My name is Kate Hart and I am currently owned by 5 labradors. (Yup, you read that right!) and supported in my training endeavours by my ever so patient husband Marcus.
The gang of 5 are very individual in their quirks and characters, ranging from my lovely home-bred girl River who is just a year old, (And most definitely at the butterfly chasing adolescent stage) – all the way through to our lovely old boy Casper who we fostered when he was 5, and is now 13 years old.
I became a dog trainer several years ago after a number of years fostering dogs for various rehoming organisations. I am now a certified professional dog trainer with the IMDT, and a certified Scent Work Instructor with UK Sniffer Dogs. I am working towards my behaviour accreditation.
Most of my career has been spent working in the field of psychiatry and neuroscience, helping people who are suffering with serious mental illness. With this background I am well suited to understand how the emotional state of a dog can drive undesirable and distressing behaviours such as lunging, barking and over-reacting towards other dogs. Just like humans, dogs can show their emotions through the way they handle their bodies. A large part of what I do is helping dog owners understand how their dogs are feeling and why, whilst giving them the tools to help them manage any given situation and start enjoying their walks again. This could be simply teaching their dog how to be calmer on the lead, or maybe just more settled at home.
“My Hart Dog” was born from my journey with a very special dog Otter. It is a story about grief and admitting that sometimes you just have to accept the dog in front of you and not the one you planned, longed and hoped for. When we allow ourselves to do that, let go a little, and accept our imperfect perfect dogs, then the bond we have becomes incredibly special.
Read more about my story with Otter here>