Back in July I was approached by the Victoria Stilwell Dog Training Academy and asked if I would consider becoming a mentor for students of their new UK-based course which was being launched in September 2016. I was honoured to be asked but rather daunted by the selection process I’d have to undertake…It involved completing a huge application form and essay, submitting hours of video footage of me working with dogs, asking for references from clients and vets and taking part in Skype interviews with established VSPDT trainers and then with Victoria herself. I decided to go for it and got on with preparing my application…along the way the European Coordinator, who is a well-respected trainer based here in the UK, asked if I would consider joining VSPDT not just as a mentor but as fully certified member of the training team! Now I was really terrified, there are only 14 dog trainers in the whole UK who’ve been selected to become part of Victoria’s team…I looked at who they were and just didn’t see myself on the same level – they were really great trainers!!…A few of those great trainers had followed the same path into dog training as I had (via COAPE) so our paths had crossed at various conferences and they encouraged me to go for it! I took a deep breath and 4 months later I’m delighted to announce that I made it! After an emotional phone-call with Victoria (she was great, I cried!) asking me to join her team, I got the email on Christmas Eve confirming my status as a Certified Victoria Stilwell Trainer. So now there are 15 VSPDT Dog Trainers in the UK and one of them is right here in Portsmouth – 2017 here we come!
Published Article in Dogs Today
It’s a bit late, but I’ve finally got to see a copy of an article I wrote for Dogs Today Magazine. I wrote it because I had become concerned about the number of cases I was seeing involving dogs being man-handled by well-meaning members of the public…if you have a cute dog, you’ll be able to relate to this I’m sure! Dogs Today Article – Hands Off!
Daisy meets her public!
Daisy, came to meet children at a ‘Keeping Safe around Dogs’ workshop that I ran today.
Amongst the children who came were one who’d been chased and bitten by a large dog and another who was just very anxious around all dogs. We spent some time with model dogs whilst I explained how dogs see the world and how best to approach them.
The children were brilliant, asked loads of great questions and in one case, even made their parents feel bad for forcing them into situations with dogs! After talking through scenarios with the model dogs we then brought the very real live Daisy into the room. My 11-year-old daughter handled her and showed how gentle she was. The children when then allowed to come over to her and feed her treats. I stressed that it was completely the children’s choice and without any pressure from anyone, every child came and sat with Daisy while we chatted.
Children who get bitten by dogs are often the ones who are nervous around them but who have been shoved towards them by parents…hopefully we showed today that knowledge and choice are very important in overcoming phobias…I would never force a dog towards something it was fearful of and neither should parents push anxious children towards dogs.
Very well done to all the children who overcame their fears today – I think you taught your parents a thing or two as well!
Venturing into the ether…
Welcome to my first attempt at a webpage!
Mainly thanks to the coding skills of my clever step-brother, Helen Hitchings Pet Behaviour Services ‘.com’ has been born….It was a tricky birth with some anxious moments but I hope you’ll agree that it’s not turned out too badly..
Now off to spend some quality time firmly back in my comfort zone – pass me that dog lead…we’re off for a yomp!