Dog Trainers UnPACT

#6 Honour Smith - From Woodlice to Lincoln: The Honour in Ditching the Comfort Zone

Ever wondered how a childhood obsession with garden woodlice can spiral into a top-tier career as a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist? This week, Steve sits down with the incredibly talented Honour Smith (BSc, MSc, CCAB, ABTC-ATI) to unpack her brilliant journey through the animal behaviour world. Honour shares how she navigated multiple "animal careers" before finding her true calling. We dive deep into why practical skills are just as vital as heavy theory, the art of translating Jedi-level behavior science into human-friendly analogies, and what training cats can teach you about absolute patience. If you've ever battled imposter syndrome or wondered what it really takes to publish groundbreaking research, this episode is your ultimate guide. What We Covered: * The Journey: Moving around the UK and stepping out of comfort zones. * The Lincoln Experience: What actually happens at the famous Lincoln Animal Behaviour Clinic and why the masters program is so revered. * Theory vs. Practice: Why being "book smart" isn't enough when you're standing in front of a real dog and a real client. * The Power of Analogy: How a trip to the local pub can explain a dog's core temperament perfectly to an owner. * Groundbreaking Research: Honour’s journey to publishing her thesis on Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) and catching cognitive decline earlier. * The "F" Word (Finances): Why charging your worth actually makes clients take training more seriously. Important Links & Resources: * Grab your tickets to the ultimate dog event: DogX Dog Conference [https://dogxconference.com] * Ready to kickstart your own training journey? Find out more about PACT: PACT Dogs [https://pact-dogs.com] * Connect with Honour and her team: Lincoln Animal Behaviour Clinic [https://www.lincoln.ac.uk]

#5 Charlie Houghton - From the High Seas to Houghton's Hounds

Welcome back folks :) In this episode, Steve sits down with the incredible Charlie Houghton, founder of Houghton’s Hounds. We navigate through Charlie's fascinating 10-year career as a Logistics Officer in the Royal Navy and discover how teaching leadership to sailors perfectly prepared her for teaching puppies (and their humans!). We covered: * The Navy-to-K9 Pivot: How a passion for adult education and leadership coaching transformed into a career in dog training. * Public Speaking for Introverts: Why you might need to "fake it 'til you make it" when stepping into the center of a training ring. * The "Safe Space" Philosophy: Drawing inspiration from trainers like Ollie Juste and the importance of kindness. * The Money Talk: Why the industry needs to be more transparent about finances and "knowing your worth." * Lessons from Jet: A candid look at crate training, choice, and why doing better starts with knowing better. Guest Bio: If you’d asked 5-year-old Charlie what she wanted to be, the answer was always "a vet." After a decade-long "detour" as a Logistics Officer in the Royal Navy—visiting 13 countries and clocking 15,000 miles at sea—she discovered her true calling: instructing. Today, Charlie is an ABTC-accredited Animal Training Instructor and the owner of Houghton’s Hounds in Worcester. Combining her background in adult education with certifications from PACT, Puppy School, and the IMDT, she helps owners find harmony with their dogs through 1-2-1s and expert puppy classes. Relevant Links: * Find Charlie: houghtonshounds.co.uk [http://www.houghtonshounds.co.uk] * Charlie’s Book Recommendation: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. * Link to "A Dogs Best Friend" Podcast with Oli Juste: https://open.spotify.com/show/07nvgqwv572548BdNxublI [https://open.spotify.com/show/07nvgqwv572548BdNxublI] * DogX Conference Tickets: dogxconference.com [https://dogxconference.com/] * Start Your Journey with PACT: pact-dogs.com [https://pact-dogs.com/]

#4 Haych Brassil - TV Traumas, Super Dogs and the Art of Agency

In this episode, Steve sits down with the wonderful Haych Brassil. We take a "Scooby-Doo" trip back to the Northeast coast of Ireland to discover the journeys that sparked a lifelong mission to help the helpless. What We Covered: * The "Otter Trauma": How 80s wildlife documentaries created an emotional blueprint for empathy. * Manga & The European Road: the fascinating story of five years traveling Europe with a dog that had more agency than most humans. * Animal Rescue Kerala: Mopeds, dirt tracks, and learning from "punk" dogs in India. * The Human Connection: How a career supporting young migrants and marginalized people translates into "listening" to dogs. * Theo the "Adorable": The reality of living with a complex rescue and why professionals shouldn't be afraid to ask for help. About Our Guest: Haych Brassil is a PACT Animal Training Instructor and Animal Behaviour Technician registered with ABTC. Haych spent five years roaming Europe with the 'fateful encounter' dog, and then traveling to various places in the world where they could help dogs, they are now deep in the weeds of a Level 6 in Applied Animal Behavior. Based on the outskirts of Brighton, Haych is currently putting all that knowledge into practice with the adorable yet complex rescue dog, Theo.  Relevant Links: * Check out Haych’s business Dog Complex here [https://www.dogcomplex.co.uk/] * Mark Bekoff: The Emotional Lives of Animals (Haych’s top recommendation). Buy it here [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emotional-Lives-Animals-Surprising-Compassion/dp/1577315610]. * DogX 2026: Grab your tickets for the ultimate conference. dogxconference.com [https://www.dogxconference.com] * Start Your Journey: Join the PACT family and start your training career. pact-dogs.com [https://www.pact-dogs.com]

#3 Jason Cortis - The Shepherd in the Van

In this weeks episode I got to sit down with Jason Cortis—a man who has lived several lives already, all of which have given him insights into the world of training and behaviour that are well worth listening to.  We'll hear about his early careers as part of the parachute regiment, a military dog handler and paramedics technician . Jason shares the exact moment of realisation, standing in the back of a military van with a German Shepherd, where his path turned him towards a deeper understanding of dogs. We explore his journey from the high-stakes adrenaline of the parachute regiment and the ambulance service to the quiet, vital science of animal behaviour. Jason discusses his work with the Blue Cross, the importance of scent as a canine superpower, and why the recognising a journey of life long learning is one of our superpowers. I loved chatting with Jason and I think you'll love him too Links: * Nosey Dogs: www.noseydogs.co.uk [https://www.noseydogs.co.uk] – Dive into scent detection, tracking, and mantrailing. * JCDT (Jason Cortis Dog Training): www.jcdogtrainer.com [https://www.jcdogtrainer.com] – 1:1 sessions, classes, and Jason’s excellent blog. * Blue Cross RDOC: Responsible Dog Ownership Course [https://www.bluecross.org.uk] – Learn more about the education work Jason does for animal welfare. * PACT (Professional Association of Canine Trainers): pact-dogs.com [https://www.pact-dogs.com] * ABTC (Animal Behaviour & Training Council): abtc.org.uk [https://abtc.org.uk]

#2 Marilyn Gilchrist & Rachel Rodgers - From Penguin Parades & Private Banking to the Scent of Success

In this episode, Steve sits down with Rachel and Marilyn, the force behind the Canine School of Trailing. We explore how two trainers with completely opposite backgrounds found common ground in the world of scent, leading to a partnership built on friendship, a little prosecco, and a very specific boundary line on the M6. This was so much fun!  In this episode, we "un-pact": * From Penguins to Dolphins: Discover the vastly different origins of our guests—from leading zoo parades and tickling dolphin tongues to escaping the corporate banking world. * The M6 Boundary: How these former "local rivals" ditched the scarcity mindset to create a unique partnership that split the UK right down the motorway. * The Inclusive Sport: Why trailing is the ultimate "safe space" for reactive dogs and a non-judgmental community for handlers who usually feel shunned. * Business & Boundaries: The raw reality of running a dog business, including the importance of saying "No" and how AI is reclaiming their admin time. Find Rachel & Marilyn: * Website: thecanineschooloftrailing.co.uk [http://thecanineschooloftrailing.co.uk/] * Socials: Find them on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok at The Canine School of Trailing. #DogTrainersUnPACT #Scentwork #ManTrailing #EthicalTraining #DogTrainerStories #Collaboration #CanineSchoolOfTrailing