AODT Website Updated 2024
DIONNE
Trainer & KC Good Citizen Examiner (B/S)
I’ve had dogs all my life from Mastiffs to Yorkies, but my own training journey started with Honey, a tiny (at first) fat little singleton pup.
Some years later came my fascination with Weimaraner’s, that will continue for many years! My first Weimaraner, Chaos was born Sept 2007, in 2008 we did our Gundog Club grade one and in 2009 started our show training at our local ringcraft club.
2010 my second Weimaraner arrived and I well and truly had the bug. I got my KC affix (Honeyshounds) in 2011 and my first ever Weimaraner litter were born Jan 2012. I also had beagles which showed. And since 2011 have bred 10 litters from of Weims and Beagles. I am proud to have bred some wonderful dogs and made many lovely friends along the way
I started shadowing Alicia before covid was a thing, while studying & attending training courses. My first ever course I instructed was a KC Bronze good citizen, which I loved. In July 2021 Alicia convinced me to start taking Puppy & Intermediate classes and since then she has pretty much not let me have a Saturday off since ha-ha. I love teaching the beginner’s courses, meeting new puppies and owners. Helping them navigate through the fun and stressful time of puppyhood and settling in. In August 2022 I attended the Kennel Club building and sat my Bronze examiners test. So when in November a chance to sit for the Silver examiners test came up I happily attended and can now examine both levels.
I teach courses, classes and workshops covering most things and I am forever grateful for Alicia for giving me the very large push I needed to get started and for all the support that’s come with it.
Rachel
Class Assistant & Stooge Support
I have always loved all animals and based my education around them, gaining a Bsc. Animal Management degree from Writtle College.
My biggest love though has always been dogs and it took me my whole life of begging until my 19th Birthday when I finally got my first puppy; a golden retriever called “Shadow”.
My passion for training and behaviour really emerged in 2015 when I took on another dog “Reuben”. A rescue from Romania we had a few teething issues and that’s when I found Alicia and began training with AODT.
Since 2015 I have sadly lost Shadow but have taken on another 2 Romanian Rescues “Inka” and “Arlo”.
2021 I took the plunge and set up my own dog walking business and have now made that my full time job
and I am hoping to expand and be able to offer training & behaviour sessions and specialising in foreign rescue dogs.
I currently support Monday evening beginner courses and can usually be found befriending the cheekiest attendee. Inka, Reuben and I also support AODT as Stooges for behaviour sessions.
Carley
Class Assistant & Assistant Trainer
Like most people I have grown up with dogs, cats, rabbits and hamsters. I knew I would get my own pets one day and now me and my family have our own little zoo- 2 dalmatians, 2 cats, 2 rabbits, 1 blue iguana, 1Tegu and many more reptiles!
I started my own dog walking business in 2017 and it’s been great! I have learnt so much, helped so many and have clocked up many, many miles!
I have completed with Ruby my dalmatian the Bronze, Silver and Gold kennel club citizen award and from there is when I joined as a class assistant to help out at classes on a Saturday morning. I love seeing all the dogs and their humans’ bonds growing during the courses attend. Having shadowed both Dionne & Alicia I am now embarking on taking some of the Intermediate & advanced classes where its great to watch the progress that has been achieved and help develop it further.
Jo
Class Assistant, Assistant Trainer & KC Good Citizen Examiner (B)
For as long as I can remember I have had a love for animals & dogs in particular. I had all sorts of dog's growing up, from cross breeds to pedigree, rescues to breeding my own litter.
For the past 25 years I have been owned by Rhodesian Ridgeback's & I have enjoyed every minute of it.
My first Ridgeback was ridgeless but it's thanks to him I have been devoted to the breed. I then got a bitch (Indie) & it's thanks to her that a little girls dreams came true & together we took our first steps onto the green carpet of Crufts & what a journey we had.
I bred her & kept 2 puppies from the same little, a brother & sister who were amazing. I now have 1 Ridgeback (Rune) & my training & showing journey continues. I have been very fortunate to gain a stud book number with my first show girl (Crufts qualification for life) & Kennel Club Gold Good Citizen awards with 2 other dogs.
I currently assist the Monday morning Beginner courses, support training for the KC Good Citizen Scheme and enjoy supporting the community events with Rune. It's an honour to be part of the AODT team & family.
Emma
PA in charge of 1-1 enquiries & bookings
I’ve been lucky enough to make ‘dogs’ my career for a very long time, starting as a veterinary nurse at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home for a number of years. It was a great experience and sparked my interest in training and behaviour.
My journey with AODT started in 2015 when I adopted ‘Cora’ an aloof and somewhat cantankerous little hound that I needed help with to aid her transition into family life. We attended training week-in, week-out and loved every moment of it - I was hooked!
In this time I have read lots, researched lots, attended numerous workshops and seminars and undertook Alicia’s internal Instructor training programme.
I love AODT- its ethos, its inclusiveness, its continued support and the ‘family’ vibe.
I have a passion for nose work- something I got into with Cora when looking for ways to create a bond with her and have competed successfully with my own two dogs.
You can currently find me on the admin side of things, taking care of your 1-1 appointment booking needs
Bev
Self appointed ‘Dogsbody’
Seen here competing with Alicia’s ‘Matilda’ Bev has been with AODT since it’s inception in 2011.
She decided on her own title which we think really replaces a whole plethora of roles that she undertakes to make sure AODT is running smoothly both behind the scenes and in person, including assisting at scout and brownie visits & running the tea bar on a Monday night.
She says that her favourite role however is playing ‘Aunty’ to the dogs. Be it a puppy that needs a cuddle or a lead that needs holding she’s always happy to oblige.
Dee
PA in charge of Classes, workshops and events
Animals have been my passion since I was a child, but I was never fortunate to pursue a career with them.
Whilst I worked in the city, I volunteered on my day off with a local greyhound rescue where I adopted my first dog, Tammy. I took her along to training with AODT and loved the way Alicia trained and ran her classes.
When we got our second dog, Dora she went to Alicia’s classes as well and I have been in the AODT family ever since Alongside my two dogs, we have 3 owls, 7 chickens, 2 sheep, 1 goat and 100 fish.
I work freelance now and one of my jobs is helping run the admin side of AODT (a job I share with Emma since having my first child) supporting classes, events and workshops held for members as well as being the first contact point for new class & course enquires.
