Competitive achievements:

• Grade 6 agility
• Achieved Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze, Silver and Gold with multiple dogs.
• Kennel Club Agility Warrant.
• 5 times Class winner at Crufts (Showing, German Longhaired Pointer)
• Eukanuba Border Terrier Winter Agility League winner 2011
• Winner of the Barking Mad Agility Winter Series 2011
• Semifinalist of the British Novice cup at the Kennel Club International Agility Festival 2011
• Aesculap Grooming Scholarship 2013
• CRUFTS Best Dog German Longhaired Pointer 2016

Dogs:

• Jake, Black Labrador 2001-2014
• Izzy, Border Terrier 2004-2016
• Riley, German Longhaired Pointer 2008-2023
• Niffler, Miniature Poodle 2017-
• Dutch, Fox Red Labrador D.O.B 2020, rescued 2022-

Jo started her dog training journey in 2001 when she was 13, and having got her first dog she joined her local dog training club Hertford and District Dog Training Society (HDDTS). In 2004, when Jo was 16, HDDTS selected her to train to become a dog trainer and sponsored her to attend the Dog Training Instructor’s Course (DTI) at Harper Adams, which Jo completed in 2005 (Solo DTI). Since then, Jo has been training dogs and people with passion and dedication. Jo has continued to volunteer her time at HDDTS every Thursday evening, and is now Club President and responsible for starting the training of the club’s new Dog Training Instructors. Jo also has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Hertfordshire, her passion has always been for dogs but the knowledge gained from her degree, especially in marketing, has given Jo the skills to create informative infographics which help educate clients about all things dog related on social media.

Jo works as a Freelance trainer and handler for dogs in the TV and Film Industry and has been lucky enough to work with her own dogs and other people’s dogs on some interesting media projects, including; More Than, Pets at Home, VolksWagon, Jennifer Saunders sitcom, Bakers, the Vamps, Netflix, CBBC, Royal Match, O2 and Tails. Jo is passionate about training all dogs, especially her own, and has competed at Grade 6 in Agility and successfully shown one of her dogs, who achieved many 1sts at Crufts including Best Dog in breed 2016. Alongside training qualifications, Jo also holds a Level 3 City and Guilds in Dog grooming and worked as a groomer as well as a trainer between 2012 and 2022, even winning the Aesculap Scholarship Award at Crufts in 2013. With her extensive experience in training, grooming, and handling dogs for various purposes, Jo has developed an impressive set of skills as a dog handler. She can train dogs both as pets, for media work and as sports participants. Jo has a keen eye for observing and modifying behaviour and can adapt to different situations quickly and effectively. If she can get a dog to sneeze on cue then she can do anything!

Jo uses reward-based methods that are positive, effective, and enjoyable for both you and your dog. She has qualifications and memberships that show her commitment and professionalism to reward-based dog training. But there is always room to learn more, and Jo is keen to keep up with the latest developments and theories in dog training.