About
My career and volunteering work have enabled me to combine my passion for supporting people with my love of dogs. I have a wealth of experience in canine welfare, socialisation, training and behaviour, in completing holistic assessments, evaluating information and working in partnership with people, their families and their dogs towards positive outcomes.
My work at National Animal Welfare Trust gave me the chance to work effectively with some quite challenging canine behaviour and gave me a real interest in making a difference to the quality of life of rescue dogs. I latterly worked as a volunteer dog trainer for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. Edith was the first pup that I helped to train and socialise. She has recently returned to me following circa ten years as a hearing dog and is enjoying a well earned retirement with her hearing dog companion Dudley!
I have also volunteered for Medical Detection Dogs for circa nine years, providing day to day dog training, socialisation and assessment of pups to circa eighteen months of age. This involved helping to optimise a pup’s long term development through ensuring positive socialisation and habituation experiences. It also involved the use of kind dog training methods, rewarding desirable behaviour and proofing and generalising this to lots of different situations. A key focus was on building on a pup’s focus and confidence, their self control, and their ability to take the initiative and make positive decisions about their own behaviour. I helped to address a range of behaviour issues – inappropriate elimination, jumping up, chewing, destructive behaviour, separation anxiety, generalised anxiety and fear issues, vocalisation and more.... I’m particularly proud to be a part of a wider team of people that helped these pups achieve their potential and make a life changing difference to the people they support. For example, Jade arrived as an adolescent with some very challenging behaviour. Consistent and kind dog training, and a stronger puppy human bond, helped Jade develop into a fantastic diabetic alert dog, one of three finalists at the Hero Dogs awards several years ago.
My Masters Degree MSc. (ASS) included the psychology of animal behaviour. I also have an Advanced Diploma in Applied Canine Behaviour with distinction, a Diploma in Social Work and am a Fellow with the International Society of Animal Professionals.
My work at National Animal Welfare Trust gave me the chance to work effectively with some quite challenging canine behaviour and gave me a real interest in making a difference to the quality of life of rescue dogs. I latterly worked as a volunteer dog trainer for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. Edith was the first pup that I helped to train and socialise. She has recently returned to me following circa ten years as a hearing dog and is enjoying a well earned retirement with her hearing dog companion Dudley!
I have also volunteered for Medical Detection Dogs for circa nine years, providing day to day dog training, socialisation and assessment of pups to circa eighteen months of age. This involved helping to optimise a pup’s long term development through ensuring positive socialisation and habituation experiences. It also involved the use of kind dog training methods, rewarding desirable behaviour and proofing and generalising this to lots of different situations. A key focus was on building on a pup’s focus and confidence, their self control, and their ability to take the initiative and make positive decisions about their own behaviour. I helped to address a range of behaviour issues – inappropriate elimination, jumping up, chewing, destructive behaviour, separation anxiety, generalised anxiety and fear issues, vocalisation and more.... I’m particularly proud to be a part of a wider team of people that helped these pups achieve their potential and make a life changing difference to the people they support. For example, Jade arrived as an adolescent with some very challenging behaviour. Consistent and kind dog training, and a stronger puppy human bond, helped Jade develop into a fantastic diabetic alert dog, one of three finalists at the Hero Dogs awards several years ago.
My Masters Degree MSc. (ASS) included the psychology of animal behaviour. I also have an Advanced Diploma in Applied Canine Behaviour with distinction, a Diploma in Social Work and am a Fellow with the International Society of Animal Professionals.
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Please don’t hesitate to contact Fiona for help with socialisation, training and behaviour issues on fbcaninepotential@gmail.com.