After 20 odd years of training my own dogs and helping out with the dogs of friends and family members, I made the exciting decision at the end of 2021 to follow my passions and re-train as a professional dog trainer. I quit my job in Sales and Marketing, accepted a part-time role as a Veterinary Receptionist and started to study.
I chose to follow the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT) route as their methodology and principles align with mine and because it is one of the few organisations to require you to pass a rigorous assessment before you can become a member. In an unregulated industry, where anyone can call themselves a dog trainer or behaviourist, I feel it is important that the person you employ to help you with your dog can prove that they have the required, theoretical knowledge and practical experience to put together tailored training plans specific to you and your furry friend. Enough of me and my high horse đ⌠Letâs talk about my dogs!
The one who started it all. He was my soulmate, from 8 weeks old to nearly 17 years he went nearly everywhere with me. If he wasnât curled up on the front seat of my car next to me, the first thing people would say was âwhereâs Blue?â Known and loved by all who met him, many remarked on how he was more like a person than a dog. Not always the easiest, he was a thinker, aloof and had an uncanny ability to make the craziest puppy calm in his presence. We lost him in the autumn of 2019 and I still miss him every day.
The busy one, we always joked she was part spaniel. She came to us in February 2013 aged 4, her family had some sad changes in circumstances and a dog trainer friend had her sister and asked if we would take her on. Weirdly, we had almost gone to view her as a puppy but the timing was a bit off and we didnât get her then, I think she had a job to do before she came to us. She was a typical collie with all the typical collie vices, she lunged at cars, chased deer and was terrified of bangs and loud noises. She was also the kindest most loving dog you could meet, when we got Skye as a puppy she was already 13, partially sighted and quite deaf but she was ecstatic that we had âbought her a puppyâ, she adored him and he was so gentle with her. She would initiate the games with him right up until she passed away late last year (2022).
Probably the catalyst for the change of career, he is super clever, loves everyone (dogs and people alike) and just wants to be doing stuff all the time. It took a while for him to learn that he could just switch off and relax at home but he is now great company and as he is just approaching four years old we hopefully have many more years of fun and learning ahead of us both.
His favourite things are agility, tracking, tricks and scent work (and his Mum), but honestly he just turns his paw to anything that is asked of him! He has also been a great support for Indi, I don’t think she would be half as brave as she is without his help.
In May 2023 this little superstar joined the family. Found in Ireland as a stray and in very poor condition she came to us via the Dogs Trust Loughborough, who pulled out all the stops to get her to us and for that we thank them. She came with a lovely letter from her fosterers who obviously thought the world of her, as do we.
A little Irish collie, we can only guess what her history was, we suspect she had not long had pups, perhaps an abandoned farm dog, or maybe from a puppy farm. She was terrified of everything, cowered away from people, especially feet as they were walking past but when she first arrived, she came straight up to me and took a treat and from the first moment, she and Skye were firm friends. He loves other dogs, is super confident and has shown her how to be brave and that people really can be trusted too. The power of a confident friend to help you navigate challenges should never be underestimated!
It definitely hasnât been plain sailing with Indi, although she is a truly loving girl her history had taught her that she needed to fight for her precious things and especially food; household noises are difficult for her; she is scared of the car; busy spaces are overwhelming and she will always be timid. But she is great with other dogs, especially puppies; loves to go tracking and do scent work; and has gone from a dog that we thought may never leave the house (this was fine BTW, if that is what she needed) to one who enjoys walks; often comes to classes as my demo dog; greets people; comes on holiday and camping with us; and has even been into the odd quiet pub or two.
It isnât a linear journey, we have setbacks when things she has been ok with for a while suddenly resurface as a trigger but we have been together for nearly two years now, she has taught me so much and we wouldnât be without her.
Whoâs next?