundation Training for Assistance Dogs

  • Dog Parkour UK instructor

Health and Safety

  • Centre of Excellence – Canine First Aid Diploma

  • CPD – Dog First Aid UK - Canine First Aid Certification

  • CPD – Webinar Vet: Allowing Senior Pets to Thrive

  • Centre of Excellence – Dog Training Diploma

  • Centre of Excellence – Canine Business Diploma

  • Dognostics – 10 Easy Steps to Walking Nicely on a Loose Lead

Qualifications matter to me, but they're only useful if they change what happens when I'm standing in front of a dog and their person. If you'd rather read about what all of this means in practice, have a look at How I Train.

A brown puppy with floppy ears walking on a wooden surface, looking downward with a focused expression.

Still got a question?

If you're unsure about anything, just ask.

I'd much rather answer a question now than untangle a misunderstanding later.

Get in touch - I am always happy to help.