Dr. Emma Hendy PhD, MAPDT01487, Adv.ACHUKI, DTC-CDT
Over the last few years I have been able to follow my dream of working with people and animals. In 2019 I started Pawfect Ability with the aim of providing kind, fun and supportive dog training. This has grown beyond my wildest dreams and I am now working with some amazing people to provide the best advice and support for my clients.
I am passionate about building partnerships between handler and dog so am constantly learning new skills to keep my training fresh. Over lockdown I was lucky enough to be able to focus on learning new insights into dog training and observations. I was introduced to the amazing world of Animal Centered Education (ACE) developed by Sarah Fisher. Learnt about concept training and games through Absolute Dogs – becoming a ProDog Trainer Geek. I have also passed my assessment to become an Animal Training Instructor & full member of the APDT (01487) and a Dog Training Collage Certified Dog Trainer. These achievements involved hours of learning, dozens of essays and in-depth assessments of my training in real life. These are also ongoing, and I have to show continuous personal development and learning. I am fully insured and first aid trained for both people and dogs.
I currently run a sheep and cattle farm alongside dog training and raising my first child. I started teaching biology over 10 years ago at university and as a personal tutor. My dog training journey started as a volunteer trainer at a Kennel Club training club several years ago as an obedience and hoopers instructor. Since then my love of dogs and dog training has grown.
Since becoming an Advanced Accredited Canine Hoopers UK Instructor (ACHUKI) I have jumped into every aspect of hoopers; I am an experienced Judge for Canine Hoopers UK (CHUK) and was delighted to be asked by them to help judge at the 2021 Tri-score event and the National Finals in 2023 & 2024. I have competed in the CHUK National Finals 2019/2020 and at the Tri-Score 2019 event, run workshops, host an annual hoopers camp and trained alongside the founders of CHUK. I was on the CHUK committee for 18 months and am frequently invited to train around the country for other instructors.
It was Zoe the zoomy lurcher that walked me down the path of dog training. It took a lot of patience and hard work but together we have done competitive obedience, agility and hoopers. Zoe has always been a dog of extremes, either zooming around or slow and careful. When Zoe stopped wanting to jump in agility and shut down in the ring I was devastated, but then we found hoopers and it has just been an amazing journey. She is such a genuine old girl and every run I have with her is pure joy. As Zoe has transitioned to golden oldie, so has our lives together. She has enjoyed parkour and scentwork, but is now fully retired. To help her keep active and cognitive we still do ACE Freework together. Even at 14 years old she teaches me things every day.
Over lockdown Zoe was my partner for my ACE training. This was one of the biggest eye opening moments I’ve every had, through learning better observation and listening skills I discovered so much. One major outcome was the fact Zoe was in pain. We overlook pain in our dogs all the time, just like us they can have a sore spot that effects their personality and behaviour. By using freework I was able to see how uncomfortable she was and how I could help her. I now use a harness to walk her, she is on pain medication and I changed her diet. Over time my old girly came back, she was playing with the others and less likely to snap at them. I cannot thank Gemma Hodson (All About the Dog) and Sarah Fisher (Creator of ACE) enough for showing me a new way to work with dogs. I now incorporate the principles of freework into all of my training and this has lead to happier dogs that are calmer and more confident to make choices.
Two of the biggest winners from my discovery of a new way of training were Parsnip and Larry. Larry was a stunning brindle lurcher, who knew he was handsome. He was a very difficult to love, but I always found a way. He was dog reactive and had a very high prey drive. I wish I had known what I do now to help him – things like the social training walks and the dogs & livestock program I run are because of him. I adopted him a year after Zoe and expected to have another puppy even better trained than her. I was so wrong, and at times I honestly regretted getting him. But, I never gave up on Larry and he never gave up on me. He was so tolerant as I took a lot of wrong paths due to old fashioned training advice. Luckily for us both, I discovered a new way of training. These skills helped us both grow. To the point that he could be near livestock and not react at all. Before aggressive cancer took him he was becoming what many would call ‘the perfect dog’. Looking back he was always the dog I needed to have – I just needed time and education to be the “perfect” owner for him.
Parsnip was also very anxious and reactive lurcher, but in a totally different way to Larry. She lost a lot of social skills over lockdown, had a high chase instinct and very short concentration span. Freework and other tools such as stroking the leash (Janet Finley) and TTouch helped her put on weight and grow in confidence. She enjoyed Parkour and was even able to have a go at hoopers at one of my shows – which was just too emotional for words. We were far from the end of our journey when I sadly lost my baby girl.
The other dog in my life is Bolt (or Big Dog) the collie, a loving, sensitive but very enthusiastic boy. He is very willing to please, and loves life. He is my working sheepdog, so has a day job having taken over when his mum Meg retired. I held Bolt when he was born but have had to work hard at developing a true bond with him. He no longer competes in Hoopers but we are going on a journey together learning new things every day.
I wanted to start Pawfect Ability to enable everyone to have a chance to enjoy being in a team with their dog. From pet owners to competing partnerships everyone can benefit from positive training, if you have a goal we can help you reach it.
