About Me

Cinnamon

My name is Sandra Gilliland; I offer 1-2-1 dog training and can deal with problem behaviour in dogs on veterinary referral (http://dogtraining-dogbehaviourni.com/).

I have bred and owned many dogs; Siberian Huskies, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, German Shepherds, Terriers and some mixed breeds. At present I am the owner of 3 German Shepherd Dogs, a Border collie x GSD, a Rhodesian ridgeback, a small mixed breed plus a Wolfdog.

Past and previous dogs were obtained either as puppies from reputable breeders, direct private re-homing or from rescues.

I hold a BSc (Hon) degree in Health Studies awarded by the University of Manchester and obtained a Post-Graduate Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling (CABC) awarded by the University of Southampton.

I gained extensive practical experience of canine training and behaviour with Mr John Rogerson (www.johnrogerson.com) world renowned dog trainer and behaviourist at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Battersea, London and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Old Windsor, London, Dogs Trust, Liverpool and at the Northern Centre for Applied Animal Behaviour (Co Durham), where behaviour evaluation was developed.

I am a full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) (www.apbc.org.uk).  I am registered with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) as a clinical animal behaviourist and animal training instructor (www.abtcouncil.org.uk). The ABTC sets and maintains the standards of knowledge and practical skills needed to be an animal trainer, training instructor or animal behaviour therapist, and it maintains the national registers of appropriately qualified animal trainers and animal behaviourists.

I was also a member of the Kennel Club Listed Good Citizen Training Scheme (www.the-kennel-club.org.uk). For nearly 10 years I ran puppy training classes with socialisation and adult dog training classes at Dromore, Co. Down, training many dogs up to Gold Good Citizen level (http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/training/good-citizen-dog-training-scheme/).

Prior to the covid pandemic I hosted Puppy Parties for Cromlyn House Veterinary Hospital (https://cromlynvets.co.uk/).

I have assessed dogs and written reports for Court upon instruction from local Councils and individuals in relation to The Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 and Dogs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. I have also assessed dogs whose family is considering fostering children and for guardians who are appealing the lifting of restrictions placed on the licence of the family dog.

I also give talks in dog behaviour and training to vets, to their clients and for local animal rescues.

I co-planned/wrote, co-run and tutor on four courses which are accredited by the Open Collage Network, Northern Ireland (https://www.ocnni.org.uk);

  • The first is a Level 1 Practical Dog Handling Course that takes place at a local animal rescue,
  • The second a Level 1 Puppy Development Course and
  • The third, a Level 3 Principles of Dog Training and Behaviour.
  • The fourth is a Level 1 behaviour and handling training day for Northern Ireland’s Dog Wardens/Enforcement Officers.

I am also co-founder of a website that informs people of the behavioural damage to puppies born and bred in barren and/or stressful environments e.g., puppy farms or back yard breeders (http://buyingapuppy-thinkmeg.com).

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