About Annette

For a long time I was searching for a method of dog behavioral training that respects the dog’s inherent nature, uses no force, shouting and gadgets and is yet highly effective. Luckily I found Jan Fennell. My introduction to dog training came as a young girl when we had two German shepherd dogs in our family. I have always dreamt of a true understanding between man and dog and not just that the dog obeys! At dog training classes and in the dog literature of my parents I found such tips as rolled up newspapers, slaps on the nose, chokechains, shouting etc to make a dog behave. I didn’t want to have anything to do with that sort of thing.

When I was a student in London I began to do dogsitting and dogwalking and then educated myself further in dog training. In my work with dogs I became unsettled by the fact that so many dogs had problems even though the owners as well as myself treated them with love and care. In my search for ways to help solve these dog problems I came across the book of Jan Fennell “the Doglistener” and tried out her method. The effect that this had on the dogs was so profound that it seemed almost magical . They would start to relax into their daily routines and it became easy for me to relate to them.

I visited Jan Fennell at a Discover Dogs exhibition in London and asked her whether she would teach her method of dog behavioral training to others.

A few months later I attended my first course with her at her farm in Lincolnshire. I have been working with the method of Jan Fennell for 6 years and have been instructing dog owners since I gained the “advanced certificate in canine communication” in April 2004.

Time and time again I feel happy when I see how receptive and open dogs are to us when we use their own language in relating to them.