Dog Trainers UnPACT

Hey Folks!   Welcome back to Dog Trainers UnPACT! In this episode, Steve sits down with Charis Vincent, founder of Charismatic Pets in Warminster, Wiltshire. Charis shares her fascinating path from studying commercial dance in London and human psychology to opening a massive canine hub offering over 25 classes a week, an independent pet shop, and specialised dog sports. Steve and Charis explore ho...

In this episode of Dog Trainers UnPACT, Steve sits down with fellow trainer Steve Bligh-Williams, founder of The Proud Dog. Steve shares his transition from a 14-year career in the media industry to becoming a PACT ATI and studying to be a Canine Behaviour Technician. They explore how his rescue Lurcher, Sam, opened his eyes to the reality of pain-related behaviour, fear reactivity, and independen...

In this episode of Dog Trainers UnPACT, Steve sits down with Zaynab Bukhari, founder of Dogs on Track. Zaynab shares her journey from childhood bird watching and a passion for wolves to becoming a PACT ATI, scent work specialist, and assistance dog advocate. Steve and Zaynab dive into her experiences navigating the dog training world as a Muslim Pakistani woman, tackling cultural misconceptions su...

Hey Folks :) In this episode, Steve sits down with Berni Black—RVN, PACT-accredited Animal Training Instructor, and force-free trainer. Berni shares her journey from dreaming of a career in the emergency services to finding her true calling in veterinary nursing and canine behaviour. They discuss: The power of taking things slow in both veterinary and training settings. How to use non-verbal cues...

Welcome back peeps!  In this episode, Steve sits down with his very close friend, Rachael Doe. Rachael shares her journey from library-book-obsessed dog lover to taking over Goodall Dog Training, and how a team of incredible shadowies kept her business thriving while she bravely fought stage four ovarian cancer. Steve and Rachael break down why practical shadowing is vital for up-and-coming traine...

 In this episode of Dog Trainers UnPACT , Steve sits down with Clinical Animal Behaviourist Danielle Beck (MSc) for a deeply insightful and honest conversation about animal behaviour, trauma-informed practice, and the reality of navigating complex cases. Danielle shares her journey from childhood dreams of marine mammal training to working with complex behaviour cases and assistance dogs. Together...

Hey Folks! In this episode, Steve sits down with Certified Dog Trainer and friend Martina Luisetti, founder of ULI Dog Training. Martina shares her incredible journey from working as a high-flying celebrity makeup artist to finding her true calling in behavioural science through her beloved shelter dog, Uli. Steve and Martina explore applied behaviour analysis (ABA), using space and predictability...

In this episode, Steve sits down with the incredibly inspiring Dee Watts, a PACT student and trainer who is breaking down barriers, challenging industry norms, and redefining the world of dog training. From childhood barn owls to criminal profiling, and overcoming a life-altering functional neurological disorder (FND) diagnosis, Dee’s journey is nothing short of a masterclass in resilience, adapta...

In this episode, Steve sits down with Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) and rescue powerhouse, Sarah Tapsell. From her hilariously inventive childhood tactics to get her very first pet rabbit (involving 100 printed signs and a very confused neighbor), to a sliding-doors moment that steered her away from sports dietetics and straight into ethology, Sarah’s path is anything but linear...

Ever wondered how a childhood obsession with garden woodlice can spiral into a top-tier career as a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist? This week, Steve sits down with the incredibly talented Honour Smith (BSc, MSc, CCAB, ABTC-ATI) to unpack her brilliant journey through the animal behaviour world. Honour shares how she navigated multiple "animal careers" before finding her true calling. We...

Welcome back folks :) In this episode, Steve sits down with the incredible Charlie Houghton , founder of Houghton’s Hounds . We navigate through Charlie's fascinating 10-year career as a Logistics Officer in the Royal Navy and discover how teaching leadership to sailors perfectly prepared her for teaching puppies (and their humans!). We covered: The Navy-to-K9 Pivot: How a passion for adult educat...

In this episode, Steve sits down with the wonderful Haych Brassil . We take a "Scooby-Doo" trip back to the Northeast coast of Ireland to discover the journeys that sparked a lifelong mission to help the helpless. What We Covered: The "Otter Trauma": How 80s wildlife documentaries created an emotional blueprint for empathy. Manga & The European Road: the fascinating story of five years traveli...

In this weeks episode I got to sit down with Jason Cortis—a man who has lived several lives already, all of which have given him insights into the world of training and behaviour that are well worth listening to.  We'll hear about his early careers as part of the parachute regiment, a military dog handler and paramedics technician . Jason shares the exact moment of realisation, standing in the bac...

In this episode, Steve sits down with Rachel and Marilyn, the force behind the Canine School of Trailing . We explore how two trainers with completely opposite backgrounds found common ground in the world of scent, leading to a partnership built on friendship, a little prosecco, and a very specific boundary line on the M6. This was so much fun!  In this episode, we "un-pact": From Penguins to Dolp...

In our debut episode, Steve sits down with the multi-talented Emmanuel Oloyede—a veterinary surgeon and PACT student who is bridging the gap between medicine and behaviour. From childhood observations of squirrels in London to the "lightbulb moment" that shaped his career, Emmanuel shares a unique origin story about finding his place in an industry where he rarely saw himself represented. We dive...