Please see below for Individual details on our Instructors and Assistants
... but first a general word about our ethos, qualifications & instructor training
Our Instructors predominantly give of their time on a voluntary basis, with many involved in complimentary aspects of the canine world, all are committed to help people to live in harmony with dogs. Our Senior Alpha Instructors are well qualified and many are involved with the education of other instructors, both within Alpha and through various national organisations. Alpha encourages all its Instructors to gain formal qualifications and consider membership of reputable organisations with established Codes of Practice to enhance their personal development. Most relevant are the three organisations below:
Pet Dog Training Instructors (PDTI Ltd) www.pdti.org
Founded in 2005, the PDTI runs annual practical assessment courses to 'qualify' instructors who are involved in providing Companion / Pet Dog Training Services. The PDTI was registered as a not-for-profit company in 2010, with Chris Bloomfield and Sue Evans as Co-Directors. The PDTI offers additional theory certificates, bespoke practical workshops and Instructor training events. For 3 years, the PDTI worked in partnership with Harper Adams University developing the following courses: 1. Level 4 University College Certificate in Canine Behaviour and Training, which 31 PDTI members achieved, 5 of them being Alpha Instructors (see names* below); and 2. Level 5 University Diploma in Canine Training and Behavioural Management, which 16 PDTI members went on to achieve, 3 being Alpha Instructors (see picture above and those listed below with the entitled post nominal letters of UDip.CTBM).
Registration Council for Dog Training & Behaviour Practitioners (RCDTBP Community Interest Company)
Founded in 2010 to register those wishing to commit to the professional standards set by an industry Code of Practice, agreed through various meetings facilitated by the Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC). Revised 2016, the RCDTBP has re-launched the registers and is working to encourage the public to give feedback on the service received by all those registered. Most of our staff are Registered Signatories to the CAWC Code of Practice and Sue Evans is currently a Director and appointed Registrar. To find out more please go to http://www.reg-council-dtbp.uk/for-the-public.html.
Kennel Club Accreditation Scheme for Instructors in Dog Training and Canine Behaviour (KCAI)
This was launched in 2001 as a pilot, and formally in 2004. Most Alpha Instructors are registered and working towards accreditation. Sue Evans is a Kennel Club Accredited Instructor for Companion Dog Training (Advanced) and Good Citizen Dog Scheme Training. Sue was responsible for the initial design of the KCAI scheme programme in 2000 and worked for the Kennel Club for eight years helping to develop the scheme to its fruition.
PDTI L4 Senior Advanced Instructors
Sue Evans* UDip.CTBM, PPDTI Adv, KCAI (CD* GCDS), QIDTI, FIAS, LCGI, MIACE, MBIPDT, PTLLS, & Agility Club Approved. With an over 45 year background in education and science (including 31 years at the Royal Veterinary College), living and working with animals, she has developed a passion for understanding the dog-human bond. Sue has been Instructing since 1992 and has worked full-time as an independent Canine Education Specialist & Behavioural Training Advisor since 2008. Besides teaching at Alpha, Sue also has run Instructor training sessions nationally for the PDTI since 2006.
Ceri Evans* RVN, PPDTI Adv, MBIPDT. Ceri first qualified as an Instructor in 1998 and having gained her PDTI Advanced Award and the L4 University Certificate in Canine Behaviour & Training in 2010, she has become an experienced Tutor on the PDTI Instructor Courses. She has worked as a Veterinary Nurse since 2000 and is currently Assistant Practice Manager in a local Veterinary Practice. With her personal interest in behaviour and training, she also takes professional and private referrals. She maintains and active involvement with Alpha but having a growing family she is rarely available to instruct classes.
[Elinore Vickery* UDip.CTBM, PPDTI Adv, & Agility Club Approved. Elinore has been with Alpha since 1996 and is a part-time receptionist at the Blue Cross. She is also an experienced PDTI Tutor, she Instructs Agility with her colleague in Uxbridge, and she teams up with Tamsin on running fun and challenging nose-work workshops. Since Covid, Elinore is rarely available to join us but is still a valuable member of the team in the background.]
PDTI L3 Qualified Instructors
Paul Essex LPDTI, Paul started teaching at Alpha following a puppy workshop he attended in April 2013, having worked with people to help training their dogs on an individual basis for a while. Paul gained his PDTI L3 Instructing Skills Award in 2015, the PDTI Level 3 Theory Certificate in 2016, and he is currently studying on a Level 6 theory programme. Paul offers 1:1 training, and runs his own puppy courses on Friday evenings in Muswell Hill. For two years before Covid hit, he also ran young Puppy drop-in sessions for Two-by-Two Vet Centre in Finchley on Wednesday evenings ... visit his website: www.my-lead.co.uk.
Andy Tough APDTI, a previous owner of a difficult dog, started teaching with us in 2012, promoting the benefits of on-going training. He regularly taught at our Tuesday puppy class and now mainly at our Thursday classes. He gained his first PDTI Introductory award in 2013, L2 Intermediate award in 2014 both with Excellence and L3 Dog Training Instructing Skills award in 2016 with Merit, and he is currently studying on a Level 6 theory programme. Andy has recorded some videos teaching tricks featuring his lovely dog Charli which you might like to see - visit https://quickasadog.co.uk.
PDTI L2 Qualified Instructors
Emilie Devillet, started helping in the puppy session in Nov 2017, She gained her L1 Introductory Award with Excellence 2018 and her L2 Instructing Skills Award in 2019. She started leading classes at Alpha on Sundays in 2019, She studied 'Canine Myotherapy' passing both the theory and practical parts of the program in 2021. She is currently developing her skills to teach 'Enrichment' classes - available soon.
Danny Decourtelle APDTI, started with us in March 2019. He has been working with people and dogs on an individual basis in East London for over ten years since gaining his first theory qualifications. Danny gained his PDTI L2 Instructing Skills Award in 2022 with Excellence and is studying and working to upgrade.
Bianca Costa, has trained her own dog with us since 2015, through to Gold level, and regularly attended Agility classes. She started assisting in our Agility sessions and our Sunday all-age classes. Being a qualified Teacher and gaining a further interest in Instructing, she started helping in our Wednesday puppy sessions in mid 2019. She now takes the lead in our Saturday follow-on young puppy classes. She gained her PDTI L1 Introductory Award in 2021 & L2 Instructing Skills Award in 2022, both with Excellence, and she is currently studying on a Level 6 theory programme..
Laura Downham, having worked for a local rescue organisation for six years, and fostered over 80 dogs herself, now works independently giving advice to dog owners locally. She started assisting in our Wednesday puppy classes in June 2019 and now instructs at Alpha and continues to take referrals privately. Laura gained her PDTI L1 Introductory Award in 2021, and L2 Instructing Skills Award in 2023, both with Excellence, and she is currently studying on a Level 6 theory programme.
Junior Instructors with L1 PDTI Introductory Instructing Skills Awards
Venetia Suchdev, having gained a passion for training her own dog with us through to Gold standard, started helping others and assisting at Alpha in Sept 2022. Venetia gained her PDTI L1 Introductory Award with Merit in 2023.
Jason Alton, having worked with rescue organisations for six years, and fostered many dogs himself, has been assisting at Alpha since January 2023. Jason gained his PDTI L1 Introductory Award with Excellence in 2023.
Trainees & Assistants (with personal commitments, have not had the opportunity to attend a PDTI course or upgrade awards)
Gill D'Elia, has been assisting when available at Alpha since 2010 and over the last few years regularly at the Camden puppy classes. She runs a dog & cat care service and to date has not had the opportunity to attend a PDTI course, however she is listed here as we are confident she would meet the standard
Other Assistants currently or occasionally at Alpha and or the Puppy classes
2014: Hayley, 2016: Barbara, 2020 Izabela, 2023 Sophie, Pratheek, Shamir
Previous Instructors with occasional involvement and support
Carol Weyman* UDip.CTBM, PPDTI Adv. Carol has many years professional experience working with animals, and has significant involvement with re-homing dogs privately and through the RSPCA. Since gaining her PDTI Advanced Award and University Diploma in 2013, she has also tutored many times for the PDTI and continues to be involved. Carol moved to Hemel Hempstead in Feb 2021, where we are sure she will continue advising and instructing. She continues a background involvement with Alpha and is a valuable member of the team.
Pam Radford PPDTI Adv. Pam joined us in 2006 as a dog owner and now instructs on both Alpha days as well as at puppy evening sessions. She moved up through the PDTI awards over the years, gained her Advanced in 2015 and Professional membership Grade in 2018, regularly assists on the courses. Pam moved to the Dorset coast in Nov 2020 and remains in constant contact hopes to continue her involvement with Alpha and the PDTI.
Marion Jolliffe* RVN, PPDTI Adv. Marion was Head Nurse with the Blue Cross, whilst instructing at Alpha 2010-2018, and amongst her various nursing qualifications, gained her PDTI Advanced Award in 2016 & Professional membership grade in 2018. She moved to Rugby in June 2018 and being a GCDS Examiner, tests & visit us whenever she can.
Tamsin Durston RVN, BA Hons, BSc Hons, FdSc, PTLLS. Tamsin is a fully qualified Behaviour Advisor currently working for the Dogs Trust in the behaviour unit, having helped with their new 'Dog School' initiative. Tamsin worked for 13 years with Blue Cross, leaving as Nurse Manager in August 2016. Sadly, being so busy, she is rarely available to help at Alpha these days, and has reduced her private work and the number of workshop she ran, challenging the skills of handlers and dogs especially involving scent, albeit all still being a passion ... visit her website 'lifeisbetterwithadog.co.uk'.
Teresa Brosnan APDTI, first attended Alpha in 2012 with a dog she was fostering, as a carer of many years for local re-homing organisations, she stayed with us and has regularly helped run our weekly puppy sessions since 2013 after gaining her first PDTI instructing award. She is passionate to give people early advice to prevent the problems that lead to families putting their dog up for re-homing. She lead classes at Alpha on Sundays until she moved out of London in 2019.
Neha Singh, having completed a Level 4 Instructors certificate with CIDBT and gaining her PDTI intermediate award in 2016, she regularly helped at puppy classes and at our Thursday outdoor classes. She moved to Palmers Green in 2017 and Enfield 2019, continuing to offer Dog Training Walks for dogs of all ages, Classes and Day Care specialising in the younger puppies ... visit her facebook page: '@wagabonddogtraining'. She now (2021) works for 'Hearing Dogs' and is progressing with her training.
Vanessa Bsirsky, started with us in 2016, mainly assisting in the Tuesday puppy sessions. Having been rarely available over the last couple of years, she continues to study training & behaviour, hoping to increase her involvement and take classes. She gained her Introductory Award with Excellence 2017. She now runs her own dog training services in East London, specialising in Separation Anxiety.
Other PDTI achievers & occasional visitors / helpers:
Ester Garcia Sanchez, whilst earning a living, has completed her Veterinary studies in Spain, and helps when she can. She gained the PDTI intermediate award in 2014 and is building up her contact teaching hours to gain her full Instructors level 2016. Becky Lodder, helped teaching in our Tuesday puppy sessions for 18 months from August 2015. She started working at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home as a Team Leader and gained her PDTI Intermediate award in 2016. She has moved out of London in 2017 and rarely able to visit. Jai Cross, joined us in April 2013, left in June 2015 to work full-time with Guide Dogs. In 2018 she moved to Suffolk, left Guide Dogs and is now running her own canine business. Roni Weisse, having worked part-time for GDBA in kennels, whilst studying and working on her third Guide Dog Puppy, assists when available . Isla (2013) and Thoren (2016) our youngest, achieved their PDTI Introductory award before moving on to further studying of A'levels. Euphame McDonald, gained her Introductory Award with Excellence 2017, she is now working as a dog walker / sitter full-time and gaining experience with training. She regularly helped for 18 mths on Tuesdays and Sundays til the end 2017 ... visit her website 'www.woofridges.com'. Mandy Bain, with us 2014-2019, gained her Introductory Award with Merit 2017. Coleen Ling, a real canine enthusiast, has started helping since gaining her introductory award with excellence in July 2019. Dani Calligher, helped with the Tuesday puppy sessions since Feb 2018, and gained her Introductory Award with Merit 2018. She continues to run her own dog walking and dog & cat care services
Ex Members of the Team and to whom we will always be grateful:
Michael Lowe, helped regularly for five years (2013-18) whilst studying law, has moved away and hopes to continue his hobby involvement with dog training. Chris Bloomfield FPDTI, KCAI (CD*Ob*), PTLLS started helping at Alpha in 2006, passed away on 20th June 2017: from a more traditional and extensive background in competitive obedience, he was the first male to be accredited advanced under the KCAI scheme for both Companion Dog and Competitive Obedience Training. Dec 2016 - John W having achieved gold with his little dog, and an introductory instructors award in 2015. Sadly having lost his battle with cancer, will be missed. In 2015 we said farewell to - Jacquie, an experienced Dog Walker and Carer, besides helping at Alpha when available, ran the Clerkenwell Puppy classes on a Monday Evenings for two years, left to travel across Europe, moved back to Canada Oct 2016; - Nelly Joufreu APDTI, who ran one of our puppy classes each week over three years and worked as a vet practice receptionist left to study in Canada; - Yvette B-C, who started helping at Alpha in 2013, following some training with her dog which found it difficult to adjust to London life, returned to Sweden and set up a dog care & training service; and - Lisa, started helping at Alpha in 2013, having attended with her dog Florence and getting bitten by the bug, she opened 'Scooby's, a dog-friendly cafe in Muswell Hill but struggled, reluctantly closing it in 2015 and moved back home to her Mum's in Ireland. Many others have helped over the years including Barbara, Sue S, Kim, George, Andrew, all appreciated for their unique contribution
... and last but not least our Sadie, experienced dog owner and Alpha supporter, for many years looking after us all
Michael Lowe, helped regularly for five years (2013-18) whilst studying law, has moved away and hopes to continue his hobby involvement with dog training. Chris Bloomfield FPDTI, KCAI (CD*Ob*), PTLLS started helping at Alpha in 2006, passed away on 20th June 2017: from a more traditional and extensive background in competitive obedience, he was the first male to be accredited advanced under the KCAI scheme for both Companion Dog and Competitive Obedience Training. Dec 2016 - John W having achieved gold with his little dog, and an introductory instructors award in 2015. Sadly having lost his battle with cancer, will be missed. In 2015 we said farewell to - Jacquie, an experienced Dog Walker and Carer, besides helping at Alpha when available, ran the Clerkenwell Puppy classes on a Monday Evenings for two years, left to travel across Europe, moved back to Canada Oct 2016; - Nelly Joufreu APDTI, who ran one of our puppy classes each week over three years and worked as a vet practice receptionist left to study in Canada; - Yvette B-C, who started helping at Alpha in 2013, following some training with her dog which found it difficult to adjust to London life, returned to Sweden and set up a dog care & training service; and - Lisa, started helping at Alpha in 2013, having attended with her dog Florence and getting bitten by the bug, she opened 'Scooby's, a dog-friendly cafe in Muswell Hill but struggled, reluctantly closing it in 2015 and moved back home to her Mum's in Ireland. Many others have helped over the years including Barbara, Sue S, Kim, George, Andrew, all appreciated for their unique contribution
... and last but not least our Sadie, experienced dog owner and Alpha supporter, for many years looking after us all