Wigston Magna Dog Club's Trainers

Association of Pet Dog Trainers

The Association was formed in 1995 to offer pet owners a guarantee of quality when looking for training. All members have been assessed according to a strict no choke-chain policy. It is no longer necessary, or acceptable to use harsh methods in training, and the use of gentle, motivational methods are as successful as they are enjoyable to use.
All trainers use slightly different techniques when teaching pet owners to train their own dogs, but all APDT members use methods that are kind, fair and effective.

Joan Cattell APDT No.317

Phone: 0116 288 8019

Joan first came to Wigston Magna Dog Club over 17 yrs ago to train her pet dog Meg. She achieved a second place on her course and this, followed by an advanced class got her hooked and it wasn't long before she was assisting with classes. She joined The A.P.D.T. because she liked their way of training kind, fair and effective
She now has 3 Border Collies Tammy (now retired) who used to help with classes and has attained her Gold Good Citizens Award.
Midge who has attended Crufts in the Breed Classes.She has also gained her gold Good Citizen Award and is also a P.A.T. dog (Pets as Therapy) and regularly visits an old people's home.
Joan and Midge are also educators which allows them to go into schools to promote responsible dog ownership.
Gyp is Joan's latest Border Collie she has her Puppy Foundation Good Citizens Award and has just attained her Bronze. Gyp is also a P.A.T. dog and educator. When you have Border Collies you just lead a busy life!
Joan is also a P.A.T Dog Assessor for Pets as Therapy and an Assessor for the Blue Cross Education programme.

Lynn Prince APDT No 938

Phone: 0116 221 0279 or 07967 217 001

Lynn has had dogs at home most of her life. At present she has 2 boxers. She had Gypsy in 2002 when she was 6 weeks old and Rolly has been with her since 2004 when he was 2 years old.
Lynn started with the club when she enrolled with Gypsy on a beginners course, got hooked, and was soon helping out in class.
Back in 2003 she attended a course run by the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers. Then in 2004 she successfully completed a C.O.A.P.E Foundation Course in "Canine Behaviour" and "Living with your dog". This year, 2007, she has successfully completed an Intermediate Course in "Canine Behaviour and Training" also run by C.O.A.P.E (Centre of Applied Pet Ethology) and accredited by The National Open college network.
In April 2006 she was assessed and has been accepted as a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.

Liz Spencer

Phone: 0116 288 5515

A former teacher, Liz has been a member of the club since 1995. It was then that she joined with a black labrador puppy, Bramble who was quite a handful!
She persevered with Bramble's training and successfully completed the Gold Good Citizen Award in January 2003.
The latest addition to the household is Jasmine, a whippet, who is just over 2 years old. Liz has had her since she was 10 weeks old and is proving to be a bit of a challenge in some areas of training. However, she has much to recommend her; she has a lovely temperament and is very fit and healthy! 0–40 mph in 3 seconds!

Irene Scott APDT No 939

Phone: 0116 288 6019

Irene has been a pet dog trainer for about 30 years and is the longest serving member of the Wigston Magna Dog Training Club.
She now has one dog, bought as a six week old puppy – Russ, a 7 year old Golden Retriever.
Irene is an examiner for the Kennel Club Good Citizen scheme and is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.

Laura Hackett – Assistant Trainer

Laura has been assisting at the club since January 2005 and has successfully completed the 'COAPE' Man Meets Dog Course.
She has no dogs of her own yet but has grown up with them as her Grandparents and Aunt have had them for many years. She took her Grandparent's two year old Whippet, Abby, through a course and gained her Bronze Good Citizen Award.
She regularly handles a fellow committee member's Flatcoat Retriever, Charley, and has achieved the Silver Good Citizens Award.

Vicky Lee – Assistant Trainer

Vicky has had dogs at home all her life. She first came to the club in 2002 to train her dog Ellie. She and Ellie achieved all 4 of the Kennel Club Good Citizen awards from the puppy award up to the Gold. She has also achieved the Bronze and Silver awards with her terrier, Mollie. Vicky now has two dogs of her own at home, Mollie and Jack. Mollie is a rescue dog, a little cross breed terrier. Mollie was a P.A.T dog (Pets As Therapy) but as she is getting on in her years now she has been retired and enjoys a life of sleeping the days through. Jack is a 12 month old working cocker spaniel who has gained his Bronze award with Vicky and will hopefully be taking the Silver and Gold awards in due course.

Vicky is also a puppy walker for Guide Dogs and is currently walking her 2nd pup "AJ". This involves having the pup to live with her for the first year of its life from 6 weeks old and doing all the basic training and socialisation to prepare the pups for their working life ahead.

Vicky has been assisting with training at the club since 2008.

Association of Pet Dog Trainers

You can learn more about the Association of Pet Dog Trainers at: