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We look forward to welcoming you at our Forests & Fetch Training Centre in the quiet countryside of Nercwys, just outside Mold in Flintshire, North Wales.
Our centre includes a peaceful consultation room perfect for behavioural consultations and first session chats, alongside our training studio with non-slip floor and full height doors that allows us to work inside and out on sunny days, and is where our training sessions and classes are held. There is ample free parking in the car park.
Once you have booked your session with us, you can find us here: Forests & Fetch Training Centre, Pistyll Farm, Nercwys, Mold, Flintshire, CH7 4EW.
We can also hold sessions at your home, just get in touch with us.
I hold a PhD in Zoology, I am a qualified Dog Trainer and Behaviourist, accredited with the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT), and I am a member of the UK Dog Training and Behaviour Charter. I hold a Canine First Aid qualification, and I am DBS checked and fully insured. I am passionate about enriching the lives of dogs and their owners and I use my scientific background to ensure that all my training methods are up to date with regards to the latest research in dog behaviour and learning.
My career has included working at the University of Chester as Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for the BSc Animal Behaviour and BSc Zoology programmes, before setting up Forests and Fetch. I have a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning – so I know how to train people as well as dogs! I am currently a tutor for the Institute of Modern Dog Training and Behaviour, helping other people become qualified behaviourists.
I have worked with hundreds of puppies and dogs, helping them and their owners achieve their training goals. I particularly enjoy working with fearful dogs, who are reactive towards other dogs or people. Seeing them grow in confidence so that they and their owners can enjoy their walks again is hugely rewarding. I also love working with puppies so that I can help their owners ensure that they don't become reactive in the first place!
When not training with other people and their dogs, I love spending time with my two Labradors, Islay and Bella. I believe enrichment is a crucial part of meeting our dog's daily needs so I am often trying our new games and activities. Dogs are part of a family, so having two young children myself also gives me a great insight into integrating activities for dogs and children to create a happy family.
Keeping up to date with the latest standards and scientific knowledge in behaviour, training and welfare is a key component of my work as a professional dog trainer and behaviourist.
I have been teaching humans and their canines for around 15 years, having got the bug from attending classes with my own dogs. I already had a background in teaching & presenting, so becoming a helper and then instructor seemed a natural thing to do. Initially I qualified with The Academy of Dog Training & Behaviour and passed their practical assessment. Since then, I have added to my qualifications with The Institute of Modern Dog Trainers and I am an accredited Kennel Club instructor. I am also an assessor at all levels of the Kennel Club Good Citizen Training Scheme, a qualified Rally judge and an examiner for UK Tracking Dog. I’ve lost count of the number of seminars, courses and workshops I’ve been on! I am just passionate about doing stuff with dogs, learning more and keeping up to date with ethical & effective training methods.
I very much enjoy teaching the human end of the lead as well as the dogs. I believe that training should be fun for you both. Working with your dog should become a way of life and something you both enjoy. Not only will this give you a better behaved and happier dog, it will also enhance the bond between you. In coming to group classes you will meet other likeminded people. I aim to make the groups fun and supportive. It will become part of your social life as well as socialisation for your dog!
When I’m not working with people and their dogs or on instructor training courses, I am busy training and competing with my own dogs. I have owned a variety of breeds. Currently I have a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and two Labradors. We have competed in Working Trials, UK Tracking Dog, Rally, Obedience and Breed Showing to the top level, including Crufts. Although I enjoy competing, the best part is spending time with my dogs, improving our relationship and making friends along the way.
I hope to be able to inspire you to achieve whatever you want to do with your dog. From a well-behaved pet, to competition level training, I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with you.
I am a qualified Dog Trainer, accredited with the Institute of Modern Dog trainers (IMDT) and a member of the UK Dog Training and Behaviour Charter.
My love of dogs started young when as a teenager I volunteered my time helping walk dogs for a local breeder and then in recent years for the RSPCA.
Working to help dogs and their owners is my passion whilst my career took a more people focus, having spent 20+ years in customer service roles. The skills I take from such roles ensure I communicate well with the owner to fully support them when training their dog.
It’s always a joy to work with the owners of puppies, as you get to communicate to them the behaviours you like, before the puppy learns the alternative options, but having seen so many dogs at the rescue centre who just needed an owner to show them love, understanding and what behaviours are acceptable, I really love helping owners who have adopted an older dog too.
My own work in progress is my springer spaniel who came to me aged 3, now 6, and hopefully in the future another rescue, as there is always room in my home for another dog
Continuous Professional Development
Satcha was my rescue dog who had been mistreated and picked up as a stray. She was a nervous dog. She was scared of people, unsure of other dogs, and terrified of being alone. We worked with her to help her to move past these behavioural issues and to live her fullest life.
What truly made Satcha happy was to be out on a walk. She came alive on a walk and all her worries disappeared. She was never happier than when out and about on her next adventure. Satcha taught me the power of behaviour modification and the truly impactful effect enrichment can have on a dog’s day.
Setting up Forests & Fetch has allowed us to share our passion for behavioural support, training and enrichment to help ensure your dog's life is filled with joy too.
Anna has a PhD in Zoology and is an assessed and accredited trainer and behaviourist with the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers.
We believe that the only way to train your dog is through positive reinforcement.
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Anna has worked with hundreds of dogs, of all ages and breeds, to achieve their training goals.
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You can trust us to ensure that you and your dog are happy at all times.
Ensuring protection for your dog is our priority.
We support you as well as your dog because we believe that good dog training is about creating happy families.
Giving back to the community, supporting charitable work and caring for the environment is key to our ethos at Forests and Fetch.
We are a climate positive company, committed to offsetting significantly more carbon than we create through both our personal and business operations.
You can see our virtual forest as it grows and find out more about the impact this climate positive initiative will have both here in the UK and restoring and protecting tropical forests.
Offsetting is only part of the solution though and we’ll be aiming to reduce our impact at every step of the way: only using compostable dog bags and plastic-free treats. We use eco-friendly cleaning products to ensure our van is sparkly clean.
We strive to support local businesses for all our supplies and setup, prioritising UK made sustainable and eco-friendly products at all times. Helping small businesses thrive, putting our local community first.
Forests and Fetch also support the Guide Dogs charity.
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