Susan Berryman
My love of dogs began at a very young age with family pets. I then met my first working police dog Sultan, and that was it! I knew from that point onwards that I would work with dogs in some way for the rest of my life. I started a dog walking business when I was 12 years old, and I have followed my passion ever since. My career has taken me all around the UK, working within different areas of this industry, and I have now worked with dogs for over 30 years.
As dog science is continually developing, I know how important it is to keep my knowledge and education up to date. Over the years I have attended and completed numerous courses in canine behaviour and dog training. I started my career at Elmwood college in Cupar when I was 16 years old, where I studied Animal Care Level 2 covering various types of animals. I began training and took assessments in dog handling from this point. I then completed the Introduction to Canine Physiology with the Animal Care College Ascot, Berkshire. I am a professional member of the The Dog Training School, whose courses I will continue with for the next few years.
I am also a member of the Dog Welfare Alliance (DWA) and the International Companion Animal Network (ICAN), showing that I work hard to promote up-to-date positive methods of training. I successfully completed the Canine Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy course with COAPE (Centre of Applied Pet Ethology). I am currently completing a course on how to work with reactive dogs and have already achieved a Level 1 Coach certification in this. I have also completed a practical dog trainer course and a four-day Instructor course with the Institute of modern Dog Trainers (IMDT). I will continue to attend courses, workshops, seminars and webinars, as I believe you can never stop learning and improving! By continuing my own professional development, I will be able to help all my clients and their puppies and dogs to the best standard I can.
I gained many practical skills whilst working in various boarding and Breeding kennels, both in Scotland and England. I have worked with a wide range of dog breeds and had the opportunity to learn about raising litters, grooming, preparing dogs for shows and working trials. I worked for 7 years at Stokenchurch Dog Rescue in Buckinghamshire. My job as Dog Welfare Manager involved the day to day running of all the staff and volunteers, and all the kennel blocks. One of my main roles was to oversee all the training programmes and rehabilitation of the rescue dogs prior to their re-homing. I also worked at the Cairngorm Sleddog Centre, which I enjoyed immensely.
Those years gave me invaluable experience of working with hundreds of dogs with various behaviour issues. This taught me patience and extended my knowledge of techniques to help deal with numerous problems. I also learnt about the impact of health and diet on a dog’s behaviour, all the while improving my communication and interpersonal skills.
Through the work at the dog rescue, I was lucky to meet and work with many trainers, behaviourists and vets within the industry, one of whom was Pauline Whittaker, a Dog Trainer and Clinical Behaviourist who I worked with for many years. She taught me a range of skills to help and rehabilitate rescue dogs. I was a Trainee Instructor at her puppy and advanced training classes.
My own canine family, past and present, have been my greatest teachers. I have been lucky to own three rescue dogs, all herding breeds. A rescue German Shepherd male named Kyle, Angus who was a retired working collie, and Ciara a female German Shepherd. They all had an upsetting history and had suffered traumatic experiences before coming into the rescue, where I was then able to help them lead a more positive life.
My home for seven years was on the site of the rescue, so I would care for dogs in my home after they had operations. I also fostered many puppies and adult dogs during my time there. My dogs would help me use calming social skills and through their canine body language, helped other dogs to learn. For years I did obedience, agility and tracking with my German Shepherds.
My next journey with a canine partner was to experience my very own puppy, so that I could learn more, living with a dog through every life stage. This brings me to my larger-than-life Golden Retriever bitch, ‘Amelie Sweet Sue’, who is a very sociable young lady. She has experienced a lot so far in her life. Gundog training and scent work which she loves!
However, the biggest life experience so far has been living with a young baby. She has been on this journey with me from the moment I found out I was pregnant. She is amazing with my son and has shown immense calmness and excellent manners. He is now seven years old, and they adore each other.
Amelie will be nine this year and continues to help me support other dogs. She loves to train with me and learn new things. She is one happy girl and is a huge part of my family.