Practical Pooches People
Dog Walker / Trainer / Handler / Director of Training / Dog Warden for DCS / Secretary for the National Dog Warden Association / ABTC council representing NDWA:
Samantha Trussler with Mase, Jetson, Lexi and the notorious Pad and Alfonso.
Growing up surrounded by dogs, Samantha has combined her joy of training and her love of dogs to form the training school Practical Pooches.
Having grown up with several different breeds (mainly Shepherds) Samantha is known for loving all types of dogs.
As a child, she was priveleged to live next door to a Rottweiler breeder and enjoyed many days of puppy cuddling but also experiencing the complete breeding process.
Samantha started her Obedience training with Bob Lucas at Three Counties training club and went on to spend approximately 18 months working and training with another local dog training club.
During this time, Samantha and friends came up with the name Practical Pooches for our very own club. Practical for simple effective training and Pooches because we don't take ourselves too seriously! As for the pink side of the logo, at the time of naming the club, Samanthas mum was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and we decided to make things even less serious by adding a touch of pink and help raise some money for the charity. Even Emma can be seen sporting a Pink Breast Cancer Filofax, now thats a miracle in itself!
Enjoying all types of training from obedience, agility to search & rescue, Samantha also has become involved in re-homing and is also working in Partnership with Hart Council to develop responsible dog ownership within the form of the 'Practical Pooches Community Scheme'. We would also like to campaign towards licencing for dogs and walkers / trainers, with the hope of bringing some responsibility and better understanding into the world of dogs.
Samantha is also privileged to be Secretary for the NDWA. Established in 1984. NDWA is committed to the promotion of responsible dog and pet ownership and the important and continuing role of Animal and Dog Wardens in the 21st century.
www.ndwa.co.uk
Samantha has had experience working with all types of breeds/issues and loves being able to see any progression for dog and owner but loves nothing more than quality time with her own Shepherd and is currently studying for her Diploma for Canine Psychology, in the hope that one day she can work them out. :o)
Instructor of Obedience, Agility, Pre-Agility, Rally O and Dog Walker:
Julie Cole and her boys, Pad and Alf.
Julie is one of our volunteers and has a vast experience of dogs. Being a Hairdresser, she can talk for England about your holidays but still teach you a thing or two about your pooches.
Starting at an early age, Julies main hobby in her twenties was showing Rottweilers, mainly her own Keiser (dodgy 80's picture to follow). She obtained many firsts, medals and trophies awarded for puppy and post graduate and best handler in ringcraft at Tooting Rottweiler club.
Julie also owned a German Shepherd but was unable to compete due to him being the size of a horse!! Ha ha
In more recent times, Julie has completed her Fit for life course and is currently studying Introduction to Canine
psychology at Ascot Animal college.
Now owning two Labradors, Julie has also completed the Stage One Gun dog award and starting Grade Two in November after completing her Agility Intructors Course with Kim Hunt next week (good luck bird!)
Both Julies dog enjoy a mixture of activities including Agility, Obedience, Tellington Touch and Splash and Dash! Paddy achieving a huge 17ft after Alfies whopping great belly flop.
Julie instructs our Tuesday evening obedience class and the agility classes held on Sunday mornings.
Sams Practical Assistant (voluntarily honest), Instructor, co-ordinator, fund raiser, newsletter editor oh and Queen Pip card designer!!
Dabbling in all areas of Practical Pooches, Pip provides support to the team. Pip is renound for re-writing all of my articles and newsletters as apparently I waffle.
Pip is the proud owner of Neko a resued white long haired Siberian Husky, who is the most senior member of our doggy team at the ripe old age of 11 (don't forget the half).
Her interest in dogs started at around 12 years old (we won't mention how many years ago that was) and has a special afinity for northern and working breeds.
Pip also completed the 1 year behavioural training course with myself and is working towards her Kennel Club Accreditation. Being the team researcher, she can probably answer most of your questions and also be gramatically correct!
Instructor, walker of dogs extraordinaire: Emma Morris
Emma with her dog Tia and a rather large friend we made, he's actually the guard dog.
Emma runs our puppy training classes on Saturdays and is a dog walker during the weekdays.
Her Belgium Shepherd Tia, was bred as part of her owner agreement. Tia produced 6 lovely puppies, one of which, Emma's mum became the proud owner of.
Both Tia and Billy (her only male puppy) are present during the puppy classes, helping the puppies to be around older dogs.
Emma can help with advice if you are thinking of breeding your pooch.
Club Accountant / Trainee Trainer / Volunteer: Katherine Way
Believe me, its where she needs to be... lol!!
Trainee trainer / Volunteer: Melanie Williams with Winnie and Bonnie.
Agility Instructor / Class Comedian (when he remembers!) Sid Hougham
From competing agility in 1982 at King Hearne club (The Vyne) with his two German Shepherds - Sabre and Sheena, Sid moved into instructing with Aldershot and District Agility Club (now known as KATS).
Sid joins us with a wealth of experience, dedicated to agility and a love of all breeds. Just don't expect him to remember your name! :-)