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Meet the Team

Sally Bradbury

Sally is one of the Admin team at DTAS.

She ran a successful Dog Training School in the south of England for 25 years and is now retired and lives in South Wales with her husband and several Border Collies.

She admins the pre – puppy and the puppy groups with Emma and helps with the DTAS Monthly Premium Group as well as the main group.

She co wrote the popular children’s book Jack and Billy Puppy Tales that was inspired by the many rescue Border Collies that she has taken in over the years.

Jack and Billy Puppy Tales


Emma Judson
Emma runs our specialist Separation Anxiety Group and is also an admin in our Puppy Groups.

Emma has a wealth of knowledge around all aspects of dog behaviour and training, with experience spanning nearly 20 years.

Emma is a member of the Pet Professional Guild and the Professional Association of Canine Trainers, an ABTC member organisation. She currently holds the PACT-KSA 1 – 1 accreditation.

Canine speciality: Hounds – sighthounds and scenthounds.

Behavioural speciality: Separation anxiety, resource guarding.

Emma’s website is: Canine Consultant


Abby Huxtable
Abby is one of the Admin Team on DTAS.

She lives in East Yorkshire with her husband, two Border Collies and two cats. When not working / training with animals, Abby likes to run in her spare time. Often with the dogs and often a long way!

Abby is an IMDT Trainer and full member as well as being a member of the PPG. She is currently working towards her full behaviourist qualifications. She usually helps admin the Premium Monthly Groups for DTAS as well as the main group.

Abby runs 1-2-1 sessions and group classes both in person and online. She mainly teaches general life-skills and fun activities to build relationships with our dogs, but she also enjoys dog sports. Abby is a Hoopers Instructor, so she incorporates those skills into class too.

Abby’s website is: A & B Dog Training and Behaviour


Jo Maisey
Jo is now more of a behind the scenes Admin; designing, building and looking after the website. She is also our Treasurer and Editor of the DTAS book.

Jo was involved with rescue dogs for around eight years. Most recently she was the volunteer training and behaviour adviser and occasional foster carer for a UK based rescue, giving advice and support to foster carers and adopters.

Jo specialised in fearful dogs and undertook a FdSc in Canine Behaviour and Training, which incorporated both theory and practical elements. She graduated in 2013.

Jo can be seen around the agility circuit. Firstly with Bella, her BC, then with a tiny Designer Handbag Dog called Pixel, and currently another tiny dog called Dot. She insists she is still Collie Woman at heart!

Jo has mostly retired, but will still advise locally when asked,


Chanel Diep
Chanel helps moderate the DTAS Facebook group. She approves new members, checks ongoing posts, and helps guide people in the right direction.

Chanel volunteers because she’s grateful for how much DTAS helped her understand and meet the needs of her first dog, Rudy.


Ceri Stewart
Ceri is a vet with an interest in dog behaviour.

She lives in Wales with her family of dogs, cats and assorted other animals.

Ceri admins the main group and also helps in the monthly premium groups with general veterinary advice if needed.


Robyn Brown
Robyn was your average first time dog owner – all the gear, no idea. Then along came Rhi, very much not your average dog, and a whole host of behavioural and health issues.

The DTAS Facebook group was pivotal in helping them to take positive steps forward.

Many tears and several steep learning curves later she landed up as a member of the team and is currently a small cog in the machine.


Kay Bradnum
Kay Bradnum is a member of the admin team.

She is a cross over trainer who ran a dog club and gave 1-1 in the past but now just helps privately when she can.

Kay lives in Durham. She had sighthounds for many years but now shares her house with Luna, a Chihuahua cross.


Lizz Fleming
Lizz Fleming is in Warwickshire, UK.

She has been running a successful canine care business since 2010, offering day care and home boarding.

She doesn’t offer training as a stand alone service but she helps all her clients with anything they need so has been advising on all things doggie for years. She currently has many, many (and many more!) dogs on her books and is very experienced managing different breeds, ages and personalities in her own home.

She started her business when her first boy was 5, because he was such an amazing dog and made her look good. He welcomed and help so many dogs.

The current pup arrived in 2020 and is the biggest challenge!

Specialising in dog care businesses, multi dog houses and transient packs.


Claire Martin
Claire is one of the Admin team at DTAS.

She is a COAPE level 5 behaviourist and trainer, and she lives with her 8 rescue sighthounds. She is also a teacher at a specialist school, where she works with her dogs and young people with varying additional needs, including autism. She wrote the first level 2 course on dog training that sits within the educational framework and can be taught in UK schools.

She enjoys agility, hoopers, canicross, bikejor, lure coursing, scent work and mantrailing with her dogs, she runs training classes in the midlands, and offers behavioural support across the UK. She is the UK behaviourist for Hope for Podencos, and Galgos del Sol. She hosts residential and camping summer camps across the UK, where dogs can bring their human families to have fun, play games, and enjoy spending time together in the countryside.

Claire’s contact details: Chrysalis K9


Diane Lesley
Diane is a moderator and helps out behind the scenes with creating pictures and banners for the various groups.

She has had dogs all her life, and joined DTAS when bringing a new rescue into the home resulted in anarchy (slight exaggeration)!

She lives with her partner and 2 rescues dogs who coexist separately within the household. An unconventional but happy household.


Jan Lake
Jan is an admin on the DTAS Facebook group, approving and welcoming new members, showing them how to navigate the page and settle in, as well as moderating comments.

Sighthounds are Jan’s passion, and she has shared her settee with dozens of them over the years. She is a Trustee for Forever Hounds Trust and has a wealth of hands-on experience with rescue dogs.

Jan is currently undertaking a Level 5 Diploma in Canine Behaviour through the ISCP. She is also a trainee Assessor for the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, ensuring rescue organisations achieve the required minimum welfare and operational standards.

Based in Somerset, Jan runs her own Housesitting company The Happy Housesitter in the South West. She is passionate about helping dogs who are anxious/reactive, aiming to help both dogs (and owners!) have a stress-free and happy time.

A keen open-water swimmer, Jan also loves walking and being outdoors – preferably with a dog by her side.


Averil Coppack
Averil is a member of the Admin Team who initially joined DTAS when searching for help with her dog several years ago. She is now owned by Charley, her three year old Tibetan Terrier.

She is currently studying to become an ABTC accredited Canine Instructor. In her spare time she enjoys Heelwork to Music, trick training and mantrailing with Charley.


Carly Soffe
Carly grew up in a household who used old-fashioned and out-dated training methods.

While her understanding of dog behaviour changed, it was adopting her first reactive dog which really inspired her to learn more, and promote modern, force-free methods. She particularly enjoys supporting members with their reactive dogs, and new puppy owners.

She has three registered therapy dogs, who also donate blood and enjoy sports.


Marion Hall
Marion helps moderate where she can.

She lives in Derby with her beautiful working cocker spaniel, Merry. Despite having had dogs for over 35 years, she was unprepared for the health and resulting behavioural issues that Merry would face.

“When I found this group it was a eureka moment. I went from trying to simply manage and control Merry’s behaviour, to trying to understand the underlying reasons for it and working on those. It changed my outlook, and helped us both so much. Because this is such a special group, I want to help where I can”.


Debs Whitehouse
Having learnt a great deal from the kind, gentle ethos of DTAS over the years, Debs now helps moderate the Facebook page, keeping an eye on posts and threads, and ensuring members adhere to the group rules and requirements.


Contact Us

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