With more than 35 years’ experience as an animal behaviour specialist and positive reinforcement trainer, my passion for this work is just as strong as ever. I’m tirelessly motivated by helping people build confident, joyful relationships with their dogs and cats - and by sharing the knowledge I’ve gained along the way, I hope to give them genuine understanding too.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to train a wonderfully eclectic mix of species - from chickens and parrots to goats and even crabs. I’ve even helped to train a captive polar bear to calmly accept veterinary treatment for an infected paw. Experiences like these have reinforced my belief in the power of ethical, reward-based training across species.
I hold an MSc in Animal Behaviour and am a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) – the ‘gold standard’ here in the UK. While I’ve worked with many different animals, my professional focus is on dogs and cats and the relationships they share with their people. Alongside clinical work, I write, lecture, and mentor others in the field.
My particular interests include aggression in dogs, the fascinating and sometimes quizzical behaviour of cats, puppy development, and the subtle details of canine and feline body language and facial expression. Helping people feel more confident interpreting these signals inspired my online programmes, Learn To Talk Dog and Learn To Talk Cat.
I’m the author of 26 books, booklets and DVDs, including the best-selling Clever Dog, now translated into several languages. As a Master Practitioner in NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming), I’m also deeply interested in the human side of behaviour - because understanding people is an essential part of helping animals thrive.
I’m sometimes described as the “trainer’s trainer,” and I feel privileged to teach through accredited programmes, masterclasses and lectures, both in the UK and internationally. At heart, though, my work remains simple: helping animals and their people understand one another a little better, and opening the communication between them.
I live in the Chiltern Hills in the South of England with three wonderful dogs and five happy tortoises - daily reminders that curiosity, observation and good communication matter in every relationship!
