About Us

Muttamorphosis Dog Training & Behaviour was established in 2005.  Sue hopes that she offers more than the average dog trainer as she sees every dog as an individual and every owner as a person who wants to help their dog and enjoy their company without stress, whether indoors with the family, or outdoors on walks.  Sue is unique in that not only is she very much a dog person, she is also most certainly a people person too.

Sue was first introduced to dog training when, like so many, she owned her first ‘problem’ dog. From there, she has spent almost fifteen years training and competing with her own dogs in obedience, agility, flyball and working trials. She was a member of the Working Trials Club of Ireland for many years where she taught pet dog training classes   Sue currently owns 2 rescue dogs, Misty, a 14.5 year old GSD X Collie and Sage a 7 year old Border Collie.  In January 2011 Sue lost her beloved GSD Scout to cancer aged only 8 years old.  She also shares her house with 3 cats and a human.  All of Sue’s animals are failed fosters who came temporarily and stayed for life.

Sue studied Canine Psychology with the Animal Care College.  While reading books is vital to ensure a firm grasp on learning theory, practical handling and training skills are equally important.  Sue has trained extensively with John Rogerson of the Northern Centre for Canine Behaviour and has attended training workshops and seminars with Dr. Ian Dunbar world renound vet, trainer and behaviourist.

Sue is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers UK, the most recognized professional body for dog training in the UK.  The A.P.D.T. offers a guarantee of quality when choosing a training class or private dog trainer/behaviourist.  All members have been assessed in a class environment and tested thoroughly on the behavioural advice they are giving to clients.  APDT UK members also follow a strict code of practice which ensures that punitive techniques and equipment are not used. Sue has also reached Competency Assessment Level 1 for clicker trainers.  This qualification was gained through training and assessment by Kay Laurence’s Learning About Dogs Team, recognized by many as the authority on clicker training in the UK.

Since 2010 Sue has been granted Kennel Club Listed Status which allows her to teach the Kennel Club Good Citizen Award, a training course designed to result in socially well adjusted dogs who can be taken into public places without causing disruption and with full owner control.  Sue is also working towards her Kennel Club Accreditation as a dog trainer and behaviourist.  Sue currently blogs for esteemed US website Dog Star Daily and also contributes to online magazine Woof.

Theories of dog training and behaviour are constantly evolving and Sue believes that her continued learning and experience can only serve to help her deal with each and every dog on his own merit and help all dogs live a safe, happy and healthy life.  For this reason, each year Sue attends as many seminars and workshops as possible.

In more recent years, Sue has attended seminar/workshops on clicker training with Elizabeth Kershaw of Canine Education, intensive dog-training-class planning and management with Sheila Bailey of the Derbyshire Canine Centre,  canine communication seminar with Turid Rugaas and several seminars hosted by the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors including Constructional Aggression Treatment with Kellie Snider.

In January 2010 Sue attended a 21 day training and behaviourist course in Pune, India with John Rogerson, Shirin Merchant and Junaid Merchant, during which intensive period she progressed in her dog training and behaviourist skills.  As well as pet dog training techniques, the course focused on practical solutions to common behaviour problems such as separation anxiety, aggression and fear and phobias.  In addition, specialist canine training tasks were taught including skills for hearing dogs for deaf people and dog detection and alert to the presence of drugs and explosives.

For almost 15 years Sue has worked in the voluntary dog rescue sector as a kennel hand, dog fosterer, temperament assessor and re-homing officer.  Each year Sue fosters and hand rears kittens and puppies.  She has recently helped German Shepherd bitch Poppy raise a litter of puppies, born in her utility room and is currenly fostering a German Shepherd involved in a cruelty case for the Newcastle and Northumberland RSPCA.  She has also worked professionally in a dog boarding kennels and as a grooming assistant.