Local Cattery Contacts:

Our Special Friends helps people continue to benefit from animal companionship by providing physical and emotional support during illness, bereavement or other crises. Our current geographical focus is Suffolk but we do have cases in adjacent areas and are keen to expand as funding allows.

https://ourspecialfriends.org/

The Cinnamon Trust

A national charity which aids elderly and terminally ill with their pets

https://cinnamon.org.uk/

Suffolk Animal Rescue

https://www.suffolkanimalrescue.org.uk/

Behaviourists and Dog trainers:

Behaviourists:

Dawn Turner
01787 463468
dawn682@btinternet.com

Lucy Bingley
01449 736592
lucy@petbehaviourhelp.co.uk

Trainers:

Seadogs Dog Training
07980 802213
hello@seadogstraining.co.uk

Hedingham Hounds
07980183220
hedinghamhounds@doglover.com

Haverhill
Little Stars Dog Training
07973429765

Great Cornard
Lead the Way, Sara Oakley
07909904357
leadthewaytraining.co.uk

Advice on Finding a Dog Trainer:

Dog training in the UK is unregulated and anyone can set themselves up in business as a trainer regardless of qualification
or experience.
You are the person your dog spends most of their time with and who they have the most interaction with, you have the
most opportunity to consistently reinforce the behaviours you want to see. A good trainer should teach you how to teach
your dog. It is important that you do your research to ensure that the ethos and ethics of any trainer you are considering
working with align with your own.
How do you find the right dog trainer for you and your dog? Ask questions!
An ethical trainer will not mind you asking questions. They will be willing to share with you how they work.
Questions we advise asking a prospective trainer:-How will you help my dog to learn? What equipment do you use?-What will happen to my dog when they get it 'wrong'? Will you physically punish, startle or frighten my dog? -What will happen when my dog gets it 'right'? How will you reinforce desired behaviour?
Additional points for you to consider before you make your choice:
Education- Does your prospective trainer have recognised qualifications? What courses have they undertaken and what
CPD (continued professional development) do they continue to do? Modern dog training is based on science of learning
theory, like any other science it changes as we learn more. A competent trainer must have a solid understanding of the
science to apply it effectively and must keep up to date with new developments and theories.
Professional membership- memberships are no guarantee but do indicate a commitment to the profession and in some
cases a willingness of the trainer to submit themselves for external assessment. IMDT (Institute of Modern Dog Trainers)
KPA (Karen Pryor Academy) VSPDT (Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training) and APDT (Association of Professional Dog
Trainers) all have strict ethical standards and require members to have their skills/knowledge assessed, and to undergo
CPD.
Ethos and openness- Check out the website or Facebook page of your prospective trainer to get an overall feel for them
and their work. Are they clear about the methods they use in training?
Equipment used- lead, harness, long line, whistle, toys, food and clicker tend to suggest positive reinforcement techniques
are used. Positive reinforcement training is recommended by all modern welfare authorities. If a trainer advocates slip
leads, choke chains, prong collars, e-collars, rattle cans, training discs, water sprays or pet correctors then be aware these
tools use discomfort, force, pressure and sometimes fear or pain to teach. Any trainer who uses these tools should be
honest with you that this is how they teach so you can make an informed choice. These tools are not recommended in
modern dog training.
Language- use of terms such as 'pack theory', 'dominance' or 'balanced' indicates dated knowledge and a strong likelihood
that aversive techniques will be used in training.
Any reluctance to answer questions about qualifications, experience, methods or ethics should be questioned.
Guaranteed results or promises to 'fix the problem' in a short timescale are not signs of a good trainer. Each dog is a unique
individual with different genetics and learning history, they will respond to training in different ways. The trainer must use
their own training and knowledge to understand your dog and how to help you achieve the best from them. A quick fix is
seductive but reflects lack of understanding of the nature of behaviour.
References:
BVA and BSAVA policy position on the use of aversive training devices. Executive summary: BVA and BSAVA support and recommend positive training methods as the most
effective training intervention for companion animals in terms of health, welfare and behavioural outcomes. A number of further references are linked on this statement.
A Catarina Viera de Castro, D Fuchs, G Munholz Morello, S Pastur, L de Sousa, AS Olsson 'Does training matter? Evidence for the negative impact of aversive-based methods on
companion dog welfare PLOS ONE, 2020; 15 (12)
G Ziv The effects of using aversive training methods in dogs - a review: Journal of Veterinary Behaviour 19(2017) 50-60
SG Friedman 'What's wrong with this picture? Effectiveness is not enough' APDT Journal March/April 2010