Our Class Trainers
Obedience training and socialisation in Oxfordshire
Meet the trainers ...
with Chinook and Zenzi
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 German Shepherds, Chinook and Zenzi. Grahame has been the sole trainer for Chinook, and his 2 previous dogs, Candie (a German Shepherd) and Inca (a Golden Retriever). He and his wife, Janie, have trained his young dog, Zenzi. All Grahame's dogs, including Chinook and Zenzi, successfully completed their Kennel Club Gold Award.
Grahame is a Kennel Club Good Citizen Award approved examiner for the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. 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, and an Instructors Workshop and the Advanced Instructors Workshop run by Odin Canine Services. He has also attended a lecture “Beyond Socialisation” organised by Four Paws. In 2012, he attended an educational weekend for the Kennel Club Accreditation Scheme for Instructors (KCAI), covering the topics of Nose Work for Companion Dogs, The Companion Dog Class, Teaching Techniques Master Class, and a Behaviour Consultation Seminar.
Grahame is a KCIA Scheme Member (Membership number GG609095), and instructs classes under the KCIA Code of Practice.
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 of dogs who were aggressive and of timid, depressed dogs. She learnt her skills in dog training and rehabilitation through her own experiences, reading, and help she sought from professional behaviourists and dog training clubs. Judi attended an Instructors Workshop and the Advanced Instructors Workshop run by Odin Canine Services. She has also attended a lecture “Beyond Socialisation” organised by Four Paws.
Judi and her husband live in Oxford with their dog, Zac, a border collie. 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 also maintains the Four Paws website.
with Jack
Jane Fossey
Jane Fossey has lived with dogs throughout most of her life. She has recently rehomed her present dog, Jack, a border collie. Jane 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. Her previous dog, Zac, gained his Gold Award.
Jane has attended a number of training courses in animal behaviour and dog training, including the Advanced Instructors Workshop run by Odin Canine Services. She has also attended a lecture “Beyond Socialisation” organised by Four Paws. 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 also on the Committee, as a member representative for Four Paws.
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 2 terriers – Jack, a Jack Russell x Collie cross; and Meg, a Jack Russell. Kath is shown with her present dogs, and her past dog, Jess, a Jack Russell x Border Terrier cross, who reached a good age.
Jack attends Four Paws. He has passed his Bronze, Silver and Gold Kennel Club Awards. Meg has learned through by watching 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 2008 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 an Instructors Workshop run by Odin Canine Services, and became a trainer in 2010. He has also attended a lecture “Beyond Socialisation” organised by Four Paws.
Murray is Chair of Four Paws.
with Billy
Richard Zakss
Richard joined Four Paws with his rescue dog, Billy. He took Billy through his Bronze, Silver, and Gold Kennel Club Awards with the club, before becoming a trainer himself. He has attended a lecture “Beyond Socialisation” organised by Four Paws.
Meet the committee by visiting Four Paws Committee page ...
