The Full Story

Why I became a trainer

Ask anyone who knows me - I've always been obsessed with dogs. Almost every childhood memory relates to dogs in some way. I even picked out a big, hardback dog breed encyclopedia as my holiday treat one year and read it cover to cover so many times the spine had to be taped back together.

I've been so lucky to grow up with dogs, including two boxer dogs - Cassie and Chloe. Chloe became a very reactive dog, and my family went to trainers to try to help her. Unfortunately, these trainers used punishment and aversive tools to try to suppress her fearful behaviour - something that didn't feel great for anyone. After years of minimal progress, I started to learn about positive reinforcement training. Even as a self-taught young adult working with an older dog, I saw more progress once I started using these methods than we had over her entire lifetime.

This is when I knew training was something I felt passionately about. Helping dogs and their guardians access effective, ethical support that makes training fun for human and dog is the reason I train.

My training journey

Six years ago I started my dog walking and pet sitting business and this gave me the chance to work with a wide variety of dogs, specialising in large and working breeds who needed specialised walks with dog behaviour in mind.

I learnt so much caring for them, and started working for a local training school alongside running my business. I taught group classes and conducted one to one sessions with training clients as well as supporting behaviour clients. I worked my way up to Head Trainer and gained my qualifications and accreditation in dog training.

It was during this time that I got Darwin, my Vizsla - and the face and name of this business! After learning so much working with multiple behaviourists and hundreds of dogs and their guardians, I decided to take the next step and start studying towards a degree in canine behaviour.

What Darwin Dog Training means to me

There's nothing that brings me more joy than seeing dogs and their guardians connecting and having fun together. Life with our dogs can be challenging sometimes, but with the right support we can not only get through problems, we can build bonds and strengthen relationships - we can thrive.

Dog training is an unregulated industry - that means anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, even if they have no qualifications and no experience in training dogs. That's why I'm so passionate about providing transparent, science-led training and why I am committed to constantly progressing and improving my knowledge and skillset so I can bring the best training that you and your dog deserve.

Darwin Dog Training is here to help set you and your dog up with the skills you need to truly understand each other. You'll learn lots of different behaviours during your classes, but you'll also learn all about your dog's world and develop skills that will last you and your dog a lifetime. I'm here to build a community of passionate, committed guardians who can enjoy every day with their dogs. No matter where you and your dog are starting, you're on the right track to get where you want to go.