my story
A good dog trainer relates to people too.
“Chris is the Dog Whisperer! We couldn’t rate Chris more highly… he has had a huge positive effect… He really is the best at what he does, and such a genuinely lovely person”.
Gayle C
I grew up with Golden Retrievers Cosmo, Caps, and Midas, and even when I didn’t have one, dogs have always been part of the fabric of my life from a young age.
Years ago there was a small event with big repercussions. We rescued an abandoned and mistreated dog that had been left tied to a fence near our home, following his happy-ending journey from vet hospital to his forever home. I realised my passion and natural kinship with dogs was my true calling. From that moment I vowed to re-arrange my life to share it and work with dogs
To this day I continue to study for training and behaviour qualifications because learning never stops. But I grow every day from the real-life experience of training dogs and problem-solving. And after founding Dog Citizen, the learning continues even at home with our beautiful springer called Woody, who has his own unique, but sometimes challenging personality.
That is my ethos: your dog is an individual with a unique personality. And so are you! Whether it is manners training or working through a behaviour problem, I always start with understanding your dog’s character and motivations and how to grow the bond between you. With that in place, we can meet any challenge. Welcome to Dog Citizen.
I have many years’ successful experience as a dog trainer now, and you can read my Google reviews on this site, or on Facebook. Formal qualifications should matter too though. It is important to keep up with the latest theories, to continually challenge yourself, and have discourse with others.
please find some of my formal qualifications below
Certificates and Diplomas as well as DBS vetting certificate can be shown to you when we meet
- Dog Training Diploma, Academy of Dog Training & Behaviour, approved instructor
- Canine Aggression Diploma Level 3, Compass Education
- Canine Behaviour for Professionals, Writtle College, Anglia Ruskin University
- Practical Instructor Course, Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT)
- Canine Nutrition, CPD Award Level 3, Oplex
- Canine Nutrition for dog trainers, Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT)
- Canine First Aid practical course, Writtle College, Anglia Ruskin University
- Dog Walker City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate of Technical Competence, Writtle College, Anglia Ruskin University
see my testimonials
Have a question? You can find answers to commonly asked questions here or better still phone or message me. Or you can say hello on the form below, and receive my free introductory guide to force-free dog training and everyday living with dogs “The Dog Citizen® Way”.