Homepage - Dolittles Animal Training and Behaviour

Welcome to Dolittles Animal Training and Behaviour

The world of dogs has changed dramatically over the last few decades. Firstly there are a lot more of them & secondly there is less space to exercise them without being on top of each other. Finally, there is more pressure to have a perfectly well behaved dog or being at risk of being labelled as aggressive or reactive. Most normal dog behaviour is considered undesirable or a problem but we rarely take the time to teach the dog what is OK & what isn’t, let alone equip them with a repertoire of acceptable behaviours to choose from. Many good dog owners are worrying about all this before even getting a dog & that is where we come in:

Our brand new comprehensive Training Journey: ‘PERFECT COMPANION PROGRAMME’ will take you right through even before you get your pup to your perfect adult dog. We want to help you get that dog you are proud of, hear comments like “what a well behaved dog” & a dog you can take anywhere.

We will teach you & your dog all the life skills you need to navigate puppyhood, tricky teenage times, as well as additional activities to keep their brains busy & satisfied. From what seems like the impossible tasks of over excited greeters, nervous nellies, a bombproof recall to cutting their dog’s nails, to building up confidence with vehicles or administering ear/eye drops, we always ensure everyone goes home with the ability to succeed.

Here at Dolittles we would love to help you gain the confidence and understanding so you can begin enjoying the time spent with your beloved pet & shape a dog you are proud of!

Before you dive into our courses & services, let us tell you a little more about Dolittles’ founder Lisa & her journey to becoming an animal trainer and behaviour specialist.

Lisa had always been successful training her (big!) dogs from puppies into well behaved & well rounded individuals. However in 2017, the whirlwind that is Amber, a Rhodesian Ridgeback entered Lisa’s life. Amber was a rescue and despite being only 18 months old, sadly the start of her life was quite traumatic. It quickly became clear that she was going to need a lot of support and her addition to the family was going to be a challenge. Even their family rock, Simba (the existing Rhodesian Ridgeback) was not keen on Amber!

Lisa started attending many dog courses so she could hone her already extensive animal training and behaviour experience specifically to dogs & equip herself with the knowledge she needed to turn Amber’s sad start to a life into a success story.

In 2018, Lisa took the leap to leave my 12 year career as a Training and Husbandry Specialist at the longest running Zoo in the UK and became qualified to pursue a professional career in the dog training world. Lisa had enjoyed seeing the impact the new skills she had learnt had on Amber, so much so, that it inspired her to help others achieve the same.

In addition to all her pet training, Lisa still acquired all her skills from the zoo world. She is passionate about continuing Husbandry and Cooperative Care techniques, where she has carried out voluntary blood draws, x-rays and ultrasounds on Sea Lions, hand injecting Servals & Coatis, nail trimmed Macaws, as well as recall trained Otters. Much of what she has learnt can be carried over to the pet world, allowing her a unique insight into vet visit training, transport worries, nail trimming & other care behaviours.

Since commencing this new journey, Dolittles are proud to say that we have helped many dog owners rebuild their trust and relationship with their pets and now enjoy the time spent taking them for walks or carrying out everyday activities or care behaviours with them. We are privileged to have helped owners give their puppies the best possible start in life & watch them grow into confident, friendly pets.

We are a friendly and approachable team. We will never judge you and will only use methods that improve your relationship with your pet. This is a learning experience for both you and your pet, and we promise we won’t use long, silly words that you have to Google when you get home!

As an Assessed and Qualified IMDTB Member of The Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (www.imdt.uk.com) we are proud to display the UK Dog Behaviour & Training Charter symbol. Lisa is also a Qualified Scent Detection Instructor & Dynamic Dog Practitioner.