Our Class Trainers
Obedience training and socialisation in Oxfordshire
Meet the trainers ...
with Chinook
Grahame Godby
Grahame started training at dog clubs in 2006. Since that date, he has successfully trained many dogs though the Kennel Club (KC) Good Citizen Dog Scheme, all the way from Bronze though to Gold. He has also trained dogs in further obedience and behaviour after they have already gained their Gold Award.
He lives in Oxford and has two dogs: Inca, a Golden Retriever, and Chinook, a German Shepherd. Inca has her Kennel Club Gold Award. One of his previous dogs, Candie, also had her Gold Award and was an assessed PAT (Pets as Therapy) dog. Grahame has been the sole trainer for his dogs, and he is currently training up Chinook.
Grahame is a Kennel Club Good Citizen Award assessor for the Bronze Awards and a dog assessor for PAT (Pets as Therapy). He has attended Ian Dunbar's 4 day course on the topics of Practical Application of Theory, Dog Friendly Dog Training Done Right, Training Adult Dogs, and Puppy Classes and Games. In 2009, he attended the Instructors Workshop and the Advanced Instructors Workshop run by Odin Canine Services.
His main aim in training is to give owners the tools and confidence to control and enjoy their dogs.
In Four Paws, Grahame holds the positions of Membership Secretary and Trainer Co-ordinator.
with Zac
Judi Brosnan
Judi and her husband have re-homed 4 adult dogs over the years, three of whom had significant behavioural problems when first acquired. She has experience both of dogs who were aggressive and of timid, depressed dogs. She leaned her skills in dog training and rehabilitation through her own experiences, reading, and help she sought from professional behaviourists and dog training clubs. In 2009, Judi attended the Instructors Workshop and the Advanced Instructors Workshop run by Odin Canine Services.
Judi and her husband live in Oxford with their dog, Zac, a collie-cross. Zac was their most difficult dog, acquired when he was 4 years old. His behaviour and demeanour now are very different from the early days, and he has his Kennel Club Gold Award.
Judi has been a trainer since October 2007. She holds the position of Treasurer with Four Paws and maintains the website.
with Zac
Jane Fossey
Jane Fossey has lived with dogs throughout her life, and currently shares her home with a border collie called Zac. (Yes, the same name as Judi's dog - just a coincidence.) She has been involved in training in clubs for several years, and she has taught dogs through to gold level Kennel Club Award and agility classes for fun. Jane has attended a number of training courses in animal behaviour and dog training, including the Advanced Instructors Workshop run by Odin Canine Services in 2009. She has a Professional Certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy, is an assessor for PAT (Pets for Therapy), and has a certificate in first aid for pets. She has worked in health and social care settings with her own dogs since 1990 using the benefits of the human-companion animal bond to facilitate therapeutic change. Jane has spoken at national and international conferences on Animal Assisted Therapy and on the Psychology of Pet Ownership. She is one of the course developers and course tutors on the current Animal Assisted Interventions course run by the Society for Companion Animal Studies, for whom she is also a trustee.
Jane is Chairperson for Four Paws.
with Charlie
Karen Kendall
Karen has been involved in training dogs for many years.
At the Camomile Centre in Devon, she trained and supervised dogs used in therapeutic programmes for adults and children with disabilities and mental health issues. Working as a volunteer link worker at an assistance dog charity, Canine Partners for Independence, she monitored dog and person partnerships and attended in-house training courses. She was supervised by a top national trainer when she carried out the initial training of an Affenpinscher puppy, preparing for later training as a diabetic alert and response dog. Karen is currently working with scientists in the UK and Europe writing a proposal to fund a research network for Animal Assisted Interventions. She has previously been registered as a trainer with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and is a qualified teacher and project manager. In 2009, she attended the Advanced Instructors Workshop run by Odin Canine Services.
Karen ran her own dog training classes in Devon, and specialised in rescue dogs, having re-homed several herself. Her rescue dog Charlie came to live with her in August 2009. Karen has taken Charlie through the Bronze, Silver and Gold Kennel Club Awards.
She supports the ethos of using kind, reward based training methods.
with Harry
Matthew Prew
Matthew joined Four Paws in 2008 with his Labrador, Harry. Matthew trained Harry in our puppy class, and then progressed through the classes, with Harry gaining his Bronze Kennel Club Award in May 2009 and then his Silver Kennel Club Award in November 2009. Matthew is currently training Harry for his Gold Kennel Club Award.
Matthew has always loved dogs, but earlier in his life, with work and family commitments, the time was never right to own a dog. Now, delighted at having Harry in his life, he is a keen member of Four Paws, and was voted onto the Committee in December 2008. He then attended the Instructors Workshop run by Odin Canine Services in 2009, and became a trainer in 2010.
Matthew is Vice Chair of the Four Paws Committee.
with Jess, Meg and Jack
Kath Bacon
Animals of all shapes and sizes have always been a large part of Kath's life, from hamsters to horses! However dogs are now the major players (some would say obsession). Kath's first proper experience of dog ownership was with an inherited, rescued golden retriever with a host of naughty habits. Kath says that this dog taught her how sensitive dogs are to our moods and emotions, the importance of positive re-enforcement, and how developing a strong bond between you and your dog makes training easier and a pleasure. She currently shares her house with 3 terriers – Jess, a 15 years old Jack Russell x Border Terrier cross; Jack, a 5 year old Jack Russell x Collie cross; and Meg, a 5 year old Jack Russell.
Jack attends Four Paws. He has passed his Bronze, Silver and Gold Kennel Club Awards. Jess was taught by her mum, a working terrier, and has passed her skills to both Jack and Meg. Meg has learned through osmosis from Jack!
Kath attended the Instructors Workshop run by Odin Canine Services in 2009, and became a trainer in 2010.
with Bella
Murray Hartley
Murray came to Four Paws in 2007 with Bella, his family’s Miniature Schnauzer, then one year old. Murray and his wife, Leigh, were looking for a friendly club close to Oxford to train their family dog, which they found in Four Paws. Both Murray and Leigh originally attended classes together, but with the arrival of their third family member, daughter Alexandra, Murray took over responsibility for Bella’s training. Murray and Bella went on to complete all of the Kennel Club Good Citizen Awards, with Bella passing her Bronze and Silver Awards in May 2009, followed by her Gold Award in November 2009. During the training preparations Murray realised that he enjoyed training dogs. Wanting to take it further he attended the Instructors Workshop run by Odin Canine Services in 2009, and became a trainer in 2010.
Meet the committee by visiting Four Paws Committee page ...
