About Me

I live near Hull, East Yorkshire, England. I compete in working trials and in breed shows with my dogs. I was  secretary of the East Riding Branch of the British Association for German Shepherd Dogs for 9 years.

I am a fully qualified dog training instructor and an associate member of the British Institute for Professional Dog Trainers and was a member of the Association of Pet Dogs Trainers for a number of years. Although I have not renewed my membership of the APDT, I still follow the same code of ethics and use only reward based training methods in my classes and behaviour work as well as on the courses that I teach.

I have been showing GSDs since 1990 and competing in working trials since 1993. I have been keeping GSDs since 1984.

By profession, I am a Chartered Chemist. I was made redundant in December 1999, so I went back to college and in July 2001 I graduated with a HND in Animal Care (Behaviour and Zoology), following it with a HNC in Dog Training and Canine Behaviour. I am now studying for an Advanced Diploma in Canine Behaviour Management with Compass Education.

Taken on my graduation day, outside City Hall, Kingston upon Hull

My aim is to produce German Shepherds that conform to the breed standard and that are still capable of working, unlike many of today's show dogs. Good temperament is essential in a German shepherd, and is one of my primary concerns. Too many GSDs end up in rescue because they are nervy or aggressive.

All of my breeding stock is hip scored and eye tested, males are Haemophilia tested. I used to compete in working trials, obedience and breed showing, but have now moved onto BFA flyball (with the terriers and the Spanish), agility, gundog training (with the SWDs and cocker) and scent detection/search work. Two of my dogs were registered Pets As Therapy dogs, although both are now at The Bridge.

All my dogs live in the house with me and are part of the family. I will take back and rehome any of my pups that need it, and I provide a backup service for all my pups and also those that my stud dog has sired. All puppies are sold with a contract and with a full information pack.

My breeding goals:

• Temperament

• Type

• Working Ability

I am an instructor and canine behaviourist, using my dogs to help me rehabilitate dog and people aggressive dogs. I am always in search of more knowledge and attend seminars and courses on a regular basis. I worked at an Agricultural college for 9 years, delivering a Foundation Degree and BSc in Canine Behaviour and Training which I wrote and had validated by Hull university. I also used to teach the animal training modules on a BSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Training. I thoroughly enjoy this teaching role, but have now moved on to offering an on-line tutoring business for all canine related courses and running my own dog training and behaviour business. I have worked in and managed both kennels and a pet shop.

I live with a large number of dogs, and entered into the realms of BFA flyball with the terriers in 2006, and compete in agility with Snitch, Spud and Rudi (non-KC), although Snitch is now retired form both flyball and agility. Faith and Leon are in training as gundogs and Faith has already gained Grade One and Two of the Gundog Club's Hunting Retriever awards, Leon has finally achieved Grade One and will progress onto Grade Two once I have ironed a few problems out. Leon has also attended a couple of herding days.

I started clicker training in 1997 attending seminars with Gary Wilkes, Kay Laurence, Nina Bondarenko and many others. I really enjoy this type of training and particularly love free shaping. People say that terriers are hard to train, but they aren't...they just don't like being forced. GSDs also don't need to be dominated and are readily trained with a clicker...there is no need for alpha rolls, or even to eat a biscuit before you feed the dog!

In 2007 I visited the Army Dog Unit (MWDU104) when they were based in N.I. to give them some different ideas on training dogs. I had a wonderful time and it was great to see working dogs being trained using positive techniques.

I recently took in a 15 week old GSD cross puppy that the owners wanted 'rid of' because she was 'vicious'. She was the sweetest pup ever and it was so hard to let her go, but she has gone to a smashing home with a Leonberger to act as her big brother.

Next challenge? Not sure yet..but with another dog to rehabilitate, a puppy to train for detection work, who knows where the dogs will take me next...The next challenge has arrived..meet Teal and Archer