It all started 28 years ago, when we adopted a beautiful, sweet, two year old lurcher from a local rescue, the handsome boy above.  Fionn turned out to be petrified of, amongst other things, other dogs. In my desire to help Fionn, I started to investigate ways to make his life easier.  I started to learn about dog behaviour, completing a two year dog trainer and behaviour course and I have continued on a 30 year learning journey. Through sharing my knowledge I have helped other people and their animals too.   This was how our beautiful boy, Fionn, laid the foundations for what has become my passion. 

Why I do what I do

People often ask whether I'm a Veterinary Physiotherapist or a Tellington TTouch® Instructor. The answer is both, however neither qualification explains why I do this work.

Over the years I've realised that the greatest changes don't happen because of one treatment or one technique. They happen when a guardian begins to truly understand their dog. When they notice a change in posture before lameness appears. When they recognise that behaviour may be communication. When they realise their dog isn't being stubborn, difficult or naughty, or any other word we, humans, give what we see, the label, but is trying to tell them something, because every behaviour is communication, we just have to listen. Those moments change everything.

My role is to help dogs feel more comfortable physically and emotionally, but just as importantly, to help the people who love them learn to see them differently. When we understand what our dogs are trying to tell us, we can make better decisions for them every day.

That is what Well Balanced Animals is all about.

Now the qualifications - I am a qualified and insured Veterinary Physiotherapist, offering physiotherapy services for large and small animals in my clinic or at your home. I am a member of the Animal Health Professions Register (AHPR) and the Institute for Registered Veterinary and Animal Physiotherapists (IRVAP).

One of the main training methods I use is Tellington TTouch Training Method. I am one of only four Instructors for Companion Animals and a Practitioner for Equines in the UK, qualifying in 2003 and 2005 respectively.  I work with clients in one to one consultations, deliver one, two and three workshops, staff trainings at canine businesses and at rescues. I am also part of the team involved in training new practitioners and teaching online.    

In addition, I am an experienced dog trainer with many years experience, holding qualifications from Sheila Harper Canine Centre, and continuous studies to be as current as possible in the most up to date, scientific and positive training methods.  I’ve studied extensively with highly qualified, fabulous people, including  Turid Rugaas, Dr Susan Friedman, Chirag Patel, Caroline Ingraham,  Malena De-Martini, Victoria Stillwell and many others.       

I have always found Acupuncture fascinating and I chose to study Canine Acupressure with Tallgrass Institute and qualified as a Practitioner for dogs in 2009.   In addition, I studied with Caroline Ingraham, achieving a diploma in Canine Applied Zoopharmacognosy, a fascinating way of allowing dogs to safely self select herbs and essential oils their body needs.  

On a personal level, my life has revolved around animals. From wanting a dog from being as young as I can remember, to having ridden horse from being 6 years old and have enjoyed all aspects of riding, including learning to ride side saddle.  I have been involved with dogs all my life, enjoying a variety of dog sports and competed with several of my wonderful dogs and I am often seen at dog shows and other canine events.  

Over the past twenty eight years we have fostered a massive range of dogs, predominantly sighthounds, some of which have become permanent family members, otherwise known as failed fosters, though I don’t see any failure in it at all.  I volunteered at my local Dogs Trust, for two years, using my training and TTouch skills to help the more stressed and troubled dogs in their care be ready for their forever homes.