Nichola & Nigel founded the college in 1990 as there was a need for training courses and education within this specialist industry.

Nichola has also worked with animal from childhood and started of training as a vet nurse when leaving school and then went onto to qualify As N Irelands First and Only City and guilds 775 & advanced higher diploma qualified groomer and was recently awarded a senior award from City and guilds an L.C.G.I MASTERCRAFTSMAN and is one of only a handful of Uk groomers to be awarded this award.

Alongside dog grooming Nichola has also worked throughout many sections of the animal care industry and has trained and qualified in most areas giving her unparelled experience. Nichola also holds many teaching and training qualifications and is a consultant and education provider for many goverment bodies and organisations including NI Prison and Police Service, Mobiledogwash Franchises Nichola runs the International Animal Care College alongside Smartets International Dog grooming  along with her husband who deals with and lecturers on the legal, business and health and safety aspects of running animal care businesses.

Nigel has been in business for over 20 years and now works alongside Nichola running the Iacc and Smartpets. They also have the world famous Larelkie Min schnauzers having many champions and award winning dogs.

 

Between then they have:

Over 40 years business and animal care industry experience

City & Guilds L.C.G.I MASTERCRAFTSMAN SENIOR AWARD Dog Grooming

City & Guilds 775  Advanced Dog grooming

Higher Diploma Dog grooming

Acc Dog Grooming Theory

City & Guilds Pet Store Management

Acc Advanced Health Care for Cats & Dogs

Acc Diploma kennel & Cattery Management

Acc Dog Training Instructors Certificates

Acc First-aid Certificate

Pet nutrition Councillors Certificate

St Jon Pet Dental Care Certificate

Veterinary Nursing Certificates

BHS Certificates

D32/33/34 Assessor & Verifer

CIPD Training and development units

Jeb Principals Of Teaching

 

 

 

Anne has been with Smartpets for over 8 years, Initally coming as a student for further her grooming training and then taking up a post as assistant groomer. Anne has gained her City & Guilds level 2&3 in dog grooming and Pet First-Aid Certificates. Anne has over 40 years experience from horses to dogs and has always worked with animals and is a very well renowed agility competitor and border terrier expert.

 

Developed and brought to you by a College Professor with years of experience in classroom and online teaching AND a dog trainer and competitor since 1974: Dr. Cheryl Asmus.

Cheryl Asmus (United States) Cheryl L. Asmus, Ph.D. is the owner and founder of E-Training for Dogs, Inc., the world's first truly interactive online dog training school. Dr. Asmus has been In the dog training field for over 30 years. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology, has taught in Universities, was a Director of an Institute at a University in Colorado, United States and has successfully managed an environmental consulting business for 12 years. Cheryl has authored, received and successfully completed over 3 million dollars in contracts and grants both in the public and academic sectors. Her most recent academic endeavor was to find funding for, and develop the nation's third online bachelor's degree for early childhood education. While bringing this fantastic opportunity to Colorado State University, she realized that her passion for dogs and dog training could be channeled into providing online training. Dr. Asmus is a North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) Judge. Cheryl has titled dogs in NAVHDA Natural Ability, Utility and the Invitational. She has also titled dogs at the Senior and Master Hunter level in the American Kennel Club (AKC). Before working with the versatile hunting dog, she had put 2 AKC Tracking Dogs and 2 AKC Tracking Dog Excellent on dogs in addition to teaching Tracking in Lake Elmo, Minnesota at the Animal Inn. In addition, she has put AKC Companion Dog (4 CD's) and AKC Companion Dog Excellent (3 CDX) on dogs. In the 1980's, she trained and tested in Schutzhund (German police dog sport and competition) bringing two dogs to Schutzhund I and II and one dog to a Schutzhund III. She held the office of training director for the Twin City Working Dog Association for several years in the 80's.

Ella Bittel, Holistic Veterinarian Born in Germany, Ella followed her childhood desire to “help animals” by becoming a veterinarian. Now living and working on the Central Coast of California, Ella has specialized in holistic modalities for over 20 years, among them veterinary acupuncture and chiropractic, cranio-sacral work, homeopathy, TTOUCH and energy medicine techniques adapted from Donna Eden, including work on the animals aura and chakras.
Dr. Bittel's personal experience with her dog, Momo, who died a natural death, revealed to her just how little training her profession receives in the natural process of death. This experience led her on a quest for information resulting in an 18 hour seminar that trains professionals and non-professionals about animal hospice and the death process. You can find out more about Ella and Spirits in Transition HERE.

Lori Bowling is a UKC Weight Pull Judge located in Texas. She competes with her dogs weight pull and in many other sport venues. She has done extensive research on "The Raw Food Diet" for many years now. For years, her dogs had problems with allergies, runny eyes, hair loss, energy loss, etc. It seemed no matter what the veterinarians tried, nothing cleared it up or it was just a temporary fix. She began a quest to find something better for her dogs but found so much information that she could not tell the right from the wrong. She has done the research to glean the correct information and is here to share it with you and to help you make a healthier food choice for your dog.

Jan Bradfeldt has been associated with dog training since 1971 and has instructed  for  Emerald Dog Obed. Club (EDOC) since 1972. Her college studies are in behavior modification, psychology and animal science. Jan graduated from Oregon State Univ. in 1976. She is currently teaching puppy socialization and basic care classes for 3 local veterinarians and also a public Canine Good Citizen Prep Class. Jan also teaches a weekly Show Conformation class for EDOC. Jan has done training with the Delta Society for therapy dogs and is currently a Canine Good Citizen evaluator for the AKC.  Her first German Shorthaired Pointer was given to her 48 years ago. Jan and her husband still train and compete in many dog activities including, Obedience, Rally, Agility, Show Conformation, AKC hunt tests, CGC and Animal Assisted Therapy work. Jan spent 20 years in the corporate world as a Hazardous Materials Regulatory Shipping Specialist before leaving it to work with dogs and their owners full time.

Shana Carranco, CPDT, www.TheHolisticDogTrainer.com has been working with dogs professionally since 1999.  After a long career as a Meeting and Event Planner, she focused on teaching dogs, which evolved quickly to become a Holistic Dog Trainer with a specialty in Toy/Small breeds. She takes a holistic approach to teaching and care of dogs, believing in the balance of mind, body, environment to build and enhance the human/canine relationship.  She is also very interested in natural diets and remedies for pets, knowing there is a strong link between behavior and nutrition. She instructs weekly Puppy Socials, and Lifeskills Lessons, private consultations and conducts workshops and seminars to the public and canine education instructor training programs to trainers, enthusiasts and those who are interested in becoming dog trainers. In addition, she is a Certified Groomer, Pet First Aid & CPR Instructor for PetTec, AKC – CGC Evaluator, and founder of Miami Toy Dog Training Club. She recently launched www.LittlePawsTravelnAdventures.com which is a specialty travel company for people traveling with Little Dogs!

Connie Dwyer, MS, CPDT, CABC is owner and training director at Eternal Sun Stable in upstate NY. She has over 10 years experience in dog, horse and people training!  She is a certified dog trainer through the CCPDT and also a certified animal behavior consultant through the IAABC. Connie offers group and private lessons and behavior consultations as well as teaches clinics and speaks at seminars.  Her focus is on teamwork and building a solid behavioral foundation in companion animals and their humans to nurture a lasting positive bond. She is the author the My Clever Puppy Packet and author and creator of the Equine Excellence Award ™ Program.

Lynn Erickson has been involved with the care and training of animals all of her life. Lynn grew up on a farm in central Minnesota, hunting ruffed grouse without the benefit of a hunting dog. She has been involved with hunting dogs, their training, testing and breeding for the past 21 years. She owns and operates Herbst Briese Kennels, a full service kennel, offering training, boarding and grooming. She is a certified tattoo artist with the National Dog Registry. " I fell in love with pointing dogs long before I became a NAVHDA member or a NAVHDA judge. I have hunted behind and trained all sorts of dogs, but fell in love with my German Shorthairs. I personally own ten. I have hunted upland game and waterfowl for the past 35 years, sometimes without a dog or with someone else’s dog. I came to realize that hunting with a dog was by far, more enjoyable and productive. I have been involved in NAVHDA for the past 19 years and a NAVHDA judge for the past eleven years, just recently receiving a promotion to Senior Judge." Every fall will find Lynn afield with her dogs, in Minnesota and North Dakota, in pursuit of ringneck pheasant, ruffed grouse, sharptails and ducks.

Miriam Fields-Babineau has been training animals professionally since 1978. She has published 37 books on animal training, care and breeds as well as some short fiction and 2 novels. She also has provided animal actors for media productions since 1983. She has also judged horse and dog performance trials. She recently opened Shady Mountain Pet Retreat, a luxury pet resort offering boarding and training, a specialty boutique and puppy playground.

Myra Fourwinds Myra has trained dogs professionally for 30 years, and has been involved in obedience, protection, agility, herding, search-and-rescue, drug detection, therapy and service dog training. Her personal experience with disability led her deeply into the training of service dogs, and in 1987 she graduated from Dr. Bonnie Bergin's Assistant Dog Institute Instructor Course. Myra prefers to teach handlers to train their own service dogs. She believes that when handlers understand the methods and principles of the training, they can better adapt exercises to meet their specific needs. As a result, handlers and dogs develop better working relationships. Myra has worked with persons with a variety of disabilities that include cerebral palsy, closed-head injuries, visual impairment, hearing impairment, learning disorders, spina-bifida, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, anxiety, arthritis, diabetes and mobility problems. Myra's commitment is to empower individuals to gain increased control and independence in their lives. Myra currently conducts classes in St. Paul, Minnesota for owner-trainers of service dogs and for “reactive” dogs.

Barbara Handelman, M.Ed, CABC Barbara has been a Clinical Mental Health Counselor for forty years. Early in her career, her work focused on relationship therapy with non-verbal children. In that context, Handelman became a careful observer of human body language. Studying the ways dogs use their bodies to communicate became a natural extension of her work with children. She is now a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant specializing in training assistance dogs for people with disabilities. For the last twenty years Handelman has had a second career as a professional photographer, using her camera to capture the moods and movements of people, horses, and dogs.

Racine Hyatt is certified in Canine massage, graduating from Treetops.  She then went on to complete studies in Canine Rehabilitation at the Animal Rehabilitation Institute in the USA., receiving instruction in Anatomy & Physiology, Bio-mechanics, Program Design and Rehabilitation Techniques and Canine Sports Medicine.  She seizes every opportunity to attend workshops and seminars believing the key to being able to help so many different dogs successfully has been her continuing education which puts as many 'tools in the box as possible' since there is rarely one right answer!  Racine has been training dogs in various disciplines since 1972.  She would discover her life's purpose and the world of rehabilitation in 1992 when she was blessed with her first canine life-partner, Meisha, who required several surgeries to repair the damage from the acutely abusive situation from which she had been removed. Today, Racine's practice in rehabilitation exposes her to (what she believes) is a ridiculous number of dogs recovering from the same few injuries - pets and athletes alike! As we enjoy more active lifestyles, so do our dogs; and yet few people apply the same basic 'rules of fitness' to the dogs as for themselves.  A large part of her programs at DOGWORKS is education - and as word spread, Racine began doing more conditioning/preventative counseling than injury recovery! Racine shares her life with Boxers, German Shepherds and an extraordinarily patient husband! 

Nikki Ivey a professional Dog Behavior Consultant/Trainer, has been working with people and their pets for more than 11 years. Educated as a traditional dog trainer, Nikki used dominating methods to demand appropriate behavior from dogs without understanding what motivated them. At a training seminar by Bob Bailey, Nikki was introduced to operant conditioning, where animals are taught to think for themselves and are rewarded for doing the right thing. Nikki began applying this unique style of training and had incredible results. Nikki now shares her knowledge by teaching owners how to understand, communicate and interact with their dogs to accomplish their goals. In the last 11+ years, Nikki has trained many families to have better relationships with their dogs, owned and operated a dog day care and training facility, including agility training for 3.5 years, opened a new day care and supervised the day care for a veterinary/boarding facility, founded and supervised two separate K9 search and rescue organizations. Nikki’s latest services are behavior consultations, training, pre-adoption consultations, dog day care inception, dog day care consultations, staff training, seminars and she is in the process of writing a book on Confidence Issues in dogs as well as putting together a DVD for new dog owners.

Kathy Kawalec owns and operates Dancing Hearts, a holistic training and well-being center in Manhattan, Illinois. Kathy’s methods for teaching dogs and handlers, are based upon clear communication, understanding and respect, and are effective and positively reinforcing to dog and handler alike! Kathy has successfully competed in all venues of herding events including USBCHA, AKC, ASCA and AHBA with her border collies for more than 10 years. Currently trialing in National Level fields trials sanctioned by The United States Border Collie Handlers Association, she has qualified for and competed in the National Finals, limited to the top dogs in the country. Facilitating clinics and lessons both at her farm in Illinois, and around the Midwest, she has experience with all herding breeds, and her students have won many titles and ribbons competing in all venues. Kathy is a certified Tellington Ttouch™ instructor.

Janice Koler-Matznick, MS, Assoc. CAAB, CPDT has worked with dogs professionally in various capacities for 35 years and has been researching the origin of the dog for fifteen years. In addition to her Masters degree in biology, Jan is professionally certified in applied animal behavior by the Certification Counsel of the Animal Behavior Society, and in dog training by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. Her life-long interest in the behavior of primitive dogs and wild canids has been fulfilled in her studies of New Guinea singing dogs (Canis hallstromi), ongoing now for thirteen years. She has published scientific journal papers on the NGSD and the origin of the dog, and presented her work at several scientific conferences, including those of the I.U.C.N. Canid Specialist Group, the Animal Behavior Society, and the Western Division of the A.A.A.S.  In addition, she has consulted on, and been featured in, several documentaries, including National Geographic’s The Search For The First Dog, Discover Channel’s The Ultimate Guide: Dogs, and Dogs that Changed the World for PBS.

Daphne Lewis has been scootering since 1996. In 2000 she bought her first sulky and opened her business DogScooter. Please see her web site http://www.dogscooter.com for information on training your dog to pull. Daphne began the email talk list DogsLovertoRun@yahoo.com soon thereafter. This list is for people who run their dogs whether with scooters, skiis, bikes, sleds  or canicross. Daphne is a member of ChariotsoftheDogs@yahoo.com which is a list dedicated to discussing driving dogs from a sulky. She is president of her local scooter club k9ScootersNW and is a member of ISDRA (International Sled Dog Racing Association) and IACP (International Association of Canine Professionals). Daphne is now the happy owner of two chinooks, a breed of sled dog that does double duty as pet dogs. She and Brett and Rosy love the early morning dashes thorugh the woods, along the brush to the lake whether on bike, scooter, or sulky. Once playing and retrieving  in the lake is finished, the three of them are off trotting and running to explore the trails meandering nearby.

Susan Sharpe C.P.D.T., CA-1, is co-owner and head instructor for Canine Companion by Certified Trainers. She has over 20 years of experience in dog training. Her background includes obedience, article search, tracking, obstacle course, drug detection, personal protection, and family pet manners. Susan offers group classes, private instruction, and behavior modification from minor issues, such as unwanted barking, through more severe behaviors including separation anxiety and aggression. She also instructs therapy dog courses and trains service dogs for individuals. Susan is an instructor for the American Red Cross (#12642), including being an instructor for emergency pet first aid. She is a graduate of the Purdue University DOGS! course, a certified Tellington Touch CA-1 practitioner and is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Susan is an evaluator for Therapy Dog Inc. as well as a Canine Good Citizen evaluator for the AKC (#8968). She is also the developer of the famous anxiety wrap.

Sigle Skeries has an Honours Bachelor of Arts in educational psychology with 20 years teaching experience and over 30 years experience in the animal industry. A successful junior career on the hunter / jumper circuit in Ontario and throughout the USA followed by upper level Eventing training in England, qualification as a British Horse Society Intermediate Instructor, and the management of equine facilities in breeding, racing, training and showing ensures a well rounded and knowledgeable approach not only to rehabilitation but the specific needs and demands of a wide variety of disciplines. Sigle’s canine partners are St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs and they participate in a number of canine activities including tracking, agility, freestyle and trick training. Her qualifications in therapeutic massage have been secured through training at The Complementary Therapies School in Gerrards Cross, England and successful completion of the ITEC licensing examinations. She is a member of the British Complementary Medicine Association, Independent Professional Therapists International and the Guild of Complementary Practitioners. Sigle has successfully completed her training in Herbal Medicine through the East West School of Herbal Medicine based in Ben Lamond, California.

Sarah Story has been working with dogs her entire life. She grew up in a "bird dog" home, ran her first field trial at the age of eight and has not stopped since. Uniquely, Sarah trains her hunting dogs using only positive training techniques. In addition to field work, Sarah teaches people and dogs: Agility, Obedience, Rally O, Canine Freestyle and Confirmation...all with only positive training techniques. She and her dog "Checkers" are registered with Therapy Dog, Inc. as a working Therapy Dog team along with the AKC's Canine Good Citizen (CGC). Sarah has been and still is an Associate Trainer for Canine Companions by Certifed Trainers in Indiana.

Susan Thorpe-Vargas, Ph.D.

Sue Ann Wilson enjoys breeding, raising, training, and trialing in JRTCA. She owns and loves Jack Russell Terriers under the kennel name: WEST ELK. She has always had a love of all animals, spent over 20 years training and instructing in Arabian horses and their owners. She has worked with Colordado State University as a volunteer in 4H Cooperative Extension sharing her knowledge of animals with youth. Her love of Jack Russells grew from that beginning, and she now produces a limited number of quality puppies,serves as Co-chair of the National JRTCA Trial Committee,  and chairs a sanctioned trial each year. She enjoys hunting, trialing, PUPPIES; and the new friends they bring to her life

Janet Wilts For the last 20 years, Janet Wilts has been employed by Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, as a Law  Enforcement Ranger and Climbing Ranger. She is now the Law Enforcement Specialist.  As a climbing ranger she was responsible for responding to the technical Rescue's, accidents and searches in Grand Teton National Park. Janet has worked in Search and Rescue for over 30 years; is a  member of High Country Search Dogs; and has been training search dogs for 20 years. As a member of High Country K-9 and Wyoming K-9 Search & Rescue she helped to develop the testing criteria and standards. Janet has tested and certified more then 100 dogs, including HC K-9 members, Tri-state testing groups, other dog groups and Ski Patrol. As an instructor for High Country Search Dogs she has conducted seminars in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, California, South Dakota, Texas, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and instructed the following topics: trailing, advanced cadaver/HRD, beginning SAR dog training, beginning cadaver, avalanche, water, rappelling with K-9's, K-9 drives, scent theory, wilderness search, search strategy and advanced wilderness search.