About Pauline

With such a wide and rich history of living with my many dogs, from puppies to difficult rescue and foster dogs, you can rest assured that I have experienced many of your current problems or experiences.

I have shared the hope and expectation of bringing a new puppy into your family and the heartache of wondering what to do next when it has seemingly gone wrong. I promise I will approach all of you and your dog’s needs with empathy, knowledge, experience and creativity to help you move forward to where you want to be.

I will always aim to:

  • Help you give your puppy the very best start with excellent foundation training

  • Assist you to navigate the turbulent months of adolescence 

  • Provide understanding and compassion, to help you work through problem behaviours

  • Help you to understand your dog’s emotional needs on their training journey

  • Create an easy to follow systematic plan to achieve your aims

  • Support you every step of the way

  • Provide a fun, and inclusive opportunity to participate in Scentwork with your dog

Pauline Whittaker, dog trainer, with her dogs on the beach

My Background

I have lived with dogs all my life growing up with a basset hound and then a golden retriever. I was always happiest with dogs around me and took my young golden retriever to puppy and adult training classes through my teenage years. 

As an adult I had my first border collie – a new breed to me and although I thought I had done my breed research I made every mistake in the book and received some really bad advice along the way too. However, that border collie, Jake, is the reason I became a dog trainer and a behaviourist. I learned so much from him and came into contact with many amazing people who helped me down the path to where I am now. Jake’s story was published in the APDT Dog Trainer magazine and you can read more about him here: Living with a difficult dog (a tribute to Jake)

I have had another six dogs since then, all of them rescued or rehomed and I have fostered and rehabilitated many others too. I currently live with three dogs; two collies and a terrier from Romania. Each of them has a story behind them of a bad start, misunderstanding from a previous owner or neglect and abuse. Seeing them flourish and develop, problems fading away over time with management and small gradual changes is the most rewarding thing. 

Working with clients, my aims are to help give your dog/puppy the best start with information and problem prevention or quickly resolving problems as they occur. If you have a rescue dog then I can help you understand their needs and assist you to navigate their adjustment into living contentedly in your home. I have a wealth of experience in dealing with problem behaviours both through resolving problems in my own dogs and with the multitude of dogs I have worked with over the last 25 years, which allows me to empathetically help you to move forward.

Pauline Whittaker's four dogs enjoying the beach

Qualifications

I hold a Masters Degree in Clinical Animal Behaviour and Training, along with the COAPE Advanced Diploma in Practical Aspects of Companion Animal Behaviour and Training. 

I am a provisional member of the APBC* (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors) and a full member of APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainings) and ABTC (Animal Behaviour and Training Council), CAPBT (Coape Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors and Trainers). 

To ensure that I am fully up to date with current knowledge and methods about Canine Behaviour and Training, I regularly attend seminars and workshops, online and in person, on everything from aggression to clicker training.

Pauline Whittaker, scentwork trainer, with one of her competition-winning dogs, Maddy

My passion for scentwork

I discovered Scentwork a few years ago when my young collie had to stop participating in agility due to eyesight and musculoskeletal problems. She thrived on this new sport and my passion for the sport quickly developed. I started teaching Scentwork shortly after and now hold a City and Guilds in Scent Detection Instructing with the College of Scentdogs. I compete regularly and successfully with my dogs who all love it and I teach classes, workshops and regularly hold competitions. I am a Scentwork UK Instructor, Judge and Trial Manager, a Judge and Trial Official for the National Nosework Association and I also regularly run Nosework Games competitions. I have developed a community of clients who all share my passion for Scentwork called Pauline Whittaker Scentwork which can be found on Facebook here: PWDTS Scentwork

If you’d like help with your dog or puppy, take a look at the services I offer.

* Provisional CAB Members have demonstrated that they have the appropriate level of Knowledge and Understanding for the professional role of Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB). They are now gaining the practical experience necessary to be assessed as a CAB and therefore become a Full Member of the APBC. The APBC supports its Provisional Members undertaking behaviour consultations.