Background

I have enjoyed living with a variety of dogs, sometimes 2 or 3 together, from a German Shepherd cross to our present dog Perkins, an 8 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I also have experience of the vast majority of breeds through my work and associated activities.

Education

Originally I qualified and worked as a social worker; I now consider myself a dog social worker and as such I am committed to improving the quality of their lives. Over 40 years, I have been on many courses, gaining knowledge about dogs and their behaviour, how they learn and the ways in which they relate both to one another and the humans in whose world they live.

I continue with my professional development, regularly updating my knowledge understanding and experience by attending courses, seminars, and conferences. I also read widely, books and journals, keeping up to date with the latest research. I am a full member of The Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (www.apbc.org.uk/); and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (www.apbt.co.uk/).

In November 2015 I was awarded the degree of Masters in Anthrozoology (the interactions between human and non-human animals). For my dissertation I explored issues concerning companion dogs in public places.

Activities

For the last 25 years, I have been the external assessor for Support Dogs, (https://www.supportdogs.org.uk/),a registered assistance dog charity. I assess the unit, dog and owner, for their public behaviour. For the last 25 years I have also been a regular contributor on BBC Radio Sheffield dog “phone-ins”.