We surround ourselves with self limiting beliefs such as “you can't teach an old dog new tricks” and “people don't like change” but in my experience this is prohibitive in allowing us to make good choices and stops us empowering ourselves with knowledge that is true and correct.

It never ceases to amaze me how adaptive people are when they care about their dogs.

I think people welcome change as long as it's for the greater good.

This belief has opened a new path in my life to help dog carers and dogs have the rewarding relationship they both deserve.

After learning from Jan Fennell and her son Tony Knight, it gave me the courage to initiate what my heart truly feels. That the relationship between us and our dogs should be healthy, respectful and a rewarding for both.

I was accepted to study Jan's Foundation Course in Canine Communication in July 2005. I didn't even think about becoming a Dog Listener I just needed to know more. It was only when Jan invited me back to gain my Advanced Qualification that it began to dawn on me that I could help others have the same relationship with their beloved animals they deserved.

Whilst working at a local Veterinary Surgery I saw many dogs come and go with carers that I knew I could help. Working at the surgery and being a Dog Listener became increasingly difficult to do both; there were simply not enough hours in the day.

Canine Consulting was started in May 2007 – it has grown and I have helped many dog carers have a more fulfilling life with their dogs and resolved problems along the way for both. Click here to read some of our cases.

I recently travelled to Yellowstone in Montana U.S. to further my studies of canines, still running free, our domestic dog's ancestors, the wolf and coyote.

Studying them and learning from the biologists, naturalists and photographers who spend their days observing and documenting canine behaviour – it doesn't come much purer or indeed more transparent.

I was privileged to be in the company of Jan and 18 of my fellow Dog Listeners from around the world. It was an awesome experience, if not a little cold at times –10 degrees and lower on a few occasions but I would do the same all over again to study the behaviour of canines and bring it home to use that knowledge to help you understand our domestic dogs and answer those questions I ask myself every day “why do they do that?”

Until we understand why – we can't begin to fix it.

I now live in Cambridgeshire with my husband and two grown up sons. We have had various animals living with us over the years but currently have three dogs and three cats. I have owned, worked and been around horses and dogs all my life; abroad and in the UK.

I have had articles published in the Stamford, Rutland, Bourne and The Deepings Exclusive magazines and editorials written in The Peterborough Evening Telegraph.

I write a column for the local free paper The Villager to promote responsible and respectful dog ownership. It is to this end I now devote my time.