About Wanderdog

Welcome to...

Here at Wanderdog we fully understand how important your dog’s happiness and well-being is to you, as it is incredibly important to us too. Whether you’re thinking of getting a new puppy, have just added a new rescue dog to your family, or have an older dog with extra training and behavioural needs, we are here to help and guide you.

We offer one-to-one private puppy and dog training sessions from the comfort of your own home, as well as behavioural consultations under vet referral for more complex needs.

See our service pages for more information regarding our training packages and (upcoming) group classes.

Wanderdog Ethos

We promote the use of force-free, kind, choice-based experiences for all of our Wanderdogs. We firmly believe that fun and reward-based training is the most effective way to build better, stronger relationships with our dogs, based on trust and cooperation. We completely dismiss the use of intimidation, physical punishment or fear as a means to train, walk or live alongside our dogs. We will never use or promote the use of aversive training techniques or equipment. We truly believe there are far more effective and kinder ways to live in harmony with our favourite canine family members.

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Reward-based training, through the use of 'positive reinforcement', means to add something desirable to make 'preferred' behaviours more likely to be repeated in the future. In training we predominantly use food as our main motivator, or 'payment', as we find for many dogs this is incredibly rewarding.

Wanderdog, as a company, endeavours to keep up to date with current research, through continued education and by regularly attending seminars and conferences. We believe in taking advantage of every opportunity to learn and deepen our knowledge about the most effective and scientifically proven ways to have the kindest relationship with our dogs.

Our aim is to make puppy and dog training fun and safe for all involved!

About Trainer & Behaviourist - Kay (she/ her)

As a baby my first word was dog – no kidding! However, the excitement that erupted in my parents by my ability to point at my family dog and successfully say ‘dog’, was short lived when I immediately pointed at everything in sight and proudly proclaimed each as ‘dog’. I think this inborn ability to see dogs just about everywhere, has only continued on to my later life and considerably spurred my interest in all dog related topics.

Growing up I have always lived with dogs and known that I wanted to work with them. During my second year studying Sociology at the University of Bristol, I caved into temptation and found my very own Springer Spaniel Lucy (aka Lucy Woo Woo – or the Original Wanderdog), who’s been my better, furrier half ever since. Lucy is now 16 years old, and still my best friend!

After forming such a close bond with Lucy and finding that I wanted the very best for her in every way, I quickly developed my interests in dog nutrition, health and behaviour. I have since spent countless hours studying and generally researching all sorts of dog related topics.

I began dog walking and pet sitting in 2010, in-and-around my education and full time work. I also worked in rescue centres and have fostered dogs in the past. This includes two American Cocker Spaniels - Myra and Cole. I worked with these adorable dogs until a forever family was eventually found for them.

After a few years working in office environments including working for Lily's Kitchen Pet Food, I came to realise that working with dogs is my greatest passion in life, so Wanderdog was born in January 2017 as a dog walking and pet sitting business.

In January 2018, I graduated with distinction from the Victoria Stilwell Dog Trainer Academy. This was a very intensive course, that included learning directly from Victoria Stilwell herself (It's me or the Dog, The Dog House), and other fantastic dog trainers from both the US and UK. The course allowed me the opportunity to work closely with an amazing mentor, who at the time had over a decade's worth of experience and a crazily impressive knowledge of all things dog, training and behaviour - Eryn (Believe in Magic).

In 2020 I graduated with distinction from the University of Lincoln with an MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour. I feel very grateful to be able to have learnt from leaders in the field of animal behaviour, such as Dr Daniel Mills the first professor of veterinary behaviour medicine. On graduation, I was also given the award for the 'most outstanding thesis' in my cohort discussing canine vaccinations (*currently waiting to hear if this will be published in a scientific journal which was proposed and suggested by my university).

At the end of 2020, I achieved my pre-certification with the governing body ASAB (Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour) to gain my CCAB (Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist) accreditation. To achieve this goal, I joined FABC (The Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians) where I continue to have two monthly group mentorship Zoom calls with the very impressive behaviourists Karen Wild (Being a Dog, 21 Days to the Perfect Dog) and Zoe Demery (Second Nature). I am also a provisional member of APBC (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors). *Provisional members have demonstrated that they have the appropriate level of knowledge and understanding for the professional role of Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB). They are now gaining the practical experience necessary to be assessed as a CAB and therefore become a Full Member of the APBC. The APBC supports its Provisional Members undertaking behaviour consultations.

In early 2021, I have completed a level 1 course to become a Canine Arthritis Management Advocate. Something close to my heart, due to my own Lucy's struggle with hip dysplasia and arthritis. I have also completed a level 3 diploma in Canine Health & Nutrition with distinction.

In October of 2021, I passed my exams to join membership with APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and am now a fully fledged member of this regulating body (Membership no: 01509).

At the end of 2021, I completed Michael Shiashiko's Aggression Mastercourse to hone my skills in dog aggression cases.

In May 2023, I graduated from a four-month intensive course as a CSAT (certified separation anxiety trainer) studying under world expert Malena De Martini.

In January 2024 I graduated as a Dynamic Dog Practitioner Course studying gait, movement and pain and how to report this back to vets for further investigation, under expert Gemma Hodson.

In January 2025 Wanderdog moved to Almere, Netherlands, where I plan to bring my skills to help dogs locally.

I always strive to advance my knowledge of canine psychology, health and behaviour and will continue to attend relevant seminars, courses and conferences to keep my knowledge as up-to-date as possible.

The dog training industry is a continually evolving science so I plan to evolve with it!

Additional Continued Professional Development (CPD)

24-25th June 2017 - UK Dog Bite Prevention & Behaviour Conference

4th June 2018 - Fear and Anxiety: How to help your fearful Dog online seminar with Lisa Tenzin-Dolma

8th June 2018 - What to do, when with Victoria Stilwell

9-10th June 2018 - National Dog Behaviour Conference with Victoria Stilwell

7-8th July 2018 - Puppy Power Seminar with Chirag Patel, Sarah Fisher, Kay Attwood & Pam Mackinnon

9th July 2018 - Foundational Agility Day with Jo Pay

22nd July 2018 - No pain, more gain workshop with Rachel Hayball, Tom Candy & Millie Robinson

28th July 2018 - Scent Work Foundation Level 1 with Louise Bater

16th August 2018 - Natural Nutrition Webinar with Bianca Major

October 2018 - Aug 2019 - Monthly subscription to Sarah Whitehead's Inner Circle (a selection of online seminars on various topics)

17th November 2018 - Scent Work Handling Skills Level 2 with Kim Kaye

21st November 2018 - Brains, Bowls and Bull with Dr Nick Thompson

24th November 2018 - Heelwork to Music with Richard Curtis

17th January 2019 - An Evening Talk with Chirag Patel - Aggression

9-12th February 2019 - Woof, The Animal and Behaviour Training Conference with Chirag Patel

14th April 2019 - Scent Work Skill Builder Level 3 with Pam Mackinnon

11th May 2019 - Day Seminar with Holistic Vet Dr Nick Thompson

16-17th May 2019 - 2 Day Think Dog! Practical with Sarah Whitehead

18-19th May 2019 - National Dog Behaviour Conference with Victoria Stilwell

26-30th May 2019 - TTouch Companion Animal Practitioner Training Program with Lucy Leclere

17-23rd August 2019 - Chirag Patel's Practical Puppy Training Instructors Course

11-15th November 2020 - Pet Professional Guild (PPG) Geek Week Conference

11th November - 2nd December 2020 - 3-week Recall crash course for dog trainers with Kay Attwood

22nd February - 8th March 2021 - 3-week Loose lead walking course for dog trainers with Kay Attwood

1st-22nd March 2021 - 4-week Nose to Toes Alchemy 'Scent Work' Trainer Course with Eryn Martyn-Godfrey & Rachel Birt

23rd March 2021 - Helping Velcro dogs and Teaching them to cope when alone with Roz Pooley

April 2021 - Sarah Whitehead online course on Canine Hormones, Sex and Neutering

22nd May 2021 - FABC Annual Behaviour Conference (Daniel Mills, Jon Bowen, Sarah Heath, Rachel Casey, Helen Zulch)

22nd-24th October 2021 - Aggression in Dogs Conference with Michael Shikashio

4th December 2021 - Reactive Rascals - 5-hour seminar with Alex Wilson of Xtradog

22nd - 23rd March 2022 - 2-day Bronze Detection Dog Practical Instructor Course with UK Sniffer Dogs

18 - 20 July 2022 - 3-day Animal Training Course with Jo Mason

10th - 11th September 2022 - From one reward to the next - an immersive R+ weekend with Eva Bertlisson

18-20th March 2023 - 4-hour online seminar - Giardia, Health & Behaviour with Dr. Amber Batson

16th April 2024 - Throw everything out of the seventh-floor window, considerations for urban dog training with Melissa McCue-McGrath

22nd -23rd June 2024 - Puppy School Conference 2024 with Gwen Bailey (author of The Perfect Puppy & The Natural Dog)

23rd -24th November 2024 - ABK 2024 - When Dogs Bite Conference with Michael Shikashio, Amber Bateson, Sarah Fisher & co