Sit Dog Training

I started Sit Dog Training in 2005 as a hobby while still carrying out my day job, working for my family's firm of electrical engineers, where I was mainly involved in general office work and producing Computer Aided Design drawings. I left their after 13 years in June 2007 to pursue my love of dog training full time.

Life Experiences.

Not only have I gained oodles of experience with the raising of my three daughters, this requires parental leadership skills of which for me is also the foundation of good dog ownership, I have also required many social skills, through past employment, and involvement in many pastimes, some of which include, Horse ownership and competition; Owning & riding a classic motorcycle; Performing on stage with various societies, both acting and singing; Learning and playing various instruments, the piano, the recorder, the guitar, my next aim is to play the drums.

I enjoy keeping fit and like to run, I have competed in the Great North Run, the Doncaster Half Marathon, various other 10k, 5k races and walked the Moonwalk.

Employment. & Education.

I left school at 16 to train at Doncaster Art College in the 70's and gained a Diploma in Graphic Design, a certificate in window display and an 'O' level Art.
My first job found me working as a Window Dresser in Doncaster, I then left home and moved south to work as a Hosiery Consultant then a Store Detective for Debenhams, Surrey and then to London to continue as a Store detective in Miss Selfridge, I then went on to work for the Civil Aviation Authority as a chauffuese where I drove such interesting people, such as Douglas Bader, Sheila Scott and Air Marshall Sir Ivor Broom. During working for the CAA I met my husband. During my marriage and raising of my three girls I had part time jobs firstly as a childminder then school photographer, before moving back to Doncaster I had a Christmas job in Woolworths. I also fitted in some freelance jobs over the years, designing for an advertising agency and also producing artists impressions of houses for a property developer.
Producing pet portraits is another passion, one which has been sorely neglected over the years, but have plans to get back to.
I have also been involved in designing the artwork for my Theatre company for their programmmes, Flyers & Posters and have designed my website and recently the website for my new venture K9 Konnections.

My Dogs & other pets. As far back as I can remember I have always had a love of animals, any animal, always bringing injured birds home and feeding the hedgehogs in the garden, we always had cats around and I had a tortoise (who we called Houdini) as he was always escaping, a rabbit and a mouse. I so so longed for a pony and a dog, always drawing them, and dreaming of them, I remember Sugar Puffs once had a competition to win a pony, I really thought I was in for a chance, but no, disapointment again. I used to take all the neighbours dogs for walks. I remember going for a caravan holiday with my parents to Wales, I was about seven, they were giving away border collie pups on the farm where we stayed, I pleaded with my parents to let me have one, but I wasn't allowed, I cried the whole journey home form Wales to South Yorkshire. My Mum nearly relented a few years later when on holiday in Bridlington, a large department store there were selling Beagle puppys. But again I wasn't allowed. When I was ten I learn't to ride at a local riding school, Miss Shaw's, and when I was thirteen, I was lucky and bought a pony, (secretly) I had been riding Kim for his owners and they said they needed to sell him, my Mum agreed that we would buy him without telling Dad, I drew my saving from the post office, all £13 of it as a deposit, he cost £60 including tack! My dad found out some weeks later and said "Oh well better pay the rest" there was never a prouder man at the Gymkhanas. You would think that I would be satisfied but my yearning for a dog however never wained. Even though I had been bitten twice, once by a stray dog running up to me in the street and biting me on the knee and by a little terrier at the riding school, who I tried to drag out from under a seat! stupid I know. The first opportunity came when I was when I was twenty, I had left home and was sharing a flat with a work friend in East London, a plumber came to mend our boiler and while he was there said "Do you want a dog?" DID I WANT A DOG!..... YES! Llewney came to live with us, he was a 3 month old Pembroke Corgi, complete with basket, loads of toys, food, and a pedigree as long as your arm, reason for rehoming, his two year old daughter was afraid of him and his sharp teeth. Well I new nothing about owning dogs, he went everywhere with me, apart form work of course, but knowing what I know now, I made just about every mistake going with him, he was food aggressive, used to go for me if I went near his bowl. I met my future hubby and one day I was taunting Llewney saying Bite him! Bite Him! (just for fun I thought) when Llewney jumped up and bit my future hubby on the nose, well of course Llewney wasn't to stay as we may have children after we married and so Llewney went to spend his days with another family. I went to visit him some time later and he was so pleased to see me, he came and layed at my feet, I reached down to stroke him, he bit me! Should have listened to Llewney, the marriage didn't last! My next dog was Binker, BoxerXLabrador we looked after her for a friend, who was poorly, she stayed with us, what a lovely dog, I was determined to do everything right and so joined the local Dog Training Club and I never really looked back. The next special dog in my life was Duster, a tri-colour working sheep dog, he was bought when my interest in Agility was gaining momentum and although Binker was a great Agility dog, was not quite fast enough to win. Binker took my daughter Jo to the Junior Kennel Club finals for Agility, both incredible dogs and shall always miss them. I musn't forget Girl, I was also extremely lucky to own Girl, she was a beautiful thoroughbred Mare, I did everything with her, show jumping, X country, dressage, and rode for miles, she came with me and the girls and various guinea pigs and cats and dogs to Doncaster from Kent in the early 90's to start a new life after my marriage came to an end. I miss her too.
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Dog Training. When I first got involved in training with my dog Binker (the inspiration for my logo) over 20 years ago, I had no idea that it would take me along such an interesting and rewarding path. I have met some lovely people and their dogs and have got involved in training and competing in Obedience at the Bexley Dog Training Club & Agility at the Dalerose Agility Club in Kent who also helped to train the Blue Peter dog Bonnie with Yvette Fielding in Agility. I used my dog Binker for an episode of Crimestoppers and, until recently, instructed trained and competed in Flyball with the Doncaster Bellestars Flyball Team. “What is Flyball?” I hear you say, take a look on their website www.doncaster-bellestars.co.uk
We own two dogs Cleo 11yrs Staffy X Whippet & Malic 3 yrs, Catalan Sheepdog. Sadly we lost Milly in July 2009 and on Easter monday 2008 we lost Lady(otherwise known as ‘Pippin’ look-alike!) appeared on stage in 2005 as Sandy in ‘Annie’ - she was a Star! I also trained a clients dog Sandie to be Toto in November 2007 production of The Wizard of Oz at the Civic Theatre Doncaster. She was a star too!
II have gained a lot of pleasure from my dogs over the years and have a passion to pass on my knowledge to other pet dog owners so they can also achieve the same enjoyment as me.

I joined PAACT in June 2007, a wonderful association, which gives me fantastic support and confidence. www.paact.co.uk. I abide by the PAACT code of conduct. " All members must agree to use humane positive reinforcement training techniques, to produce informed, caring owners, with the aim of achieving as far as possible, well socialised, well behaved dogs and good citizens on both ends of the leash.

PAACT opposes the use of punitive techniques and equipment such as, check, choke, prong, spike collars, electronic collars"

Accreditations & Certificates
• Canine Communication certificate - Jan Fennell Amichien Dog Listeners
• Certificate of Attendance - Dr Ian Dunbars Puppy Class Seminar in July 2007
• Certificate of Attendance - Paddy Driscolls, Dog Behaving Badly day in April 2008
• Certificate of attendance – Handling Skills with Turid Rugaas May 2008
• Extensive Bibliography
• Advisor to the Local Westie Rescue, West House Westies

• In July 2009, I teamed up with two other Doncaster trainers to form K9 Konnections, please visit our website to find out more...www.k9konnections.co.uk

• September 2009, have just become a member of PETbc www.petbc.org.uk
• April 2010 Starting my new Fun Agility Classes

As you can see I have gained a wealth of dog experience through life and I am always aspiring to learn more and keep up with the latest dog training trends and techniques by attending seminars and continuous self study.

My Aims....

To make every dog and their owners happy!

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