About Wendy Hill
Wendy Hill BSc.(Hons) Zoology
APDT 01021
Affiliated to the UKRCB
Wendy’s interest in animal behaviour began early with a Westie in the family and a specialisation in behaviour during her degree at Liverpool University.
After a career in marketing and sales she turned a passion for training her own horses and then dogs into a full time business and in recent years became a full time trainer and behaviour advisor.
She has trained with some of the U.K and U.S.A’s most experienced trainers including Ian Dunbar, Sarah Whitehead, Sue Sternberg, Pia Silvani and Kim Moeller. Previous personal experience of the effects of aversive techniques, which still abound in dog training circles has forged her commitment to understanding dogs and how they learn, and to use only ethical methods to achieve training goals. An ongoing commitment to continue pushing knowledge and experience means several dates for seminars and workshops are always in the diary.
Believing that clients should have a benchmark for choosing a trainer she is examined and approved by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and is affiliated to the United Kingdom Registry of Canine Behaviourists.
She is CRB checked and first aid and child protection trained.
Agility is a sporting passion and her dogs compete throughout the year and are also trained in Rally and Competitive Obedience to competition standard.
Wendy’s Dogs
The leading characters on the home page are current canine family members Mattie, a Lab x Staffie, and JJ, a very tall lurcher. Both were rescue pups and provided ample ongoing material for practical experience with a variety of behaviour issues!
Both compete in K.C. agility and train to competition standard Rally and Competitive Obedience. Mattie upgraded twice in agility in 2010, and won up to Grade 4 in only her second outing in 2011. Unfortunately, she has very recently had to retire from serious competition due to a spinal disc problem, but continues to train for fun and will love doing KC veteran classes next year.
Border Collie puppy Merlin joined the family in September 2011. He is currently enjoying all basic training but with a focus on young dog foundation agility games.
We have recently lost our beautiful Border Collie boy Solo – with us only very briefly but remembered forever.
About Karen Deverill
Karen Deverill BSc (Hons) Biology
APDT 00925
Kennel Club GCDS Examiner – Bronze Level
Karen’s love of dogs began with “Tinker”, her sweet-natured, gentle, friend who joined the family when Karen was 2 – & lived to the age of 17! When at school & during University holidays, she fitted in lots more contact with dogs, working at her local vets for 6 years.
When seeking suitable training classes for one of her own dogs, she experienced the stress that aversive training techniques can cause to dogs & owners – but also discovered the positive effects of modern, reward-based techniques. She began assisting, & then instructing at classes & in 2006 passed her APDT assessment.
At the end of 2008, she moved from Scotland to Nottinghamshire. Finding Wendy’s training classes has been the perfect opportunity to continue instructing & have access to kind, reward-based classes for her own dogs!!!
She loves learning more about “what makes dogs tick” & builds on her knowledge, regularly attending seminars & workshops held by well-respected trainers who promote kind, ethical techniques. She recently passed the first stage of qualification as a Rally judge.
Karen’s Dogs
Pebble & Dot, the dalmatians, are much-loved family members. Sensitive Dot has had some challenging behaviours – understanding & improving these issues has been invaluable learning. Both dogs love clicker-training & have trained in Obedience, Agility & Rally. Pebble’s also been to Working Trials training days & has achieved her Kennel Club Good Citizen Gold Award.