Little Orchard is owned by Sarah and classes are run by all of the team.
I qualified as a Veterinary nurse in 2000 and I am a Registered Veterinary Nurse with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. I'm a member of the British Veterinary Nursing Association and I've been around dogs all of my life and have learnt a great deal from handling and observing dogs.
I have been training and studying dogs since 1998. I am a Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (membership 00735) which means that I have undergone a training assessment and have agreed to abide by the associations kind, positive training rules. In June 2009 I achieved Full Membership of the B.I.P.D.T and I am a Pet Health Councillor and have completed CAP levels 1 and 2 at distinction level which are certificates in Clicker Training. I have also completed assessor and coaching units to give me extra group instructing skills.
I am qualified as a Kennel club examiner for the Good Citizens’ award and I have completed a modular course for Agility Instructing. I have completed courses on animal massage and rehabilitation and passed my grooming qualification city and guilds level 2 and was awarded a credit and a certificate of excellence in kind handling. I continue to attend workshops and seminars.
I have 3 wonderful dogs. Simba is my hand reared Staffordshire bull terrier from a litter that was abandoned in 2000 and this was the start of my interest in socialisation and providing the right environment for puppies to develop and learn. Simba completed her K.C Courses to Gold level but has since retired in 2008 and now has a laid back lifestyle.
Ru is a 4 year old Goldie. He was rescued in May 2008 as a nervous kennel bound dog. He has completed the K.C Courses to Gold level and is currently competing in Open Obedience at Novice and A level.
Narla is a 1 year old Goldie. She is from a strong line of Working Goldies and shares the same father as Ru. Narla has completed the K.C Courses to Silver level and is currently competing in Obedience and Agility.
I began instructing at Little Orchard in 2005. I really enjoy meeting new puppies, dogs and their owners and teaching at training lessons sharing knowledge I have gained through my own dogs, various courses and working with Sarah. It’s rewarding to see relationships and understandings develop and watch progression through the courses.
In 2007 I qualified as an examiner for the Kennel Club bronze and silver Good Citizens’ dog training scheme and I became a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers in 2008 (membership 01019).
In March 2009 I completed my CAP level 1 gaining a Distinction and a Merit in level 2. In 2009 I also completed an Agility Instructor’s course. I continue to attend workshops and seminars.
Charlie is my Westie who I rescued in 2003. He had numerous homes before mine and was only a year old. I enrolled him on bronze training with Sarah and we slowly learnt together, building up a strong trust and bond. In 2005 we passed our gold K.C Good Citizen award. This was brilliant, considering that when we first enrolled onto bronze Charlie didn't know anything, including sit. He would often cower under the chair scared to come out. We have since progressed to Heelwork to music and were part of the Little Orchard Demonstration Team and enjoyed entering obedience shows. Charlie has now retired from the competing life due to health reasons.
In July 2005, Pimms arrived she is a Jack Russell. As I had never owned a puppy before this was a different challenge! We enrolled onto training and have achieved bronze and silver K.C Good Citizen awards, we have also enjoyed heelwork to music and further obedience. Pimms enjoys attending Social club where she is a tutor dog helping to teach other dogs canine etiquette.
In May 2008 I decided to rescue Sonny, a golden retriever (Ru’s brother). He had an awful start to life but has progressed brilliantly over the last few years, He can put his paws to most things enjoying agility and obedience. This year we have competed successfully in both, winning out of pre-beginners and beginners in obedience within our first four shows and achieving clear rounds at steeplechase in agility. We are now learning the ropes together of the higher obedience classes and enjoying agility competitions when time allows.
Hi I am Anne I have two Golden Retrievers, Gemma who was born in April 2007 and Bonnie who was born in August 2008.
I started training with Sarah when Gemma was three months. I wanted to train her as at the time I had an older dog and I wanted Gemma to see the world as an individual rather than part of a pair. Gemma and I really enjoyed training and when we had finished puppy classes I decided that I would like to carry on training to a higher standard. We have passed our Kennel Club Good Citizens Gold Award and are enjoying competing at obedience shows.
We were lucky enough to represent Little Orchard at Crufts 2008 to demonstrate Bronze Good Citizens. This was a brilliant experience for both of us. Gemma loved being the centre of attention while I enjoyed watching the Agility, Heel work to music and competition obedience. It made me realise the fun you can have while training your dog.
I now teach Bronze level training and help with puppy training courses meeting lots of different breeds of dogs and their owners it is fascinating watching the personalities developing over the weeks of their course. Gemma is a Tutor dog working with puppies and dogs teaching them how to be sociable and well mannered.
Bonnie has now passed her Kennel Club Good Citizens Gold Award and is a really fun loving dog who is now starting to take part in obedience competitions.
I am now a qualified Kennel Club Bronze Examiner enabling me to go to different clubs to test bronze Good Citizens awards. I have also completed CAP level 1 at distinction level and CAP level 2 merits, which is a certificate in Clicker Training and also completed an Agility Instructors Course.
Hello I’m Emma, and this is my dog Cyril the whippet.
Like Sarah, I’m a qualified Veterinary Nurse and have always maintained a keen interest in animal behaviour especially in dogs.
I first met Sarah and the Little Orchard team in 2006 when I started taking Cyril to Social Club. Here he learnt canine communication skills and training around distractions. Being a whippet from the hound group this has been a real challenge that I have found difficult at times but very rewarding.
Cyril has completed the K.C courses to Gold level. Cyril's training is continuing and we are currently attending agility which we both enjoy.
After seeing the quality of training offered by Little Orchard I was delighted when Sarah asked if I would like to join the training team. With no hesitation I said yes and I’m really enjoying assisting at classes and seeing both the dogs and humans develop their skills and relationships together and having fun in the process.
I am teaching on Puppy Training Courses and assisting on Bronze Courses at the moment with the support of Sarah and Alex. In the future I hope to continue to develop my interest in Dog Training and am researching and learning new things all the time.
I’m Beki and these are my dogs Seamus and Buddy. I started training Seamus with Little Orchard in Jan 07 when he was 13 weeks old progressing through the Good Citizen Dog Award Scheme and passing the Gold Award in May 2008. We have then gone on to do Agility, Advanced Agility, Obedience and Working Trial Training.
Our latest addition in December 2008 is Buddy, who went on to pass his Good Citizen Gold Award in January 2010. He couldn't be more different in personality to Seamus but they get along great together, thoroughly enjoying each other’s company and often to be found cuddled up asleep together or playing in the garden. Buddy has completed further training in obedience and agility which he absolutely loves and is showing some potential as well as a lot of enthusiasm! He and Seamus are both part of the demonstration team with me and my partner Martin.
I love working with the dogs and seeing them enjoy themselves so much and, through the social club, I have gained fascinating insights into their behaviour. Due to his temperament Seamus has become a tutor dog at social club and puppy classes where he is especially good with nervous dogs and bouncy puppies.
I really enjoy assisting with the puppies as, at this young age, they are so responsive and it is very rewarding helping teach owners effective, kind and positive learning techniques to help them get the best out of their pets. I am really interested in the study of canine behaviour and communication and am currently studying the ’Think Dog!’ Intermediate OCN course on canine behaviour and training before I progress onto other courses.
