Originally from Scotland, I moved to the North East in 2005 and live in Chester Le Street with my husband and our young daughter.  I have had an interest in dogs all my life but this developed into a passion when I bought my first dog.  He had a lot of issues so I became determined to find out what makes a dog tick.  I now share my home with 3 Australian Shepherds - who are all training in agility.

I have studied under John Rogerson taking his detailed dog behaviour and development course.  In 2009 I received my certificate in Puppy Development and in February 2010 I received my Certificate in Professional Dog Behaviour Counselling.  From this I felt passionately about helping to produce the best dogs for todays society that can live happily in todays world.  If we do not change the way we train our dogs, there will be less and less parks and more and more restrictions in areas of access for our pets.  I also work as a volunteer Childrens Educational Speaker for The Blue Cross and have had one of my dogs, Mac, behaviour assessed to allow him to come along with me on talks.

I have had personal experience of living with a dog that can not be taken out in public, how stressful this can be and how it impacts on all areas of your life.  I also have experience of having dogs that can go anywhere and have a stress free life with - this is what I want to help everyone achieve with their pets.

Not only will we show you how to do something with your dog but we will explain why we feel it should be trained that way.  I am a Scientist and feel that people perform better (and therefore train their pets better) if they understand why they are doing something rather than just doing it because they are told to.  Pawfect Start is about having your dog obedient and doing the things that YOU want them to do not about having obedience champions that can perform in the obedience ring but not necessarily when you are out in the park.   

Eric	Dizzy	Mac
Gemthorne Thunderflash Dog Australian Shepherd	Triforce StormRunner Bitch Australian Shepherd	Gemthorne Final Fling Dog Australian Shepherd