Bit of history – I started training dogs way back in the late 90s, when I took on training our family Labrador, Jess when I was just a teenager. I got the bug, big time and took up Competitive Obedience with her. Several years later I got my own dog, a black Labrador called Maggie, who I also competed with. Eventually in 2012, after several years of learning and training, we joined the Welsh inter-regional team and competed at Crufts. We won our class! That was all back when I lived in Cardiff, where I was born. (And yes, I can pronounce that 58-letter name of that really small Welsh town just in case you’re wondering.)
I went on to university and studied Animal Behaviour in Cambridge, before moving back to Cardiff and training as a veterinary nurse. Throughout all of my studies, even though I learned a huge amount of theory about pretty much every kind of animal out there, I knew my career would be focused on dogs. In 2013 I moved to Norfolk and worked as a veterinary nurse for several years, and quickly specialised in consultations for puppies, and dog behaviour. In 2014 I decided my passion was puppy training and I made the decision to finally do what I’d always wanted to do and become a full-time puppy trainer. It’s come a long way from its beginnings!
Since then my husband and I have raised three litters of labrador puppies from our home in Norfolk, and my business has grown to take me all over the country. I have also worked as a Breeder Assessor for the Kennel Club.
I think it’s fair to say there aren’t many aspects of the whole breeding and puppy world that I haven’t seen. I think that range has been pretty key to my success as a puppy trainer. It’s given me a holistic view of the puppy breeding process, puppy healthcare, and the real theory behind behavioural training. And I’d even go as far to say it’s those last two things – raising three litters of my own and being a Breeder Assessor – that have taught me the most. They are the top and tail of my knowledge of the entire process of puppy early lifespan, not just the fun bit when they get to your house.
I currently have two labradors – Lizzie and Hallie – who are my best friends in the world, and we still compete in obedience as a hobby. Now I specialise in working one-to-one with new puppy owners, and use a training method I’ve developed, refined and perfected over the last 20 years. I’m always happy to chat and love a cup of tea – and if there’s a puppy cuddle involved then even better!
If you’d like to know more, please just feel free to get in touch.
