I love dogs with behaviour challenges – complicated dogs, nervous dogs, dogs that explode barking and lunging, dogs that have learnt that teeth work where nothing else has, and everything in between.

A lot of trainers avoid taking on dogs like these, quite rightly if they are outside their experience and skill set.

But they are not just in my experience and skill set – they are in my life.

Every dog I’ve ever had has been a rescue with “issues”. I’ve had biters, fighters, worried and nervous – and all of them have been barky!

I’ve been teaching people to train their dogs for over ten years – general training, non-competitive agility and behaviour work. I taught puppy and beginner classes with Paw Skills Edinburgh, one of Edinburgh's oldest and highest-rated dog training businesses, for two years.

I'm also an assessor of assistance dogs and their people for the Assistance Dog Assessment Association (ADAA).

I'm a fully qualified Dog Trainer with the Professional Association of Canine Trainers (PACT) and a registered Animal Training Instructor with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). 

I have an Advanced Diploma in Applied Animal Behaviour (Canine), passed with Distinction, and a Diploma in Canine Communication. 

I live with my three rescue dogs – two Border Collies and a terrier mixed breed – and all came with challenging behaviour issues. Two were at risk of being put to sleep for their behaviour. My most recent addition, a young Border Collie, arrived in January 2021.

Having personal "lived experience" with behaviour issues including reactivity, human-directed aggression, sound sensitivity, guarding of food and non-food items, fearfulness, and predatory behaviour gives me a unique perspective and understanding when helping others experiencing similar challenges with their dogs. 

I strongly believe that challenging behaviour needn't be a barrier to having a great relationship with your dog or to taking part in fun activities and sports. I compete with my dogs in agility and my Border Collie Cara achieved Kennel Club Agility Grade 7 (of 7), Agility Warrant Gold, working her socks off at busy competitions despite being highly reactive to people.

I love all sorts of training and my dogs have also tried their paws at Working Trials, Triebball, Hoopers, Scentwork and Kennel Club Good Citizen obedience. They're currently enjoying Mantrailing. I also hold two independently-assessed trick titles. 

I’ve been lucky enough to learn in person from some amazing world-leading trainers and behaviourists, including Chirag Patel, Grisha Stewart, Denise Fenzi, Dr Amber Batson, Dr Karen Overall, Prof Daniel Mills and many more. 

Keeping my knowledge and practical skills up to date means I am better able to help you with your dog.