Lydia Critchlow, BSC Hons, APDT,

AGILITY

The driving force behind the Club….. I have been around animals and dogs all my life. Living on a hill farm in the Peak District and having first hand experience of the skills required of working sheep dogs in the cold winters has made me truly appreciate the value dogs have. During school, I worked with various equine and small animal veterinary practices, which has provided me with the hands-on knowledge and experience to widen my knowledge of ALL animals ranging from cattle, sheep, rabbits, horses, guinea pigs and of course dogs.

In 2005 I graduated from Harper Adams University with a Bsc (Hons) Animal Health degree. The degree examines in detail the biology of animals and disease and outlines the scientific principles and applications of animal health and welfare.

I am currently studying for a Masters Degree in Mctimoney Animal Manipulation verified by the University of Wales. www.mctimoney-chiropractic.org Like people, animals suffer from back, neck, pelvic and musculoskeletal problems and, like us, they can benefit from McTimoney manipulation. I hope to qualify in 2009 and for my “MSc Thesis” I will be looking at “The effects of tactile stimulation of the fore and hind limb kinematics of agility dogs during a jump sequence.”

Alongside agility training I am a qualified Equine Sports Massage Therapist, obtaining the Equine Body Worker (EBW) certification from Equinenergy in 2007. This popular, effective therapy can be used separately or alongside McTimoney Animal Manipulation. www.equinenergy.com  

I became a member of the APDT, Association of Pet Dog Trainers in 2007, membership number is 01001. The Association of Pet Dog Trainers was founded in 1995 by John Fisher to offer pet dog owners a guarantee of quality when looking for a puppy and dog training class in their area.

This August (2008) I attended a weeklong course with the PDTI, Pet Dog Training Instructors, and passed with the ‘Instructor Certificate.’ The course covered a wide range of training expertise from, Obedience Show Competitors and Judges, to leading Breed Judges and more famously, Annie Clayton who founded the Heel Work to Music – ‘canine freestyle.’

I am a member of the (KCAI) Kennel Club’s Accreditation Scheme for Instructors in Dog Training and Canine Behaviour. This is a membership scheme designed to set the standard for quality of advice, and by networking with its members, provide the best service possible for dog owners and dog training enthusiasts.

I am also qualified through pet-detect as a Microchip implanter for dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets. Petlog is the official UK database and is run by the Kennel Club and in June this year we had an event at the club for “National Microchipping month” which we hope to host every year!

I train my own dog, Treacle, a Patterdale x Jack Russell Terrier and my latest addition to the family is ‘Red’ a very lovable red and white Border Collie puppy.

Karen Ingram BSC Hons, APDT

OBEDIENCE & PUPPY

Karen has always had an interest in dogs. After leaving school she went to Reaseheath College in Nantwich and studied BTEC First and National Diplomas in Animal Care, NVQ Level 2 Animal Handling and C&G in Pet Store Management.After finishing college she went to the University of Chester and Liverpool University and recieved her BSc Hons in Animal Behaviour and Welfare in November 2001.

 After leaving university Karen worked in a variety of Rescue Centres including the RSPCA Liverpool Branch in Halewood. Karen left there in 2003 to go travelling around Austrailia and New Zealand, while she was there working at a Vets looking after dogs and cats. On her return she went back to the RSPCA in Halewood and progressed to team leader. Karen always had an interest in training dogs and in 2005, joined Puppy School and did training with the founder Gwen Bailey. Karen left the RSPCA to train puppies and dogs, "if I can help people before serious problems occur then hopefully dogs may not have to be rehomed as often".

Karen likes all breeds of dogs but her main breed of dog that she has owned is border collies. " My first dog was a border collie called Shep, that I had when I was 8, that's when my training bug hit, I love border collies as they are very intelligent, yet needy dogs. I have 2 collies at the moment but have owned mongrels. I do want to own some different breeds as well, in the future.

Vanessa Henshall

RINGCRAFT

I don’t think there has ever been a time in my life when I haven’t had a dog. I grew up with Bassets and Boxers that my parents bred, exhibited and judged and in fact, if I was ever missing, I could usually be found in one of the dog’s kennels or baskets, often fast asleep!

I have shared my life with a variety of different breeds from the original Bassets and Boxers to Dalmatians, Yorkshire Terriers, Mongrels and Labradors, culminating finally in my chosen breed of Rhodesian Ridgebacks which I first fell in love with in the early 1980’s. It wasn’t until the late 1990’s that I was in a position to actually own one but I knew exactly what I wanted and what I wanted to do with him – enter the Show Ring.

Whilst I might have spent a lot of my early years around the show ring, it in no way prepared me for what I needed to do or for that matter, get the dog to do, so I started at the beginning with Ringcraft classes. Over the years I have been to many different Ringcraft classes, some good, some not so good. I have seen new people trying showing for the first time come and go and for the main part they have gone because the people teaching them were more interested in their own affairs rather than helping the new ‘intake’ learn what they needed to enjoy and become part of this whole new world of dogdom. My aim is to share my experiences of the show ring, both good and bad, with people that want to learn. Be warned – this hobby can be highly addictive!

I now share my life with four Ridgebacks, a very elderly Labrador and my Husband.  In 2006 I took over as the Secretary of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of Great Britain (the largest Breed Club for Ridgebacks in the UK) where together with the Committee we run an Open Show, a Championship Show, Seminars and various other events each year. I also advise both potential and existing owners on queries or problems that they experience with the breed not to mention also finding time to judge and breed the occasional litter.

Susie Felix BSc Hons,

AGILITY 

I have always been surrounded by many different types of animals including dairy cattle, sheep, chickens, hamsters, horses, cats and of course, dogs. We had have had many different breeds of dogs including Alsatians, Boarder Collies and Parson Terriers.

Having worked at livestock and arable farms and stables all my life, this got me interested agriculture and as a result I graduated from Harper Adams in 2005 with a degree in Agriculture with Land and Farm Management, where Lydia and I met and became friends. I now work as a Farm Business Consultant.

It was Lydia who fuelled my interests in dog training. Seeing her training her own dog Treacle, she encouraged me to start agility training with my Boarder Collie, Bryn.

Since then I have never looked back and I have become very involved in agility training! I help to train the beginner’s agility at Dig It and try and get others as enthusiastic with agility as I am!!

I am currently training and competing with Bryn and have started training my Parsons Russell Terrier, Meg – so watch this space!