top of page
Chris and Helen sitting next to their dog Luna

About Us

Helen's Story

Having grown up in Dorridge with cats and a horse, Zaki, Helen spent many years working in London making programmes for the BBC. After changing careers in 2008, she fell in love with dogs whilst doing voluntary animal rescue work in India, China and Thailand where she rescued street dogs and fostered and rehomed puppies.

 

On returning home, she and Chris rescued Macca, a Staffy-cross-American Bulldog from the RSPCA (see gallery, below). He became a star of our online classes during the pandemic, and a doggy character bearing his name even featured in That Night, a novel by bestselling novelist Gillian McAllister, one of our clients.

​

Macca had a wonderful home for 6.5 years, is sorely missed but left a wonderful legacy as the canine star in the Animal Kind training videos: 

https://www.youtube.com/@animalkinduk/videos, along with Luna (right), rehomed by us in 2021.

​

Helen has worked with dogs full-time since setting up Animal Kind with Chris in 2010 and has become an accredited dog training instructor with the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT). She teaches Animal Kind’s Group Classes journey, as well as working with clients Personal Puppy Training packages.

 

Helen also runs local puppy visiting and dog walking company Dorridge Dogs (https://dorridgedogs.co.uk), offering dog walks and pet visits to about 50 dogs each week since 2010.

Dog Trainer with her dog sitting down infront of her
Chris posing with his golden Labrador Luna

Chris's Story

Chris enjoys meeting new clients and dogs, and is happiest when training and playing with Luna, their rehomed Labrador, who might just turn out to be the most trainable dog of all time!

 

Chris has always had dogs in his family from Caesar, a Sheltie who he begged his parents to have when he was five, to Blue, the Whippet and Skye the rescued Greyhound. After leaving his career in journalism in London, he found his calling, rescuing street dogs whilst volunteering at International Animal Rescue in Goa and trained as an accredited dog training instructor with the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT) on his return.

 

Over the years, Chris has studied Animal Behaviour and now has a Masters degree from Newcastle University and is striving towards becoming a top-level Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist, a qualification held by less than 100 behaviourists in the UK.

Members of:

FABC Logo

Chris is a FABC candidate member, and on the membership sub-committee. FABC independently

accredit clinical animal behaviourists.

IMDT and Charter Logo

We are both qualified IMDT members. IMDT is the leading education provider for Dog Trainers/ Behaviourists who work with the UK Dog Behaviour & Training Charter.

APBC Logo

Chris is an APBC candidate member. APBC is a network of friendly and professional practitioners who work alongside the vet-led team.

Check Out
Our YouTube Channel!

Get tips and tricks on how to train your dog essential skills and fun tricks by watching our YouTube videos. From teaching your dog peek-a-boo to training your dog emergency stop, there will be something for you!

Gallery

bottom of page