ABOUT THE TRAINER
Abiding to the standards and Code of Conduct set by The Animal Behaviour and Training Council
Sally Bartlett
Adv.Dip.CBM, CIM Dip.M, BHSAI
Full Member of The Canine Behaviour and Training Society
(and Mentor to new student members)
Animal Behaviour & Training Council (ABTC) Registered Animal Training Instructor
Successfully raised and trained a puppy to become a fully Qualified Assistance Dog for the charity Canine Partners
(And am a regular Foster Carer for their puppies)
Associate of The Northern Centre for Canine Behaviour
Qualified Instructor with The British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers
(Awarded the higher level of BIPDT 1st Grade)
Qualified with the Advanced Diploma in Canine Behaviour Management
(Foundation Degree level)
British Horse Society Level 3 Coach in Complete Horsemanship (BHSAI)
Animal Aiders' Dog First Aid Certificate
City and Guilds Level 2 Dog Groomer
Trinity College (London) Qualified English Teacher (TESOL)
Experience
Raised with and training animals since childhood, I have lived and worked professionally in the UK and Europe with many dogs and also horses. This has given me the privilege of both working and living with many different breeds and temperaments for training issues and behavioural problems.
This experience, plus ownership of my own much-loved dogs (Labrador, Irish Terrier-Cross, Boxer, Pointer-Boxer Cross, Labrador-Golden Retriever Cross), volunteering at rescue centres, and many years of formal study and research into the science and practice of animal behaviour management, has given me an invaluable insight into both their behaviour and, equally important, the effects that our own behaviour has on the animals we interact with.
Experienced owner and trainer of puppies and older dogs
I am experienced in dealing with both young puppies and older, more boisterous dogs, having personally owned puppies and adolescent rescue dogs, so have first-hand experience of my own dogs as well as numerous years' experience with clients' dogs.
I am delighted to have been a 'Puppy Parent' for Canine Partners (a member of Assistance Dogs UK), having taken on in March 2017 a wonderful eight week old Labrador x Retriever puppy who was an absolute joy to live with and train. She went into the advanced training centre at just 15 months old (April 2018) and although very much missed she is now a qualifed Assistance Dog, giving assistance and her wonderful companionship and affection to her new owner. She and I gained the Kennel Club Good Citizen Gold award when she had just turned one year old (the minimum age for this award).
My own training is based upon exercises required in the Good Citizen tests as it gives a solid training to dogs for good manners and obedience both in the home and out in public. However, my focus for clients is not to pass tests but instead to ensure training is aimed at you having all the essential control and play exercises for an obedient, happy and well-balanced dog both at home and in public.
I am also an 'Approved Instructor' with Dog Aid - a registered UK charity and a member of Assistance Dogs UK which assists people with physical diabilities to train their own dogs to become registered Assistance Dogs. I was registered as an 'Approved Instructor' with Dog AID after successfully qualifying a dog as a Level 3 fully Qualified Assistance Dog. Dog Aid is a very worthwhile charity as some assistance dog charities currently have long waiting lists to supply trained assistance dogs.
Breeds I have lived with include many breeds and cross-breeds
Border Terrier, Irish Terrier-Cross, Tibetan Terrier-Cross, Boxer (Pedigree and Cross Breed), Giant Schnauzers, Great Danes, St Bernards, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Hungarian Vizsla, Cocker Spaniel-Cross, Bassett Hound, German Shepherd, Corgi-Cross, English Pointer-Cross, Staffordshire Bull Terrier x Rottweiler.
In addition to the breeds personally lived with, I have trained and given behavioural advice to hundreds of dogs of all breed groups (Terriers, Pastoral, Gundog, Hound, Toy, Working, Utility).
How I help you to train and improve your dogs' behaviour
I am very aware that however good my own empathy and communication with dogs is, I must also be able to pass on those same skills to you and your family to help you effectively train and communicate with your dogs. I will always explain and demonstrate each exercise, showing you how to get the best from your dog, and I will give you plenty of practical training time being coached in how to handle your dog so that at the end of each session you will have gained a good number of practical training methods, skills and knowledge.
From experience, I believe the best way to improve any animal's behaviour is achieved through kindness and by clearly and consistently enforcing sensible guidelines.
We also need to be clear in our communications, determined in our consistency, and quietly and gently have the upper hand. This is far more effective than any harsh form of training.
I will explain and show you how best to apply the above with each of your own dogs.
Continued Professional Development
Despite over forty years’ association with dogs, I continue to attend numerous courses and seminars run by other leading trainers, behaviourists and vets. This ensures I am able to offer the highest standard of advice for owners and their dogs. Professsional membership of both the Canine Behaviour & Training Society and the Animal Behaviour and Training Council requires ongoing CPD. Below are some of the very many courses I have attended and qualifications gained:
- Most importantly, in addition to academic and practical training courses attended, I have decades of experience of practical hands-on training experience with many different breeds.
- Three years of in-depth studies (advanced practical training and academic studies) into Canine Training and Behaviour with internationally respected dog behaviourist, trainer and author, John Rogerson (Northern Centre for Canine Behaviour) - on completing the course with distinction I was one of few invited to become an Associate.
- Studies at Foundation Degree level, successfully culminating in the Advanced Diploma in Canine Behaviour Management.
- Interviewed by the Canine Behaviour and Training Society Board and observed during practical dog training examinations (classes and one-to-one consultations) resulting in
Full Training Membership of The Canine Behaviour and Training Society. - Three days’ residential training to observe assistance dog training (including clicker training) at Canine Partners' Sussex centre (UK Assistance Dog charity).
- Attendance at Assistance Dog Instructor workshops for advanced training methods at Stoke Mandeville with Dog Aid (UK Assistance Dog charity).
- Instructors' course with the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers (accredited with higher award of 1st Grade on first attendance).
- Instructors' course held at Battersea Dogs’ Home, Windsor (in association with The Northern Centre for Canine Behaviour). This was successfully completed and I was invited to attend as Assistant Instructor on the subsequent year's course.
- Aggression studies at Battersea Dogs' Home, London (in association with The Northern Centre for Canine Behaviour).
- Recognising and treating Separation Related Disorders in Dogs - talks by Dr Sarah Heath and Dr Lucy Chadwick
- And, of utmost importantance, I have had a life-long love and respect for animals and their welfare, and subsequently a passionate interest in providing kind and effective training and behavioural advice for all dog owners.
The photos below show some past and present much-loved canine friends and myself. Whilst the images are of Labradors and a Labrador x Retriever, I have also lived with many other breeds of dog (as outlined above) which has given me a very good understanding of how best to work with a broad spectrum of different breed temperaments.
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