After spending 30 years in retail management, Dave decided it was time for a change. Having always been passionate about dogs, he wanted to pursue a career that offered a different kind of job satisfaction: the opportunity to work closely with dogs and make a genuine difference to their lives.
That search eventually led him to Rags & Bert’s, where he could turn a lifelong love of dogs into a career focused on training, behaviour and helping owners better understand their dogs.
Dave has owned German Shepherds, Greyhounds and Lurchers over the years, and his love of dogs has never wavered. He is now a qualified Dog Trainer, Puppy Trainer and Behaviour Trainer, and is continuing to develop his knowledge through studying for a Level 6 qualification (degree equivalent) in Clinical Canine Behaviour.
For Dave, the most rewarding part of training is seeing the difference it can make to a dog and their owner. Helping a dog overcome challenges, develop new skills and become more confident, while giving their owner the understanding to support them, is what drives his passion.
He believes there is nothing quite like seeing a dog and owner make progress together, whether that means overcoming a long-standing behavioural challenge or achieving a small but important step forwards.
Dave's approach to training begins with understanding the individual dog. He believes building a bond and taking the time to discover what motivates a dog, as well as what they like and dislike, is an important starting point.
Once he has a better understanding of the dog in front of him, he can begin developing an approach that works for them. Rather than rushing the process, Dave focuses on building a connection and finding ways to help each dog learn and progress.
Dave believes successful training is a team effort involving the trainer, dog and owner. For progress to continue beyond the training session, everyone needs to be working towards the same goals and communicating consistently.
This includes using the same marker words and techniques, helping to avoid confusion and giving the dog clear, consistent guidance. Owners are therefore an important part of the training process, not simply observers.
Dave is keen for owners to have a clear and honest understanding of how their dog's training is progressing. Sessions are filmed and narrated, highlighting what has worked, what hasn't and how different exercises have been approached.
Owners are also given homework to work on between sessions, along with Dave's contact details should they need advice or support along the way. This means they can revisit what was covered and continue putting the techniques into practice at home.
Dave's commitment to learning is a reflection of how much he cares about getting the best possible outcomes for the dogs he works with. Alongside his existing training qualifications, his ongoing studies in Clinical Canine Behaviour allow him to deepen his understanding of why dogs behave as they do and how best to support them.
For Dave, there is always more to learn, and that is part of what makes working with dogs so rewarding.
"I cannot begin to describe the sense of satisfaction and pride that comes from helping a dog and their owner change their world for the better. That's what drives me to keep learning and to be the best I can be for the dogs."
Our 8-month-old puppy is incredibly clever, but she's also very independent, which I suppose comes with the breed! We knew we needed a bit of help making sure those adorable little ears were actually listening.
We honestly didn't expect to see such a noticeable improvement after just one session with David. She was like a different dog on our evening walk that same day. The difference was amazing.
The whole process has been fantastic from the start. We first had a chat with David about the behaviours we wanted to work on, and he tailored the training to our goals. After each session, he sends us videos highlighting what was covered, along with clear instructions on how to continue practising at home. It's been incredibly helpful and has made it easy to stay consistent between sessions.
We still have a few sessions left, but we're already so impressed with the progress we've seen. Can't recommend David's training highly enough!@Grumpy plum
