Meet The Team
Our Highly Accredited Trainers
TRAINER
Jeff
Jeff’s passion for dogs has led him to be involved in various areas of dog training, including Obedience, Agility and Search and Rescue. His experience in training search and rescue dogs has earned him recognition, including winning the prestigious Queen’s Award with Search Dogs – Sussex.
SENIOR BEHAVIOURIST
Miranda
Miranda has been working with dogs for over 20 years; for the last 12 years, she has specialised in solving behaviour issues such as aggression, separation anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behaviours.
Miranda coaches clients from all walks of life and disciplines from pet dogs to competitive sports dogs to therapy dogs with any issues their owners need her help with.
SENIOR BEHAVIOURIST
Sarah
Sarah has been a part of Sussex County Dog Training since 2016. With a background in Human Psychology, she focused her career towards canines upon owning her own dog with behavioural problems.
Sarah is passionate about all aspects of training and behaviour, focusing on dog reactivity towards dogs and other humans. This is an area she has knowledge in, from personal experience and extensive study, including but not limited to becoming CBATI-KA certified with the Grisha Steward Academy.
GUNDOG TRAINER
Ali
Ali joined our Team in 2022 and teaches our Gundog Classes and Flyball. Ali is an accredited IMDT trainer. (Institute of Modern Dog Training) a member of the LWDG (Ladies Working Dog Group). Ali offers group classes, as well as 121’s.
She has a real passion for teaching owners the foundations of Gundog training; which improves their steadiness when working around other dogs and distractions, their retrieve skills, hunting and also training their dog to the whistle.
TRAINER
Josie
Josie has been with us for over 12 years and is a superb coach. Prior to starting her own family, she coached for the GB Junior Agility team. She specialises in general obedience, family dog training, and helping families live harmoniously with their dogs.
With such a wealth of experience, she can assist clients with all manner of training, including puppy training, adolescent dog training, and minor problem behaviours. She is also highly experienced in the world of dog sports, including Agility, Canine Fitness Conditioning, and reward structure development.
OBEDIENCE & SCENTWORK DOG TRAINER
Anna
Anna has trained with IMDT and teaches puppy, obedience, scentwork and reactive rover inside obedience at Sussex County Dog Training. Anna is also available to do 121 obedience sessions. Her kind but no-nonsense approach has helped many owners over the years.
She is a qualified judge and instructor for scentwork uk and has been training at the centre for over 10years.
AGILITY INSTRUCTOR
Hannah
Hannah has been with SCDT since 2015 and has been doing Agility from a young age. She has competed for many years at Crufts and internationally for the country in several events.
Hannah’s classes currently run throughout the week. She is passionate about teaching Foundation dogs and watching them grow into their future potential.
Puppy & obedience DOG TRAINER
Kate
Kate has a passion for teaching and helping owners read and understand their dogs better. Coaching owners on how to overcome problems with their dogs, feel more confident, and improve the lives of both owners and their dogs.
Kate’s background in training assistance dogs has given her experience training puppies until they are qualified therapy dogs, including helping dogs become accustomed to different social situations and environments. Kate’s work with the Dog’s Trust has also given her a great amount of experience handling and training rescue dogs.
Her friendly and approachable personality, mixed with a wealth of knowledge makes her a great choice when choosing an instructor.
She is a qualified judge and instructor for scentwork uk and has been training at the centre for over 10years.
Agility TRAINER
Lauren
Lauren started agility 8 years ago with her collie cross Riley and absolutely fell in love with the sport.
After competing in junior events such as The Starters Cup Final and being runner up in the Agility Club junior points table Lauren went on to compete at Crufts in 2020 with The Young Kennel Club.
Lauren then went on to take accreditation from Agility 1st and started teaching agility last year, joining us in November 2024.
OBEDIENCE AND SCENTWORK DOG TRAINER
Leona
A friendly & empathetic dog trainer, Leona most recently spent 11 years in an Assistance Dog Charity as a Trainer and Instructor, as well as an Internship in an Assistance Dog Charity in the States. Leona is also currently an assessor for an Assistance Dog Charity, providing Access Tests for partnerships.
Leona spent time volunteering for the RSPCA, rescue centres in Ireland, as well as the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Leona travelled to many places around the world and is passionate about animal and particularly dog welfare.
She specialises in puppy, adolescent, and general obedience, helping families live harmoniously with their dogs. She also teaches Scentwork classes, improving their confidence, and providing great enrichment for them.
Scentwork TRAINER
Heather
Heather started her scentwork journey in 2020 during lockdown, looking for a way to build her puppy’s confidence and resilience. She soon discovered a real passion for the sport, began competing in 2021, and went on to complete the SWUK Train the Trainers course along with Tier 1, 2 and 3 judges’ qualifications. Heather enjoys helping owners and their dogs build confidence, strengthen their bond, and enjoy the many benefits scentwork brings.
Alongside scentwork, Heather has been involved in CHUK Hoopers since 2017. After completing the trainers course, she now teaches this fun, fast and low-impact sport that’s suitable for all dogs.
Heather looks forward to supporting owners and their dogs at every stage of their training journey.
