Meet the Team
The APDS team are extensively qualified and passionate about helping owners to develop positive relationships with their dogs through a wide range of dog behaviour and training services, providing a fun and friendly atmosphere in classes and expert advice and guidance in behaviour sessions.
Rick
Head Behaviourist & Director
Rick has a wealth of experience working within the Rehabilitation Department at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, as a Higher Education Lecturer teaching canine behaviour and also managing the dog department at one of the largest rescue centres in The Netherlands. He has worked with dogs for over 20 years, rehabilitating and carrying out behaviour work which he is passionate about. He provides rehabilitation support locally to Hereford RSPCA and HART rescue.
Rick holds a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology (MSc) and is an Animal Training & Behaviour Council (ABTC) registered Instructor, a UK Sniffer Dogs Instructor, as well as an accredited Trainer & Faculty Advisor for the Victoria Stilwell Academy where he trains and mentors new dog trainers.
Rick is a full member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (MAPDT 01501), British Psychological Society (#247659), International Association Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), Pet Professionals Guild (#45960150) and the Dog Welfare Alliance.
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Rick continues to do regular CPD with some of the top trainers in the UK to ensure his knowledge reflects the most up to date research and practices.
Sam
Trainer, Canine Nutritionist & Director
With her HND in Animal Science & Behaviour, Sam has worked at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (where she met Rick!), and at one of the largest European rescue centres in The Netherlands, focusing on behavioural assessment, procedures and rehoming as well as lecturing on Animal Behaviour at College level.
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Sam's passion is canine nutrition and the effects on behaviour in our dogs, she has completed and her Canine Nutrition Ofqual Level 3 with IPET.
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When not working as a Behaviour, Training and Nutrition Retail Advisor at Leominster Pet Centre, she works at APDS as a qualified Instructor and Evaluator for UK Dog Parkour UK, a UK Sniffer Dogs Bronze Instructor and a qualified IMDT Easy Peasy Puppy Instructor.
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Sam has also completed courses with Chirag Patel, Fenzi, ACE Anxiety courses with Sarah Fishers team, School of canine science and many IMDT courses.
Jen
Head Trainer
In 2015, a Lagotto puppy called Basil walked into Jen's life and changed the course of her future. Basil was excitable, confident and needed to engage his brain. Jen did the usual puppy classes and then began searching for something that could help build their relationship and use up Basil's excess drive and motivation. Together they found Heelwork To Music and fell in love with dog training!
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Now, Jen is a qualified dog trainer with the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT), Scentwork UK Instructor Level 7, a UK Sniffer Dogs Bronze Instructor and remains passionate about trick training, scent work and competes with her dogs in heelwork to music and scent work.
Jen teaches Beginners Scent work, Advanced Scent Work, Scent Club, Dog Clubs, Tricks, Heelwork to Music and workshops.
Alice
Veterinary Physiotherapist
Alice's passion for animals has always been there, but when her border collie, Jarvis, was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, an interest in rehabilitation & pain management was ignited. Age 12 she discovered the title ‘Veterinary Physiotherapist’ and knew this is exactly what she wanted to do!
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Alice studied for 4 years at Harper Adams University to obtain a BSc Hons degree in Veterinary Physiotherapy and also completed a groundwork conditioning course during this time.
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Alice is interested in the ‘Prehabilitation’ concept; the idea of maintenance physiotherapy to spot changes to the dog's movement or tissue state early and completing targeted exercises regularly to prevent the onset of injuries. She currently offers treatment using massage therapy, electrotherapy (including LASER, TENS & NMES) therapeutic Ultrasound and heat therapy and is RAMP registered.
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You may see Alice at conditioning workshops, One to One Behavioural Assessments and also One to One Sessions for dogs competing in sports, agility and hoopers.
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Rhiannon
Assistant Trainer
Dogs have always been in Rhiannon’s life and in 2008 she welcomed Betty, a Springer Spaniel puppy, into the home. Having such a high energy and naturally busy breed encouraged her to explore different activities to channel this energy and strengthen their relationship, which guided them into agility and flyball which took them to the Crufts final.
Then along came Todd, a rescue Springer Spaniel X Border Collie whose complex character and specific behavioural needs sparked Rhiannon's interest in canine behaviour, which she subsequently studied at the University of Lincoln.
After graduating with a first class BSc(Hons) in Animal Behaviour and Welfare in 2021, Rhiannon has gone on to study for a Masters degree in Clinical Animal Behaviour at the University of Edinburgh, with the intention of becoming a Clinical Animal Behaviourist upon graduating.
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Alison
Hoopers & Agility Instructor
In 1991, Alison re-homed a rescue collie who was had been deemed bored and destructive. They started with basic obedience classes, before discovering agility, followed by competing at shows nationally.
A few years later in 1994, Alison began teaching agility at a local dog club and went on to become a qualified dog agility instructor. From there, Alison qualified for the semi finals for Olympia, as well as competed in and coached flyball teams that qualified for Crufts!
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Now, Alison is a Reiki Master, Hoopers Instructor & Agility Club approved Instructor and holds a Canine First Aid Certificate and a Canine Communication Diploma.
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Becky
Assistant Trainer
Becky is our new assistant trainer. Having owned dogs all of her life and currently completing gun dog training with her Vizsla Skye, Becky is passionate about helping owners and pets connect through positive training.
Becky has completed some short courses and has recently qualified as an IMDT Easy Peasy Puppy Instructor, so new puppy owners will see her at Puppy Training and Puppy Socialisation classes. In 2024 Becky is starting her Gun Dog Instructor training with Helen Phillips at Clicker Gun Dogs so exciting classes to come in the future.
Millie
Trainee Trainer
Millie is currently in training to become one of our fully fledged trainers which has involved assisting with gun-dog work, hoopers and puppy classes. She has 3 dogs of her own, one of which is reactive which has led her down a behavioural work route and has also spent a lot of time working with rescues in Yorkshire and dogs abroad in Portugal, so even as a trainee, she's got some fantastic experience and knowledge already!
Moss
Chief demonstrator
Moss usually accompanies Rick to most classes and helps to demonstrate behaviours and skills.
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