Meet Laura

Laura has spent ten years working in veterinary practice as a registered veterinary nurse and has always had a passion for how animals think and feel.
Being a strong believer in up to date theoretical knowledge, over the years she has completed accredited qualifications in behaviour and training including an Advanced Diploma in Canine Behaviour Management and a BSc (Hons) in Applied Animal Behaviour.

Equines:

Laura’s experience includes  the application of reward based training methods to horses. For years she has felt uneasy about how we treated our equine companions, and felt that old practices were being continued even if our knowledge of animal learning and psychology had progressed. Inspired by these ideas, Laura chose to research the behavioural response of horses to different training methods for her dissertation (see equine page for more information).

Small Animal:

Laura’s professional experience also includes puppy socialisation classes, beginner, intermediate and advanced dog training, gun dog training, agility training, scent work and behaviour consulting. Laura believes all training should be fun for both human and animal. We understand how stressful it can be to have a training or behaviour problem, and take a sympathetic and approachable stance to resolving issues. A veterinary nursing background has provided a good grounding in nutrition and medical factors which may affect behaviour, and Laura prides in a good working relationship with a number of veterinary practices.

Accreditation’s:

Laura believes that the behaviour and training industry should be regulated just as veterinary nursing and other medical and counselling professions are. Currently, it is not a legal requirement to subscribe to a professional organisation or follow any sort of code of conduct. However, Laura is affiliated with the organisations below, supporting industry regulation.

• Animal Behaviour & Training Council (ABTC) Registered Practitioner
• Full member Association Pet Dog Trainers (01184)
  This means that she has undertaken a written and practical exam illustrating that she possess the skills and knowledge required to apply training techniques based on up to date, researched, methods, whilst being empathic and considerate of the animal’s emotional state.
• Full member The Canine Training and Behaviour Society
• Provisional member Association Pet Behaviour Counsellors which means having gained the relevant academic qualifications I am gaining the practical experience necessary for full membership as detailed here: http://www.apbc.org.uk/apbc/code_of_practice, and she is working towards full membership.
• Scentwork UK instructor

Laura is covered by professional indemnity cover and public liability insurance.