About Me
My name is Victoria and I am a dog addict! I love dogs - large dogs, small dogs, young dogs, old dogs – they are all special and unique and deserve to be loved and cherished.
I know what absolute joy dogs can bring, however, I also know from experience how disruptive, stressful and sometimes dangerous it can be when a dog has behavioural problems. All of my dogs have taught me something, some more than others.
When I decided to become a behaviourist, I wanted to be the best that I could be and therefore I decided to study for a recognised qualification even though there is no requirement in the UK for a behaviourist or trainer to be qualified. I therefore invested in an 18 month course whcih covered all things dog related and required both written and practical studies.
I have twenty five years’ experience of owning dogs in a multi dog household which has included rescue dogs, puppies and elderly dogs. We currently have nine dogs who are a mix of spaniels, golden retrievers and spaniel/retriever crosses, both males and females aged between one and twelve. All our dogs live indoors as part of the family and share our holidays, staying in hotels and holiday cottages - we have even been camping with nine dogs for meet ups with friends and their dogs – I think we had around forty dogs together on one occasion! We also have a cat who is small but mighty & can often be found in pole position in front of the log burner on winter evenings much to the chagrin of the dogs!
Managing the requirements of many dogs in one house, including introducing new dogs and dealing with the behavioural issues of rescue dogs, has brought many challenges and an abundance of valuable learning and experience. Over the years, we have also raised three litters of puppies, two litters of 10 and one of 9, and understand how important early experiences are and how they can impact the rest of a dog’s life.
Victoria has been carrying out home checks for a number of dog rescues for over fifteen years and also donates handmade jewellery to help with fundraising.
Often being asked for advice from others and having experienced the problems that poor advice can cause, Victoria decided to train as a canine behaviourist and trainer by studying for a professional qualification. In 2022 she was accepted on the Cambridge Institute of Dog Training and Behaviour Level 6 Diploma (degree equivalent) in Applied Canine Behaviour Management and the Advanced Higher Certificate in Canine Behaviour & Training (Professional Practice) 18 month course which included both hands on workshops and in depth study of all things canine.
We believe that you can never stop learning and that it is important to keep up to date with new behavioural and medical research (including medication and diet), tools and techniques. Continuing professional development is extremely important to us and with that in mind, Victoria will be attending a 4 day workshop specifically focusing on canine aggression in October. 2024.
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