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Our Team

Vikki Pickering

Behaviour Consultant and Dog Trainer

Dog Trainer - You and Your Dog

Vikki is the owner of You and Your Dog and has a Diploma in Canine Behaviour Science and Technology which she gained in 2012 through the Companion Animal Sciences Institute.  Vikki is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers New Zealand and follows their code of ethics.

Vikki is You and Your Dog’s private private training and behaviour modification specialist!  She also runs regular puppy preschool classes, and recall workshops.  Vikki is passionate about promoting education amongst children and adults on how to be safer around dogs to prevent dog bites and help to keep dogs out of shelters as a consequence.  Nelson City Council are proud supporters of her initiative and she frequently attends primary schools, community centres and child-care centres to present her dog safe workshops.

Vikki is dedicated to continued learning, she attends dog behavior and dog training seminars and conferences and keeps herself up-to-date with learning theory, research and training techniques.

Vikki’s training methods are based on modern behavioural science and understanding of the fact that animals learn by consequence and association.  Her aim is to use gentle yet effective methods to change your dog’s behaviour. 

Vikki’s Qualifications

Lizzi Gillard

Class Instructor – Richmond

Dog Trainer You and Your Dog

Lizzi is an experienced dog trainer, dog handler and qualified veterinary nurse. She instructs a variety of our group training courses in Richmond.  Lizzi is also a qualified dog walker and pet sitter.

Lizzi is has three of her own dogs – Cora the Weimaraner and Zsizsi and Kina the Hungarian Vizslas, who assist her with her group classes.  Her dogs have many fancy tricks up their sleeves ranging from the basics to the advanced and Lizzi and her dogs prove to be a hit when showing off their tricks at various events around Nelson. Lizzi is also an active competitor in dog agility and obedience.

Ren Kennedy

Class Instructor – Motueka

Ren has been working as a veterinary nurse at the Motueka Vet Centre for the last 16 years. For 11 of these years she has also run the clinics puppy school classes. This experience will serve her well in the instruction of our Simple Manners courses, now available in Motueka..

Ren’s husband shares her passion for dogs with the pair of them always being out numbered by their canine friends, usually by a 4 to 1 ratio! They currently have 7 dogs between them with Ren’s best friends being Flash the heading dog, Huk the Catahoula x Bully breed and Tin the Catahoula x heading dog.

Ren is a member of The Nelson Dog Training club where her Tin have just started agility. You’ll meet Tin in class as she will be there to assist Ren with demonstrating skills. 

Diana Martin

Class assistant

Diana Martin is our Richmond group class assistant. Diana is the proud owner of four black-and-white border collies (Kite, Mayhem, Fox and See), and is an active dog agility and scentwork competitor, as well as being a very experienced and versatile dog trainer. Diana has worked with animals for her whole life, and is brilliant at helping our students to find solutions for their dogs in class.

 

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