About me
Hello - I'm Caroline,
I have spent my life studying the behaviour of animals. I was never happier as a child than when cleaning out the dog pen, although I am not sure the dogs were impressed by my grooming skills. There were definitely a few dodgy haircuts.
This is me in the 1980s with our working Springer Spaniel, Shot. Yes, his name really was Shot the Dog!
I love dogs and I get a real kick out of helping people with their dogs.
I do not think the saying ‘there are no bad dogs, just bad owners’ is true.
Some people, with the best of intentions, can find themselves feeling a bit lost, like when they come home to find their beloved Rover has eaten the sofa. It happens!
That is a big part of why this work matters to me. I want to help people make more sense of what may be going on with their dog, without blame, without judgement and without adding to the confusion
I have a PhD in Animal Behaviour. Before returning to work with dogs, I studied monkeys in Uganda and spent years researching white rhinos in Botswana.
When the pandemic hit, I realised I wanted to bring my background in animal behaviour together with my first love, which was always dogs.
I also wanted to do this properly. The dog training and behaviour industry is unregulated, so training, certification and ethics matter. Slip leads should be put where they belong, in the bin. I completed my dog training qualification with the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT) and later gained the IMDTB certification as a dog behaviour practitioner.
I chose the fear-free route because it reflects both the science and my values. My work is grounded in current, ethical, evidence-based practice, and I continue my professional development through ongoing study and industry events.
What matters to me is getting this right for you and for your dog.
You can also visit my blog for more guidance on behaviour, training and everyday life with your dog.