About Jo - Founder of NBDT
Every dog deserves to be understood.
Throughout my career, whether working alongside Police Dogs or helping family pets through New Beginnings Dog Training, one thing has remained constant: my fascination with how dogs think, learn and communicate.
I don't believe in quick fixes or simply teaching commands. My passion lies in helping owners truly understand the dog standing in front of them, building relationships based on trust, communication, manners and respect.
Every owner-and-dog team is different, which is why no two training sessions are ever exactly the same. My role isn't simply to teach a dog what to do—it's to help owners understand why their dog behaves the way they do and give them the confidence to enjoy life together.
My Journey
Dogs have shaped both my career and the person I am today.
I served for almost 30 years as a Police Officer, including 17 years as a Police Dog Handler, where I had the privilege of working alongside some truly incredible dogs. During that time I experienced first-hand just how intelligent, adaptable and remarkable dogs really are.
One particular tracking deployment resulted in me receiving a National Police Dog Bravery Award—an experience I'll never forget and one that reinforced my respect for the extraordinary partnership between a dog and its handler.
Following my medical retirement from the police, I founded New Beginnings Dog Training to help owners build happier, more rewarding relationships with their dogs through understanding, kindness, consistency and clear communication.
My Philosophy
Over the years I've learned that most dogs aren't being stubborn or choosing to be naughty. More often than not, they're confused, overwhelmed, over-excited or simply haven't yet learned how to successfully live in our human world.
My goal is to help owners build relationships where their dogs understand what's expected of them and have the trust, manners and respect to make good choices. When owners truly understand their dogs, life becomes more enjoyable for everyone.
My Own Dogs
My own dogs are much more than family pets—they're an important part of both my life and my work.
Living alongside my own dogs every day continually reminds me that learning never stops—for dogs or for us.
I continue to train and develop my own dogs because I genuinely enjoy the learning process and believe there is always something new to discover. Some of my dogs regularly work alongside me as demonstration dogs, helping owners better understand exercises and techniques in a real-life setting.
One of my own dogs, Sabina, plays a particularly important role when working with dogs experiencing reactivity issues, helping to create carefully managed training scenarios that allow owners and dogs to progress safely.
I'm endlessly fascinated by dog behaviour and particularly enjoy observing the relationships and interactions within my own pack. Watching how they communicate with one another, establish boundaries and adapt to different situations continues to deepen my understanding and influences the way I teach.
The Ideas Never Stop!
One thing my friends and family will happily tell you is that dog training is never far from my mind!
I even keep a notepad beside my bed because it's not unusual for me to wake up in the middle of the night with an idea for a training exercise or a new challenge—particularly for the 'twist' element of my Obedience with a Twist classes.
In fact, the idea of using a space hopper in one of my classes came to me during the night! Don't ask what I was dreaming about... even I haven't worked that one out!
I genuinely love learning, creating new ideas and finding enjoyable, practical ways to help owners and their dogs enjoy life together.
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