Hannah Billington, Obedience Instructor

Special interests/areas of expertise:
I have always loved being around animals from an early age and began working in kennels and local veterinary hospitals from the age of 14. This encouraged me to further my education towards animal studies, where I went on to complete my National diploma in Animal management at Reaseheath College and continued further, to graduate from the University of Chester with a BSs(Hons) in Animal Behaviour. From here, I continued to gain experience working in a wide range of animal sectors and discovered a love of training, after working with exotic species in Zoo environments. I began to develop an interest for canine behaviour when I got my first dog and I now attend regular workshops to develop my knowledge and experience in dog training.
My other passion lies within animal health and welfare, as I work full time as a Registered Veterinary Nurse at a local small animal practice. Behaviour is such a big part of our animal’s overall health and wellbeing, so I enjoy educating owners whilst working as a nurse. I particularly love being involved in puppy consultations and building on their confidence, ensuring they have a positive experience at the vets from an early age.

Breeds of dog currently owned:
I currently have 3 working cocker spaniels and they are definitely my breed. I just love their enthusiasm to work and overall approach to life!
Leo – 6 years olds
Ludo – 2 years old
Margo – 6 months

Activities undertaken:
Agility – Competitive
Flyball – Competitive
Trick Training
Scent workshops
Mantrailing
Completed KCGCDS Puppy, Bronze, Silver and Gold

Particular passions in instructing /methods of instructing:
I am passionate about helping owners build on the relationships with their dogs, through positive training methods that are effective and fun! I am also keen to help owners enjoy their training sessions equally as much as their dogs do, and remember the little successes they achieve together as a team. I love that moment when owners realise just how clever their furry companions are.

Alison Brant, Obedience Assistant

Special interests/areas of expertise:
I have always loved animals, especially dogs, and over the years have been lucky to have lived with some amazing ones. It wasn’t until I had my current dogs that I became more interested in canine behaviour as well as training, completing my Level 3 Canine Behaviour Diploma in 2020. For the last 5 years I have been an assistant at obedience classes for all stages from Puppy Foundation through to Gold Level KCGCDS. I began working as an Obedience Assistant at Dig It at the start of 2023 and have loved every minute.
Since I started at Dig It I have also found a love for trick training and find joy in teaching my own dogs or teaching others.

Breeds of dog currently owned:
German Shepherds
Rav age 8
Willow age 9

Activities undertaken:
KCGCDS Bronze, Silver & Gold
Currently training in Beyond Gold
Trick Training Champion
Canine Hoopers UK Bronze
Tracking Foundation and Level 1
Parkour Foundation Level 1
Scent work

Day Workshops
Denise McLeod – Teaching People with Dogs
Craig Ogilvie – Play
Dog First Aid Emergency Canine Care Feb 23

Particular passions in instructing /methods of instructing:
I am passionate about teaching tricks. I love the moment that an owner realises just what their dog is capable of whilst having fun!
I love teaching all owners, whatever their abilities, that with kindness and patience, using reward based training methods, they can achieve their training goals at the same time as having a wonderful relationship with their dogs.

Angela Davies, Obedience Assistant

Special interests/areas of expertise:
I was fortunate enough to grow up in a family of dog lovers getting to know toy poodles, German Shepherds and a St Bernard as well as a few Heinz 57’s! As a teenager I worked at a local boarding kennels. My career took me away from the dog world into health and social care where I eventually qualified as an NVQ assessor and went on to do a post graduate teaching qualification. I never lost my love of all things canine and of learning, so in the last few years I have been lucky enough to combine the two undertaking a range of courses and dog training opportunities and becoming the puppy and beginners trainer for a local flyball team.

Breeds of dog currently owned:
I have two cross breeds, Murphy; a 6 year old Collie/GSD cross and Indie a 3 year old Collie/Alaskan Malamute cross.

Activities undertaken:
Completed KCGCDS Puppy, Bronze, Silver and Gold
Canine First Aid
Agility training
Flyball
Hoopers
Competitive Obedience
Currently working towards Pro Dog trainer and School of Canine Science puppy lab

Particular passions in instructing /methods of instructing:
As an owner of a dog who carries the label ‘reactive’ I am very aware of the practical and emotional trials and tribulations involved with having a ‘difficult’ dog and have developed a real empathy for both dogs and their owners as a result. I am a huge believer in helping people to train the dog in front of them through positive, fun interactions and thinking outside the box. It is important to celebrate even the smallest step forward and not become disheartened when things appear to slip back. It’s not a case of ‘my dog can’t do it’ more ‘lets find another way of doing it’.

Lizzie Gates, Obedience Instructor

Special interests/areas of expertise:
I have always had a love for dogs and grew up around working gun dogs. Since starting at Dig It, I have gained a love of tricks, caught the agility bug and just love to train via Clicker training.
My main interest is working gun dogs and I am currently training towards competing in working tests and field trials with one of my dogs. As well as working both on local shoots throughout the season.

Breeds of dog currently owned:
Working Golden Retrievers - Buddy and Bronte

Activities undertaken:
KCGCA- Puppy, Bronze, Sliver and Gold
Tricks
Working tests
Canine Fitness
Agility

Particular passions in instructing /methods of instructing:
Clicker Training
Training and rewarding with play.

Hannah Lancaster, Obedience Instructor

Special interests/areas of expertise:
I have been part of DigIt dog Club since 2008. I am so passionate about all things dogs.

Breeds of dog currently owned:
I currently own an Italian Spinone and plan to enter the world of gun dog sport with him. In the past I have owned Great Danes, Terriers and a Staffordshire Bull terrier.

Activities undertaken:
I have competed in flyball, agility and ring craft. I have also completed bronze, silver and gold in KC good citizen scheme.
I participate in regular and relevant CPD to keep my knowledge and skills based on current and progressive science-based methods. Socs puppy lab, Susan Garret home school dog, dog first aid, dog law, canine conditioning, podcasts,many books. If there is something new to learn I want to learn it. I would love to learn more about canine nutrition which will be my next course.

Particular passions in instructing /methods of instructing:
I am particularly interested in dog behaviour and how different breeds work. I’m also passionate about canine conditioning, how best to keep my dog fit and in good shape to reduce injury.

Joanna Laxton, Obedience Assistant

Special interests/areas of expertise:
I first came to Dig it over 10 years ago with our puppy. Training has changed so much since then, it was still all reward based but didn’t involve the games which we now use and I just love teaching these. We had been told by our breeder that a working gun dog needed a ‘job to do’ so decided to try agility and it wasn’t long before I was hooked!

Breeds of dog currently owned:
I currently have Douglas, a 10 year old brittany and Tia, a 3 year old mixed breed rescue from Spain

Activities undertaken:
Competitive Agility
Completed KCGCDS puppy, bronze, silver and gold Canine conditioning
Scent work
Trick training
Douglas Kennel Club grade 7, Agility 4 All novice
Tia Kennel Club grade 4, Agility 4 All novice

Particular passions in instructing /methods of instructing:
I assist with obedience and it is great when owners start out in puppy classes and then continue onto bronze and silver and you see both dog and human develop their training skills and build a relationship with one another.
I also teach occasional agility taster sessions. I like teaching the basic foundation skills that are the building blocks towards a great agility partnership.

Naomi Lee, Obedience Instructor

Special interests/areas of expertise:
I have loved working with animals from an early age and grew up with a Greyhound Mix, Border Collie and a GSD mix. I began working at local Veterinary Hospitals and kennels at the age of 15 and then worked in a Humane Society while attending University in the States.
I began exploring different techniques of training when I got my own dog and now attend seminars, courses and workshops to expand my experience in dog training.
I keep up to date with the latest studies in modern dog training and behaviour and apply them to my classes.

Breeds of dog currently owned:
Zoey - Collie Mixed Breed
Nora - Border Collie
Vibe - Border Collie

Activities undertaken:
I currently train weekly with my dogs in:
Trick Training and Shaping
Obedience
Agility

Zoey has achieved the following:
KCGCDS Puppy
KCGCDS Bronze
KCGCDS Silver
KCGCDS Gold
Novice Trick Dog Title
Intermediate Trick Dog Title
Advanced Trick Dog Title
Expert Trick Dog Title
Trick Dog Champion Title
KC Agility Grade 5

Nora has achieved the following:
KCGCDS Puppy
KCGCDS Bronze
KCGCDS Silver
Novice Trick Dog Title
Intermediate Trick Dog Title
Advanced Trick Dog Title
Expert Trick Dog Title
Trick Dog Champion Title
KC Agility Grade 2

Vibe has just started working through the KCGCDS scheme and has achieved:
Novice Trick Dog Title

I have also trained in the following:
Competitive Obedience
Canine Nose Work

Particular passions in instructing /methods of instructing:
I enjoy helping owners connect with their dog in a safe and fun environment. I like to use many different methods of training to make training enjoyable and to create a healthy and balanced relationship between owners and their dogs.

Dr Rachel Richards, One to one / Obedience Instructor

Special interests/areas of expertise:
I am primarily a behavioural trainer, specialising in a wide range of behaviour issues. My primary work is on a one to one basis for people who require a little extra help with any aspect of their dog’s training or behaviour. I also offer training for pups that are too young to come to class and run assessments for those seeking advice or who are unsure whether their dogs are suitable for a class environment.

I am a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT, UK 01281) and registered as an Animal Training Instructor (ATI) with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). I hold an Advanced Dog-Training Instructor qualification with the Pet Dog Training Institute (PDTI, 1426).

I was awarded a Level 5 University Diploma in Canine Training and Behavioural Management from Harper Adams University. I both taught and hold qualifications in the OCN accredited qualifications “Dog Training Theory” and “Canine Psychology and behaviour” from Reaseheath College. I continue to update my theoretical and practical knowledge and skills base on a very regular basis and actively participate in Continuing Professional Development.

Breeds of dog currently owned:
I currently own a female Lurcher (Daisy), a male Terrier cross Miniature Poodle (Chip), a female Miniature Poodle (Wispa) and a male Lagotto Romagnolo (Gino). I have enjoyed exploring different disciplines with them including, obedience, heel work to music, tricks, agility, scent work and gundog.
Wispa and Chip qualified for and competed in the Kennel Club Good Citizen Pre-Beginner Stakes Finals at CRUFTS in 2017 (Chip) and 2018 (Wispa). Chip also competed at CRUFTS in 2019 and 2020 in the interregional competitive obedience competition winning his Novice level class in 2019. All four dogs have successfully competed in Scent work UK trials from ranging from Level 1 to Level 5. After spending many years with my focus on Competitive Obedience and Scent work, Gundog and Scent work are now my main priorities.

Kennel Club Good Citizen Award Levels attained:
My three older dogs have successfully completed the Kennel Club Good Citizen Award Scheme from Puppy Foundation through to Gold. Gino has completed his Puppy Foundation and is now working through Gundog courses.

Particular passions in instructing and methods of instructing:
My main goal in instructing is to enhance the relationship between people and their dogs through developing clarity and consistency in handling and communication skills and facilitating understanding of dog’s body language. I aim to create an environment where all canine and human relationships are built on mutual trust and respect. I strive to ensure that people and their dogs learn through positive experiences and through the creation of a safe environment where they can thrive, progress and have fun.