Roger Abrantes, born in Portugal in 1951, has lived most of his life in Denmark.

He is the author to 17 books in English, German, Spanish, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Italian, and Czech, and numerous articles on behavior. He is probably one of the most versatile ethologists in the world. His work ranges from lecturing at the Ethology Institute, where he is the divisional director, to appearances as guest lecturer in universities world wide, popular talks, treatment of behavior problems, teaching canine and human behavior to police officers, training rats to detect landmines in Tanzania, and performing marine environmental management duties (he is also a certified Divemaster and Rescue Diver).

He has written popular books with sound advice to pet owners as well as theoretical scientific dissertations. He teaches ethology, anthropology, and epistemology (theory of knowledge), besides his practical work with dogs, horses cats, rats, and diving missions.

He is a popular guest in TV and radio programs in his home countries and in the US.

His English books 'Dog Language-An Encyclopedia of Canine Behavior' and 'The Evolution Of Canine Social Behavior' became hits the moment they reached the US bookshelves. He lectures often in the US.

Dr. Abrantes is especially known for his views on social behavior and its applications to the daily understanding of pet behavior; and for his no-nonsense working methods, a practical and thorough application of Ethology and Learning Theory, teaching the animal the new patterns patiently and efficiently step by step.

His actual work involves research into the philosophical aspects of evolutionary biology (besides being committed to the Tanzania project and his diving commitments).

Roger Abrantes is truly a citizen of the world. If you ask him where he lives, he will answer you 'Planet Earth' and there's something about it. He lives in Cambridge, UK, Lisbon, Portugal, Morogoro, Tanzania, and on an island, which name he refuses to reveal, in the south of Thailand. He speaks nine languages, English, Portuguese, French, Danish, and Swedish (fluently), Spanish, Italian, German, and Thai (less fluently).

He is a keen sportsman, having raced cars for many years. He has also played roller hockey in the German Bundesliga where he was his team's first goal-keeper until a few years ago. Nowadays he runs 10 kms and, when he's not working, he dedicates himself to his two life-long passions: reading (everything) and listening to music (Blues, Rock, New-Age, Opera).

Richard Allport graduated as a vet in 1973 and began using natural therapies for pets in 1983. He has over 30 years of experience in using acupuncture, herbal medicine, homoeopathy and nutritional advice to help pets.

He has patients overseas and in the UK. At his UK veterinary centre Richard and his associates offer a wide range of natural treatments for pets from qualified and experienced therapists. Open since 1996, the centre was one of the first practices in the UK to specialise purely in natural therapies for pets.

Richard is the author of several books on the subject of natural veterinary medicine and a regular contributor to several magazines and the UK media.

Richard has two Bedlington Terriers, Jamjar and Frankie. 

Brenda's childhood love was training and showing horses. She has taken this knowledge about working with large, potentially dangerous animals and applied it to training dogs with problem behaviours. Unsatisfied with the results of "traditional" dog training, Brenda studied marine mammal training, exotic animal training and learned about wolf pack behaviour. Puzzled by the lack of answers in dog lore and literature, and because traditional dog training techniques did not offer the tools needed to deal with aggressive dogs, in particular, she became an expert in behaviour modification and positive reinforcement.

If your dog has a behavioural problem or you want to learn how to avoid common mistakes that could cause aggression problems and you want a private lesson please contact Brenda by visiting her website below.

Brenda Aloff does provide Private Evaluation and Consultations at her training facility. Brenda would evaluate your dog and provide consultation by beginning a behaviour modification plan. You will receive an instructional DVD to assist you at home with the exercises.

Lizi Angel holds Diplomas in Canine Behaviour Psychology and Animal Communication, has completed Canine First Aid Training and is a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals and the International Positive Dog Training Association.

Always keen to increase her knowledge and skills, she is currently studying for a qualification in canine massage. She is a dog assessor and home-checker for Labrador Rescue, regularly lectures on canine body language and safe handling, and is a behaviour advisor for Mansion Hill Veterinary Practice. She has shared her adult life with nine dogs to date, including her present canine companions 3-year-old Labrador/terrier mix, Tilly and 2-year-old Labrador, Beau.

Lizi strongly advocates a holistic approach to behaviour therapy, helping owners to understand what dogs really need to be physically, mentally and emotionally healthy in order to reach and resolve the source of problematic behaviour, not train away the symptoms.

Gemma Blackwell is an Animal Communicator. Attuned to Reiki Level 2 she then went onto qualify in
Animal Communication at the end of 2010. In January 2011 Gemma set up her
Animal Communication Practice 'Pets Tails' and works with animals and
their owners all over the World. Based in Herefordshire she travels locally
with her work and also carries out distant consultations over the phone and
Skype. Connecting with the essence of the animal through Animal
Communication means she can also communicate with animals that are in
Spirit.

Gemma communicates with animals in a very natural,
non-intrusive way. Quietening her mind and focusing on the animal she is
able to pick up information and receives this in many different ways
including visual, words, feelings and intuition. She works with you and your
pet in a 3-way communication and the consultations tend to feel more like a
3 way conversation than a 'reading'.

Animal Communication can help
in a lot of ways including helping you to understand and resolve your pet's
emotional or behavioural problems, assisting Vets and other Practitioners in
identifying and treating physical problems, helping animals with fear,
anxiety, nervousness or aggression or simply helping to improve your
relationship with your pet. It can also benefit rescue animals and helping
them to settle into a new home. Losing a beloved pet is a very difficult
time in an animal lover's life so Animal Communication can help you and
your pet at this time. Pet grief counselling is also offered to those who
have recently suffered a loss. If you feel you are ready to connect with
your pet that has passed away Gemma will help you make that connection,
helping you to remember the good times and not the bad. A part of Gemma's
work is to help track down missing pets and finding out vital information on
where they are or where they have been.

To find out more about Animal
Communication and how it could benefit you and your pets contact Gemma on
07815 009941 or gemma@petstails.co.uk 


Head Trainer for Doghouse, certified pet dog trainer, clicker trainer, trick dog instructor, nosework instructor, security dog handler and assessor for the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers. Nando is also a committee member of the Pet Professional Guild.

Nando's interest lies with Scent Detection, Search and Rescue, Frisbee, Trick dog training and Rally, but his passion is dog behaviour and he is keen to help any dog that has a chance.

Nando writes for Dogs Monthly and has studied and trained under Jean Donaldson and the Academy of Dog Trainers, Dr. Ian Dunbar, Sarah Whitehead, The Animal Care College, Drove Veterinary Hospital, Steve Mann, The Institute and members of the Dog Borstal team.

Having originally had a "problem dog", Nando realised that there hadn't been just 1 person to solve his problems and set about trying to change that, subsequently "In The Doghouse" was born.

Gillian has been training dogs for over 30 years and has instructed for competitive obedience and pet dog socialisation, including the Good Citizens Dog Scheme. She is a Member of the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers (Advanced Grade). 

Gillian has acted as a Steward at the Crufts dog show in the obedience ring and has appeared there many times to show her own dogs. She is also knowledgeable in Ringcraft and can give advice to those who eventually wish to show their dogs competitively. Her current dogs are a pair of Large Munsterlanders.

Jo Hart runs Give a Dog a Comb, a mobile dog grooming business based in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, covering an area of approximately 20 miles. She holds a City and Guilds Level 3 in Dog Grooming. She works from a mobile bespoke van which benefits from a K9 Hydrobath, efficient blasters and dryers, grooming table and hypoallergenic bathing products. 

Jo is also a fully qualified dog trainer with 7 years experience of working with dogs with behavioural issues and volunteering as a Dog Training Instructor at one of the largest dog training societies in the country.

Tony has instructed at various successful training schools and currently manages and runs The Galleywoofers Dog Training Club. Having worked at a busy rescue kennels, Tony has trained some very difficult dogs, big and small, withdrawn and enthusiastic.

Author of '101 Doggy Dilemmas' (available on Amazon), Tony writes for various magazines and is on the 'Expert Panel' at Your Dog Magazine, answering reader's pet dog problems. He is also appears regularly on radio shows.

Recommended by many veterinary surgeries, Tony is a member of the Association of Pet Dog trainers (APDT UK) and The Institute of Modern Dog Trainer (IMDT) which both have a strict code of practice so he abides by kind and fair principles of training built on the science of dog behaviour.

In 2015 Tony was invited to teach second year veterinary students in canine behaviour and welfare at Writtle University College. He is now a nominated lecturer for Writtle University College.


Alison is our very own pet nutritionist and an expert in the field. She had her Eureka! moment, coming up with the Din Dins concept in 2007. Not only did she train in nutrition (applied science) with the best in Australia but continued to study in pet nutrition, researching for over five years.

Alison's knowledge, forward thinking and ability to create solutions for pet health issues through nutrition is pretty unique. This innovative approach has resulted in a fantastic range of products based around naturopathic and holistic principles.

Alison's life passion and commitment to the health and wellbeing of cats and dogs through nutrition has led to Din Dins becoming a one of a kind company, helping pets all over the country.

Heather has lived and shared her life with Border Collies from a very young age, first with Lassie, a docked Welsh Border Collie when at home with her parents, to the present day living with Puds, Sketch and latest edition Toffee a Working Cocker Spaniel.

For over 25 years, Heather competed in Working Trials with her dogs. Three of these obtained the "Tracking Dog Excellent" (TDex) qualification and she twice won the 'best nose-work' award at this level.

In 2001 Heather completed the City and Guilds teacher's training certificate 7303. She provided 10 week courses and one day courses for the adult education departments at Milton Keynes adult education and Northampton college. These days, Heather applies her knowledge and skills to helping people with training their dogs. As an instructor at Banbury Dog Training Club and as a guest trainer for other clubs, Heather has provided training and helped others to train their dogs for working trials, either in groups or on a one to one basis.

Heather has also trained people for the Kennel Club Good Citizens tests and for agility. She competes in agility and has recently reached Grade 7 with Working Cocker Spaniel, Toffee.

Heather is also a breeder and Judge, owning and breeding dogs that have gained their stud book number and won first prizes at Crufts dog show. Heather bred the only Border Collie to have gained both Working Trials and agility titles. As a Kennel Club approved judge, Heather judges Border Collies at breed shows at championship level, working trials at open and championship level, and at all three levels of the Kennel Club Good Citizen tests.

Dr. Ian Dunbar is a veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and writer. He received his veterinary degree and a Special Honors degree in Physiology &amp; Biochemistry from the Royal Veterinary College (London University) and a doctorate in animal behavior from the Psychology Department at the University of California in Berkeley, where he spent ten years researching olfactory communication, the development of hierarchical social behavior, and aggression in domestic dogs. 

Dr. Dunbar is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the International Society for Applied Ethology, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, the California Veterinary Medical Association, the Sierra Veterinary Medical Association, and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (which he founded). 

Adam has been training and working with dogs for over 14 years. His interest and fascination with dogs started as a young child, studying, observing, working and living with these amazing creatures.

"My first dog was what I considered to be a badly behaved little terrier. I now know that it was me being a bad owner that caused the terrier to have behavioural problems. He went on to become my best and closest friend for 17 years."
 
At the age of 14, Adem started working at a boarding kennels. It was whilst working in kennels he was fortunate enough to experience a huge range of canine characters and behaviours.

He started at the kennels as a dog lover and came out not only loving dogs more but also understanding dogs and the importance of showing them how to live in captivity.
 
Adem's areas of training cover working with dogs within many different canine disciplines such as obedience, agility, rescue dogs, training for the shooting field and my specialist area of canine behaviour.
 
He has demonstrated on several occasions on behalf of the Kennel Club as a behaviourist both at Crufts and the CLA game fair.
 
Adem tries to teach people to understand their dogs as well as teaching dogs using simple and kind methods and certain exercises which help to eliminate unwanted behaviour.

Adem is a member of the Guild of Dog Trainers, the Canine &amp; Feline Behaviour Association and the Kennel Club Accreditation Scheme... and most importantly, he has many years experience working with dogs.

Rob Fellows is a reiki master. He became 'attuned' to reiki in 1999 so that he could help his arthritic springer spaniel, Joe. Since then Rob has treated many pet and human clients in and around his home town of Bridgnorth in Shropshire for a variety of conditions including stress, arthritis, pain relief, sleep disorders, anxiety and other conditions that are common in both dogs and people.

"Seeing my once lively dog Joe dragging his foot on the ground due to his arthritis was terribly upsetting and so being able to help ease his suffering with reiki was an amazing feeling. I have continued to treat other dogs and now train people to become reiki practitioners so that they can help their own dogs too."

In order to treat as many as possible Rob also offers 'distance healing' and has clients, both animal and human, all over the world including the USA, Australia, India and Europe.

To find out more about reiki treatments or training to become a practitioner contact Rob on 07811 333166 or rob@reiki4dogs.co.uk.

Sarah Fisher is a Tellington Touch Instructor, dog trainer and behaviour counsellor. She teaches staff workshops for many of the UK's top animal shelters, works with private clients, and lectures around the UK and internationally for a variety of organisations.

Sarah Fisher is the author of Unlock Your Dog's Potential and co-author of 100 Ways to Train the Perfect Dog and 100 Ways to Solve Your Dogs Problems, She also regularly contributes articles to many UK national magazines.

She has appeared at many educational events including the Wag and Bone Show, and the Cold Wet Nose Show. She has also made numerous television appearances including ITV1 and National Geographic, BBC1, GMTV, Channel 4, CBBC, and is currently the pet expert for the ITV1 show This Morning.

Sarah has also been interviewed many times on local radio stations including BBC Radio Somerset, BBC Radio Bristol, BBC Guernsey and BBC Radio Berkshire giving advice on dog training and behaviour.

Noel Fitzpatrick qualified as a veterinary surgeon from University College Dublin in 1990, including scholarships at The University of Pennsylvania and The University of Ghent. Following a short period in mixed practice, Noel worked in small animal practice and spent periods at several universities in the UK and USA, attaining certificates in small animal orthopaedics and radiology. Noel founded Fitzpatrick Referrals in 1997, a specialist practice which emphasises the symbiosis of compassion and clinical excellence. In 2008 Noel was appointed to the position of Assistant Professor at the University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine in recognition of his contributions to science and teaching. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate by The University of Surrey for his contribution to medical science and has since become a Visiting Professor at The University of Surrey.

Noel is actively involved in bioengineering and the evolution of several new implant and operative systems in the fields of both human and veterinary surgery. He is Managing Director of his own company, OrthoFitz Ltd, which was set up with several respected bioengineers and researchers to develop medical devices with translational potential for human and animal patients.

In the past decade, Noel has conducted research and written papers with several major vet schools in the USA and UK as well as private referral hospitals worldwide. He is the first and only veterinary surgeon ever to have contributed six primary author and one secondary author scientific papers to a single edition of the prestigious journal Veterinary Surgery in February 2009. He coordinates and funds collaborative research endeavours, including Masters and Residency programs with several major institutions in the UK and USA, including the universities of Cambridge, Glasgow and Liverpool in the UK and Tufts, University of Florida, UC Davis, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Washington State University in the USA. He is currently an actively serving member of the Board of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society in the USA.

Noel lectures widely both nationally and internationally and has presented scientific abstracts on novel developments in orthopaedics and neurosurgery for fifteen years. He has developed in whole or in part several techniques and devices which now constitute the standard of care for small animal orthopaedics and neurosurgery worldwide. He won the Best Clinical Research award at the Veterinary Orthopedic Society meetings in 2005 and 2006, and in 2007 he conceived and was second author for the project winning the Best Basic Research award at the World Veterinary Orthopaedic Congress. In 2009 he was awarded The Mark S Bloomberg Award for his lecturing in the USA, and he received the prestigious Simon Award from the British Small Animal Veterinary Association in recognition of his outstanding contribution to veterinary surgery.

Noel's ethos is firmly anchored in the concept that education and cooperation between bio-engineering, all biological sciences, medical and veterinary science is the only rational way forward.

When qualifying as a TTouch Practitioner in October 2006, Jane focussed initially on one-to-one TTouch and training sessions with dogs and their handlers.

Tellington TTouch has allowed her to help so many dogs, some showing quite disturbed and distressed behaviour as a result of previous abuse or neglect. Jane now runs monthly Tellington Training workshops alongside her popular doggie day care service in Leicester, UK.

She says "Sometimes handlers just need a little help understanding their dogs and working on some basic training to improve their behaviour and wellbeing. My Tellington TTouch journey has taken me a very long way - from fearing dogs (having been attacked when I was younger) to understanding, helping and caring for them. I love the work I do and with a lot of hard work have finally realised my childhood dream. My mission statement is: To improve the wellbeing of animals through understanding and education."

Barbara Houlding (MScVetPhys; GradDipPhys , MACPAT(Cat A); FIRVAP;) is a leading small animal Veterinary Physiotherapist and expert canine hydrotherapist based at K9 Hydro Services in Suffolk and is an international lecturer on all aspects of land based and water based (aqua and hydrotherapy) veterinary physiotherapy.

K9 Hydro Services is an independent Centre providing a friendly, caring and professional service concerned with all aspects of the care, health and welfare of dogs, cats and other small animals.

Services provided include specialist clinics in agility and canine performance work, advanced veterinary physiotherapy covering all aspects of land based and water based work (aqua and hydrotherapy), health promotion and behaviour clinics. The Centre is an established training centre with extensive educational facilities that offer a wide range of water based and land based courses. These are inclusive courses open to all and include the IRVAP accredited Canine Aqua and Hydrotherapy Course, which is approved by the leading Professional Bodies representing the qualified professionals in this specialist field.

Joe is based in the Cotswolds in the UK and divides his time between his work as a vet, his role as resident vet on shows including The One Show on BBC 1 and Live with Gabby on Five, and Vet's Kitchen, his own brand of natural veterinary foods and supplements for dogs and cats.




Pam Mackinnon is the Director of Talking Dogs Ltd. She has regularly lectured and tutored for the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), Centre of Applied Pet Ethology (COAPE) and Hill's Pet Foods at their Veterinary Healthcare Advisor Seminars. Pam is a long standing member of UK APDT number 00191, and is proud to say that her membership was personally approved by John Fisher who founded the Association, and was a charter member of US APDT, and is a practitioner member of the COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists &amp; Trainers (CAPBT).

Pam has extensive experience of animal behaviour and training, having worked in a variety of areas over the last 24 years including: 

* Wood Green Animal Shelters as the charity's animal behaviourist
* H.M. Customs &amp; Excise as a drug detector dog handler
* Guide Dogs for the Blind as a puppy walker 
* Hearing Dogs for Deaf People as a hearing dog trainer
* Dr. Ian Dunbar MRCVS as the UK's only Sirius Puppy Trainer

In 2009 Pam co-founded Talking Dogs Rally&reg; with Becky Skelhon and in 2011 founded Talking Dogs Scentwork.

Pam provides a national staff training service for those working in animal shelters and borough councils, in addition to helping pet owners through private and class training and on veterinary referral. She has attended court as an expert witness and is a regular guest on the 'Ask the Expert' hour on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. Pam is frequently asked by the media to give advice and comment on animal behaviour. Appearances have included the 'Today' show on Radio 4, the 'Jeremy Vine Show' on Radio 2, Pet Rescue and even the Ruby Wax Show! She is an author, with titles including "The Puppy Class", "Jackpot", "Handle with Care", "Firework Fear", "Beat the Bark!", "A New Dog in the Family", "A New Puppy in the Family" and the Talking Dogs' Manuals "Raising Your Puppy" and "Training the Adult Beginner".

Chris has been working as a veterinary nurse for over thirty years.  This work sparked an interest in dog behaviour and training. She studied with COAPE and sees cat and dog behaviour cases via her practice.  A member of APDT, UK she has run puppy and dog training classes for fifteen years.  Chris has been a member of the APDT, UK committee, and various sub-committees, for the past few years. She helped set up, and instructs on, the APDT Pet Dog Training Instructor's course and, in 2010 she went to South Korea with Val Harvey to deliver the course to Samsung employees.

Chris is a trainer for Dog Aid, helping people with disabilities train their own dog up to Assistance Dog level. She has puppy-walked and socialised two dogs for Dogs for the Disabled. She has competed in obedience and agility and instructs agility at her local club. She has visited various retirement homes and Hospices with her dogs entertaining residents and patients with their tricks and for the past twelve years, Chris has performed tricks/routines with her dogs at Crufts as part of James Wellbeloved 'All Stars' Team. She and her dogs also perform at various country shows throughout the year.

Taggie and Duffie - her present dogs - have appeared in various TV adverts and photo shoots and Duffie especially loves performing to an audience. In her spare time she enjoys walking the dogs and thinking up new tricks to teach them.

Sally Marchant completed a First Class Honours degree in Applied Animal Behaviour and Training in 2006 and since then has worked at Wood Green Animal Shelters and The Blue Cross.

She has also had a number of roles with animals in the entertainment industry including the wolves on 'Stardust' (Amazing Animals), a Jack Russell at the Royal Opera House (Animal Ambassadors) and a Chihuahua on Nickelodeon (Animal Ambassadors). Her own dogs have appeared on Japanese Television and in various photo shoots for pet organisations.

She currently runs Dalys Dog Training classes to train and supply dogs for film and TV work when she is not filming or editing the footage for Naturally Happy Dogs.

Mary Ann Nester was born in the USA and came to Britain in 1972 as a student. In 1997 she set up Aslan Dog Training Club, named after her Lurcher and first agility dog.  She is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers as well as a SAQ trainer (licence 30800) and accredited trainer in the DAQ method
 
Mary Ann's most successful agility dogs have been miniature poodles. Brillo Pad competed in the Agility Draw Challenge on "National Lottery Live!" winning Mary Ann the privilege of pushing the button that released the evening's lottery balls in front of millions of television viewers. None of her friends had a winning ticket but it was good PR for poodles. In addition, Brillo and Daz have both been finalists at Olympia and Crufts and have competed at international level. Brillo represented Great Britain at the World Agility Championships in Portugal 2001 and Daz in Germany 2002 and France 2003. 

Committed to promoting canine sports, Mary Ann accepts judging appointments in agility and heelwork to music throughout the year and is an official measurer of agility dogs for the Kennel Club.  She has had fun combining training dogs with a writing career. The publication of her first book, "Agility Dog Training" is one of her proudest landmark moments!

Kris Owen is passionate about ex-racing Greyhounds and has been actively fundraising and helping to raise the profile of the breed for many years. She notices that they are perceived as high energy dogs with a high prey drive when nothing could be further from the truth in most cases.

Her published book the 'A La Bark Baking' cook book contains over 30 recipes for fun and healthy biscuits, training treats, meatloaves and bakes, all are veterinary approved and taste tested on many breeds of dogs.

She lives in Essex with her partner Marc and her two big ex-racing greyhounds Wagger 12yrs and Charlie 7yrs.

Reena Patel has been working as a vet for over ten years. She owns her own small animal practice, Medivet in Pinner (London, UK) dealing primarily in dogs and cats, but she also sees a good number of small furries too. 

Reena has been involved in some great television shows too, including Blue Peter, BBC's Pet School (which has just won an international emmy award), and most recently as the vet for BBC Sports Relief's Top Dog.

Jo has been working with dogs for over 18 years, starting her career with Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. For the past 8 years Jo has been running Standish Dog Trainer, a successful training business providing dog behaviour modification training, companion dog training classes, puppy parties, KC Rally Obedience, scent work classes, agility classes and clicker and tricks classes. Jo has completed diploma courses with Compass Education, carried out a study of wolves, and considers herself to be very lucky to have learned from some of the world's leading dog trainers including Dr Ian Dunbar, Dr Daniel Mills, Grisha Stewart, Dr Susan Friedman, Chirag Patel, Turid Rugaas and many more.

Jo is the European Manager for Victoria Stilwell's <a href="https://positively.com/dog-training/trainersearch/" title="Positively Dog Training">Positively Dog Training</a>, as well as being an approved VSPDT trainer. 

Jo is a firm believer in the power of force free training of dogs, using reward based, kind training techniques to help modify serious behavioural issues in dogs.

Having seen so many issues in dogs that could have been avoided with the correct socialisation of and management of young puppies, Jo is passionate that puppy classes and puppy parties are the most important things to get right, so has put together a package to help dog owners through this crucial time with their puppies. This is an area that Jo continues to study in greater depth. Jo also works with local veterinarians promoting fear free vet visits for dogs.

Jo regularly lectures on subjects including how dogs learn and the power of force free training to Animal Behaviour students and trains other trainers on the correct way to run puppy parties and puppy classes.

In her free time, Jo can be spotted heading off into the fields with her two border collies Indie and Twist.


Pedigrees 'n' Pooches are a dog grooming husband and wife from Hatfield, Herts, Trevor and Vikki Pearman. They have always been animal lovers having had, as a couple, dogs and cats for nearly 20 years. Currently they have 4 dogs, a young standard poodle, KC registered and show dog and used for grooming competitions and 3 Northern Inuits including 1 who was born blind, they are a handful at times but great fun and very loving, 3 cats, a snake, a rat and a good selection of fish.

2005  Vikki decided to, following a part time job bathing dogs, to do a City &amp; Guild course in dog grooming. After qualifying she set up VLP dog grooming, a home based small groomer and was always wanting to get her own salon but at the time this was not really an option. 2009 She took a full time job as a salon manager at a Stevenage groomers, where she worked until leaving to set up Pedigrees 'n Pooches. 

After starting out by helping Vikki with VLP at home, Trevor decided he would like to start grooming as a career, He began this in 2010 at a salon in London as trainee and his love of the career showed in his work and commitment and was soon promoted to stylist, then salon manager. 

During his time at this salon he gained the City &amp; Guilds in dog grooming and earned a lot of respect from the customers and staff alike, as someone with the ability and confidence to handle difficult and aggressive dogs and who has a natural affinity with the dogs which other groomers and vets had experienced difficulties with.

Turid Rugaas is an internationally renowned trainer and writer who has devoted her life to dogs, their behavior and their well-being.

The Norwegian dog trainer has worked with dogs for many years and studied the body language of dogs for more than a decade. After a project where Turid and a colleague observed dogs carefully, recording their behaviour on video and in photographs, she became well-known around the world for her work on the calming signals. And Turid Rugaas is now one of the world's leading experts on dog behavior.

In the critically acclaimed book On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals, she shares with us her insights on the fascinating world of communication between dogs, as well as dogs and their owners.

Turid lives and works in Norway where she owns and runs a dog training school, Hagen Hundeskole. Being a popular speaker, she is spending more time abroad than at home, speaking and presenting programs at conferences, seminars and workshops.

Born in 1969 into a family mad about animals it seemed only natural that Toni should be destined for a career with them. Toni says 'animals just walked into our lives, sometimes arriving injured others just flying in the window'.

Between 1989 and 2000 she worked for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. She quickly progressed from kennel staff to supervisor and then on to the staff training department where she managed all the City and Guilds kennel programmes, writing and marking exams etc.

In 1997 Toni studied under Linda Tellington-Jones and other top Tellington TTouch Instructors to become a registered level 1 Tellington TTouch Companion Animal Practitioner. She was one of the first to qualify in the UK and has really seen TTouch grow over the years in this country.

In September 2000 she left GDBA to pursue her passion for the Tellington TTouch Training Method and has been practising ever since. Toni is now one of the highest qualified practitioners in the UK. In 2004 she duel qualified as an equine practitioner, although chooses to concentrate on companion and captive wild animals.

Toni has appeared along side Sarah Fisher in the hit TV series 'Talking to Animals' and has also been featured in articles for 'Dogs Today' and 'Your Dog' magazine as well as Naturally Happy Dogs.

As well as working privately with clients, Toni runs workshops and gives talks and demos. She also works closely with a number of rescue shelters and assistant dogs organisations.

Toni works with all animals including dogs, cats, small animals, birds, horses, reptiles, wild life and non-domesticated animals. For ten years she worked with socialised wolves at the UK Wolf Conservation Trust as a senior handler and education officer although left in 2011 to concentrate on her TTouch work and writing. Toni now writes for national dog magazines and has just completed her first book, 'The Truth about Wolves and Dogs, (Dispelling the Myths of Dog Training)'.

Rebecca Skelhon met Pam Mackinnon in 2007, Becky had just returned from her homeland, America, and had seen Rally Obedience there. Keen to become involved when she returned to the UK, through a mutual friend she contacted Pam who was already running classes teaching Rally.  Becky came along to classes, and never left!

Becky has lived all over the world, but decided to  stay in the UK after she retired, having done 22 years in the American Air Force. She embraced her love of dogs and started studying training and behaviour. In order to ensure her practical skills met her theoretical knowledge Becky volunteered with numerous training classes and rescues before settling at Talking Dogs. Becky now co-teaches the Rally and Puppy classes with Pam. 

Never one to rest on her laurels, Becky continues to take courses, seminars and attend conferences on all things canine, such as Helen Zulch's Life Skills for Puppies and Sarah Whitehead's Training for the Future. Becky lives with two dogs, Tayla, a German Shorthaired Pointer and Darcy, a miniature poodle.

Grisha Stewart, MA, CPDT-KA is an author, seminar presenter, and dog trainer who specializes in dog reactivity. She owns Ahimsa Dog Training in Seattle, which has earned many awards, including Best of Western Washington. "Ahimsa" is a Buddhist doctrine of nonviolence to all living things, which reflects Grisha's focus on force-free methods to promote the well-being of dogs and their humans. 

She is the author of two books, the groundbreaking "Behavior Adjustment Training: BAT for Aggression, Reactivity, and Fear in Dogs" and her latest book, "The Official Ahimsa Dog Training Manual: A Practical, Force-Free Guide to Problem Solving and Manners."

Born and raised in Wimbledon, England, Victoria Stilwell is one of the world's most recognized and respected dog trainers, reaching audiences in over 50 countries.

She is best known for her role as the star of Animal Planet's hit TV series It's Me or the Dog (over 100 episodes so far!), through which she is able to share her insight and passion for positive reinforcement dog training by taming some of the world's most unruly pets as she counsels families on their pet problems. She also served as a judge on CBS's Greatest American Dog.

Stilwell is a passionate advocate for positive reinforcement training methods that enhance a dog's ability to learn while increasing confidence, resulting in a healthy, well-adjusted pet. She is a vocal opponent of punitive, dominance-based training techniques which often result in 'quick fixes' but ultimately cause more long-term harm than good while damaging the owner-dog relationship.

Her two best-selling books, It's Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet and Fat Dog Slim: How to Have a Healthy, Happy Pet, have been widely praised, and they detail her core reward-based training philosophy: "There's a better way to train...Positively."

In 2010, she launched Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training, the world's first global network of hand-picked, world-class positive reinforcement dog trainers dedicated to providing the public a brand name they can trust in humane, force-free training.

Her Positively Podcast series is available globally, while her popular website, Positively.com, serves as the online home of positive reinforcement dog training and features the world's leading veterinary behaviorists, dog trainers and behavioral scientists on her Positively Expert Blog.

Stilwell remains deeply committed to helping the cause of animal rescue and is heavily involved with rescue groups around the world including Paws Atlanta, Atlanta Pet Rescue, Stray from the Heart (NYC), Hong Kong Dog Rescue and Greyhound Rescue of West England. She works closely with the Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project, the HSUS, Puppy Mill Awareness Day and the Waterside Action Group to increase awareness of the horrific practice of puppy mills globally. She serves as the lead trainer for the official Rin Tin Tin, and she has worked as a volunteer adoption counselor for the ASPCA. 

Victoria is a National Ambassador for the American Humane Association in its efforts to promote animal welfare and responsible pet ownership and she serves as the Behavioral Consultant on RedRover's Advisory Board, in addition to being a proud supporter of Yoursphere. Victoria is a member of the US Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC).

Victoria currently resides in Atlanta with her husband, daughter and Chocolate Lab, Sadie and Chihuahua mix Jasmine.

Nick qualified from Edinburgh University in 1992 with an Honours degree in Pathological Sciences and a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.

In 1999 he established Holistic Vet Ltd, his own practice, offering homeopathy, acupuncture and nutritional consultancy for horses and small animals. The practice is based in Bath, but Nick continues work throughout the UK, Europe and the Channel Islands, with clients also in Zimbabwe, Malta, the U.S and Korea. He also holds surgeries at the Hyde Park Veterinary Centre in London. He is currently on the lecture staff at Southampton University, teaching homeopathy and acupuncture in the treatment of behavioural problems at the School of Psychology.

He writes regularly for Horse magazine and Dogs Today magazine. He has lectured on his specialist subjects throughout the UK and for the Faculty of Homeopathy in Portugal. He has a specialist interest in chronic disease in his chosen species, treating with homeopathy, herbs, acupuncture and natural nutrition.

If you are interested in finding out more about Holistic Vet Ltd., please visit the website using the link below.

Dima was born in 1970 in former Soviet Union and since he was about 8, always had dogs in the house.

His first doggie "project" was a rescue Irish Setter, utterly ignorant, disobedient and independent dog who he took to local dog classes and slowly built up some "survival" techniques that not only brought him a well behaved Setter - Jerry, but he was also selected for the Dog Training Display Team who performed at various Dog Shows and Festivals.

Many years on, Dima slowly climbed up the ladder in this new and exciting business and achieved the highest in the County Dog Show Judging category of National Expert, which was only awarded to 21 people.

For further education, Dima chose Teachers University, Department of Biology Teaching, and specialisation Physiology of Behaviour. He graduated in 1992 with MSc and a Teaching Diploma, and decided to study for PhD in the same field in the Kharkov State University. 

For all these years Dima was also running Dog Centre "Sirius" specialising in training, boarding of lost and rejected dogs, security dogs, breeding and showing. 

In 1996 he moved to the UK and has been working with dogs in this country since. With the help of many devoted to dog welfare friends of the School and his team of dog trainers and assistants, he runs the training club Good Boy Dog School.

Being permanently in the public's eye with his filming and media projects as well as his views on various subjects of responsible dog ownership, Dima has appeared in such big projects as advertisements for Pedigree dog food, Toyota Cars, Fosters Beer, Ikea, Harpers Bazaar, Grand Designs, full feature films, That Dog Can Dance, The Underdog Show, The Secret Life of Dogs, Lets Dance, music videos with bands Magnet, Babyshambles, the V, Lethal Bizzle, and many others and has lately won both London and National Pet shows in Doggy Dancing and Most Talented Categories.

Dima has appeared on Battersea's Dogs Home programme, Pet Rescue, Alan Titchmarsh, Graham Norton, Paul O'Grady and Julian Clary shows as well as various Radio and internet podcast interviews.

Dima is a regular participant on some of the biggest UK Dog Shows and Festivals - Discover Dogs, Crufts, All About Dogs, Paws in the Park, Robin Hood Fairs as well as many festivals and fundraisers both local and nationwide. Dima's private clients include many celebrities, casting agencies and film companies, Police and various charities and rescue organisations.

Dima's Good Boy Dog School provides individual and group training classes to dog owners as well as socialisation, rehabilitation, specialist and problem solving classes together with group dog walking, residential training courses and even a Summer Training Camp for owners with their dogs.

Many dog trainers obtaining their qualifications with the Good Boy Dog School have branched out on their own, establishing dog related businesses all over the UK and in Europe.

Dima is a Dog Training Instructor with over 32 years of experience, his qualifications include: MSc - Physiology of Behaviour, BEd - Teaching diploma incl. Science, KC affiliated club.

Dima runs free monthly e-subscription newsletter and his own YouTube channel delivering many useful and entertaining news to tens of thousands of people of the on-line community.

Jenny Youdan is a professional, qualified Canine Massage Therapist. Since completing a 2 year Diploma (level 3) in Therapeutic Canine Massage in November 2012, she established <a href="http://www.k9elements.co.uk" title="www.k9elements.co.uk">K9 Elements Massage Therapy</a>. 
 
Treating dogs from all walks of life - small and large, young or old, sporting, working and beloved pets, Jenny aims to improve the dog's quality of life. She helps to keep them mobile, reduce stiffness and alleviate pain using 4 disciplines of massage - Swedish, Sports, Deep Tissue and Myofascial Release techniques.

In addition to treating individual dogs, Jenny also works with agility and flyball clubs to help handlers better understand the demands these sports place on their dogs. This preventative work aims to increase awareness, minimise injuries and keep the dog healthy.

Through her work, Jenny supports 2 local animal charities - Medical Detection Dogs and HULA Animal Rescue. Canine Massage has 2 main applications in the rescue centre: firstly, to calm, relax and alleviate any tension and secondly, to identify any muscular injuries that could be the root cause of behavioural issues. The ultimate aim is to improve the dog's welfare and help it to be re-homed.

To learn about the benefits of Canine Massage Therapy and understand how it can help your dog, then please visit Jenny's website.  

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