My mission is to foster a love of learning in you and your dog to create sustainable change
About Ella
My interest in dog training and behaviour analysis began with my old dog, Boe, who, at one point, struggled in just about every aspect of her life. From the fear of strangers, other dogs and new environments, barking and lunging on the lead, separation anxiety, aggression and a bite history of both other dogs and people, Boe really did not find the human-centred world she had found herself in something that she could easily cope with. I decided that the lack of help available meant I needed to educate myself to help the dog I so adored.
This led me to start Little Wanders Dog Training, always with the goal in mind of creating a support system for owners in their time of need.
The dog training world is bursting at the seams with information and it is hard to know what is right for you. I pride myself in allowing the desired relationship to lead us in our training. Having a dog should be fun, and the great thing about dogs is, they agree! This means that instead of working on arbitrary goals, we take a more holistic approach, seeking to create a life both you and your dog love by working toward meeting their needs, modifying undesirable behaviour and keeping their lives enriching and fulfilling.
My passion is helping dogs and their owners to enjoy their walks, their ‘Little Wanders’; as someone who couldn’t do this for years with my own reactive dog, I know just how much it means to get that first recall, to see another dog and not have to hide in the hedges. When I say I understand, it comes from a place of experience, and a love for a dog that has lasted me a lifetime.
My Education & Experience
I have studied with both the IMDT and Compass Education (accredited by the ABTC), and I am currently studying Clinical Canine Behaviour Management. If all goes well, I will be able to call myself a behaviourist in late December 2025. My education in training dogs gave me the tools to teach dogs and owners the skills and techniques needed to work through hard times, and my further education in behavioural analysis has meant I can understand the basis of the behaviour, where it may be coming from and how to treat that. My hands-on experience includes working with reactive dogs of a variety of breeds; from English Bull Terriers, Lurchers, Yorkshire Terriers, Cockapoos, working-line dogs who have found themselves in pet homes as well as puppies, older dogs and of course, dogs in going through their troubled teen years.
Thank You, Boe
In every step I take, in every dog I meet, there you are.
‘Little Wanders’ will always be because of you. An ode to all of our adventures and all the ways you made me a better human.
