Custom Canine Training is a force-free, reward-based dog training service based in Stafford. The methods here are the same approach used in years of one-to-one work with dogs and their owners.
A fuller story about the training approach and the experience behind Custom Canine is coming soon.
Accredited and qualified
Custom Canine Training holds Charter Membership of the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT), works with Scentwork UK, and is registered with the WSDA. These bodies set the standard for kind, modern, evidence-based training.
Meet the team
[CONFIRM WITH VAY] This team and dogs are from the previous site (2020). Please confirm it is still current, or send updated bios.
Vay
My name is Vay, the proud owner of Custom Canine Training. I am an experienced dog trainer, qualified with the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT) and a certified scentwork instructor with both Scentwork UK and the World Scent Dog Association (WSDA).
I am a training geek, fascinated by all the little intricacies of training and the way we communicate with our dogs. I love figuring out what each individual team needs to progress, making it clear to the human as well as the dog.
I live with Bru (staffy) and Magic (collie-lurcher), my two rescue dogs; young Kaizen (Malinois), my newest addition; and my cat, Angie.
With Bru, I compete at Heelwork to Music Freestyle, where he reached Advanced (the top level). In his younger days he also competed in agility and canicross. He enjoys scent detection, and one of his favourite hobbies is playing hide and seek with people, also known as mantrailing. Bru has taught me so much about training with clarity. If he didn’t understand something he would just wander off and find something better to do, which is fair. The onus is on me to explain things clearly. As a more experienced dog, if he doesn’t understand he will just look at me and wait, because he trusts that I will try harder.
Magic is a complicated lad, learning to overcome his reactivity, sound sensitivities and lack of general socialisation. He has an incredible nose and a great work ethic, loving both scentwork and mantrailing. He is also following in Bru’s pawsteps with Heelwork to Music and Freestyle. Magic has taught me all about the balance between body and behaviour: if he is acting up it is usually because he is not comfortable in his body. He has taken my knowledge of mantrailing to a whole different level as he works tricky trails and gives us both the thrill of finding our person.
Magic and Bru are sponsored by Stafford Vet Physio, who they see regularly to keep them in top shape. Maisie is amazing with them both, but especially with Magic, who can struggle with strange people touching him.
I have also often had a foster dog staying with me, a rescue dog who needs a bit of help to find the right home. Like Tiger, a young Staffordshire Bull Terrier who needed help with his basic training, and Talullah, a mixed-breed dog who was incredibly fearful of people. I have fostered for Finding Furever Homes and for Ashbourne Animal Welfare.
In 2018 I took part in the Trainer of the Year competition at Battersea Dogs Home. Of three daily challenges I won one and came second in another. I am passionate about learning and always investing in my own skills and knowledge so that I can give you and your dog the best service possible. As an assessed and qualified member of the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers, I am proud to display the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter symbol.
Rosie
Rosie is qualified with the World Scent Dog Association (WSDA) and has an excellent eye for detail and a skill for breaking things down and adapting to the individual dog and human team. She teaches our scent classes and some mantrailing workshops, and is available for 1-2-1 classes in and around Stafford, working with reactivity, car-chasing and fence-fighting among other things.
She lives with her border collie, Lana, and spaniel, Sonny. Lana is a complicated collie, who struggles with anything that moves and is a nervous girl. She loves scent, trailing and some freestyle. Rosie is helping her to deal with her struggles with cars, people and dogs, and she is becoming a much more balanced dog. Sonny enjoys scentwork and is gaining confidence with his searches.