Liz Nash

Liz has a vast knowledge of dogs, being brought up from a young age assisting with dog training, attending dog shows and dog breeding (Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Dobermans & Labradors). She has worked in various kennels and veterinary hospitals and has successfully run businesses including dog grooming, house sitting & animal health care services. She has trained dog groomers around the UK.

Liz finds training handlers and dogs to understand each other and develop and build strong bonds highly rewarding "Those who play together, stay together. I want to help handlers achieve the greatest relationship, understanding & connection between them and their dogs using positive reinforcement method-based training".

She has trained in the UK and abroad. She studied with and assisted John Rogerson of the Northern Centre of Canine Behaviour in Mexico, LA and Florida. She has been involved in various displays at shows & schools and has been part of a demonstration Rally Obedience team at Crufts and other NEC events.

Qualifications included Federation of Dog Trainers and Canine Behaviourists Canine Studies, BTECS First and National Diplomas in Animal Care, certificates in studying and assisting in working trials, agility, obedience and training and instructing, Gun dog training, Advanced Canine Psychology, Prey Drive & Social Issues, Accredited Canine Hoopers UK Instructor certificate, Scentwork UK Recognised Trainer certificate, Dog Parkour UK Instructor certificate as well as Dog Parkour UK Accredited Evaluator certificate. Canine Handling at Battersea Dogs Home. She has successfully achieved, with at least 5 different breeds, the Kennel Club Good Citizen Awards, gold standard. She has a Trainers & Behaviourist Covid-19 certificate. Liz is also a Kennel Club Rally Obedience Judge, scribe and competes in Rally Obedience.

Liz runs Assessments, 1-2-1s, groups, workshops and courses from the centre and online. Over the last year, as part of ongoing continually professional development she attended many workshops including Rasing a Rescue Dog, Immunology, Auto Immunity and Health, Understanding the Dogs Mind, Jealousy in Dogs to name a few. Liz has also been running Puppy life Skills online courses and developing the SWDTBC creative lessons designed as team work or individual lessons with challenges and tasks for the dog to take part in and clues for handlers to solve the mysteries.

Sally Knowlson

Sally has been involved in training here at SWDTBC for well over 20 years, currently her groups are Puppy Life Skills and the Kennel Club Bronze and Silver Award classes.

With such a long time working with owners and handling dogs comes a wealth of knowledge and experience helping owners to build the best possible relationships with their dogs, using kind and positive training methods

After being inspired by her rescue dog Eric, Sally started up the Golden Oldie Canine Club course which aims to give older dogs a chance to try new activities thereby encouraging mental and physical stimulation and giving owners additional opportunities to spend quality time with their ageing pets in a fun and comfortable setting.

Qualifications include having successfully passed numerous dogs through their Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. Sally holds an Accredited Canine Hoopers UK Instructor certificate, Scentwork UK Recognised Trainer certificate, Dog Parkour UK Instructor certificate as well as Dog Parkour UK Accredited Evaluator certificate. She also holds a certificate in Canine Handling achieved whilst working with dogs at Battersea Dogs Home, the lovely but untrained rescue dog she chose to work with then went on to work in TV and film.

Sally has worked in the UK and abroad helping to teach canine handling and training. She has been part of an agility display team at Earls Court made up of all previous Battersea rescues at the request of Battersea Dogs Home which was a huge honour. Sally has successfully competed in Rally Obedience, scribed, as well as demonstrated this sport with one of her dogs at Crufts.

Sally recently achieved her Canine Hydrotherapy qualification and also holds a certificate in Canine Aquatic massage.

As well as the above she has the title of Reiki Master/Teacher and is also a professional pet portrait artist.

Basically Sally thinks dogs are great.

Ann Nash

(MIACE, MACC, MAPDT No. 00891, Kennel Club Listed)

International dog trainer Ann Nash founded the South West Dog Training and Behaviour Centre to help train people to understand the way in which a dog really thinks and learns in order to achieve a better bond, more control and a dog that is an absolute pleasure to own.

Ann has spent a lifetime involved with animals, particularly training and breeding dogs and horses. From her early teens she spent her spare time doing voluntary work in a large boarding/breeding kennels where she showed a natural ability to communicate with even the most difficult of dogs. In 1980 she became supervisor and also started up a successful dog grooming business.

In 1988 she became principal trainer for Thornbury Dog Training Club, covering general obedience and behaviour problems and went on to extend her grooming business to incorporate training and behaviour.

Over recent years Ann has been involved in promoting, training and competing in Rally Obedience and has qualified two rottweilers and a labrador at Level 6 Excellent.

Qualifications

Ann has studied extensively for many years with John Rogerson of Northern Centre of Canine Behaviour, assisting him both in this country and overseas; having certificates in Puppy Development, Canine Behaviour, Problem Solving, Training and Instructing to Advanced Canine Aggression including behaviour testing, dangerous dogs and counselling. She also has certificates in Canine Psychology(distinction) and Animal Behaviour(distinction).

Ann is a Member of the Institute of Animal Care Education, Assoc. Member of the Animal Care College, Member of Assoc. of Pet Dog Trainers (No. 00891) and has Kennel Club Listed Status and is a qualified Kennel Club Judge in Rally Obedience and Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme.

She has also been a lecturer at Filton College, Bristol lecturing students taking their Canine Studies Btec First Diploma and Btec National Diploma in Animal Care and Management. She lectures and demonstrates regularly at Veterinary Puppy Socialisation/Training Parties.

Jane Foubister - Instructor

Jane developed a passion for dogs from an early age. Influenced by her childhood of training the family Gundogs and Boxers, she went on to breed and show Bernese Mountain Dogs for fifteen years. She competes with her Golden Retriever in Rally Obedience and has achieved level 6, whilst also training Norfolk Terrier.

Jane has studied widely and successfully completed Sarah Whiteheads Think Dog Certificate and Think Dog Practical courses. She has also completed the CIDBT workshop in Dog Handling and Training Skills, John Rogerson's "Reactive Dogs" and "Breed Specific Play" courses. She has attended seminars by Chirag Patel and David Ryan and has certificates in Dog-Dog play, Understanding and Communicating with your Canine companion and Predatory Chase Behaviour.

Sue Wiles - Assisting Instructor

Sue has been involved with dogs for over 20 years and has bred and owned show dogs. For many years she served on the West of England Collie Society (WECS) Committee and has helped with the dogs of Friends of South Glos Strays (FOSS). She has trained her own dogs and has experience of the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels working alongside Celia Bourne and the late Mandy Blake. She now assists Ann in training classes and 1-1 behavioural situations.

Qualifications

Sue has undertaken Sarah Whitehead's Think Dog awards at Certificate, Intermediate and Advanced levels in dog behaviour, as well as awards in Training Puppies for the Future and Talk Dog. She has also attended various seminars including Resource Guarding and Practical Dog Handling. She is also a qualified Pets as Therapy Assessor (PAT).