My ETHOS…
Hi, I’m Tara and I’m passionate about supporting dogs and their guardians work through training and behaviour challenges in a kind, compassionate and ethical way. I take the same approach with all breeds and ages of dogs, and the types of behaviour.
There’s no need to use force, intimidation, fear or pain to change behaviour choice.
Understanding, empathy and a sound working knowledge of dog learning theory and body language are the basis of the approach I take.
Where it all started
I didn’t always train this way.
Growing up, our family dogs were walked on choke chains. There was no attempt to understand why behaviours, like barking and lunging, were happening.
Back then, everyone followed the information available on television and in books as being the way to train. ‘A dog should do what its human wants.’, was the well established view.
It was a good while later when I got my own dog that my interest in further developing my understanding of dogs really started.
There’s no need to use force, intimidation, fear or pain to change behaviour choice.
MY BACKGROUND
I haven’t always been a dog trainer. I originally qualified as an engineer, and worked in automotive and aerospace sectors in manufacturing and analysis roles before heading up design teams.
I bring a well practised methodical, analytical, evidence based approach, and an appreciation of the importance of accurate, clear communication to working with dogs and their guardians.
Money well spent!
“Tara is a fantastic dog trainer and I would strongly recommend her.
We have utilised her services with both our old dog and now our young puppy. She was approachable, reliable, skilled and knowledgable.
On both occasions we felt it was money well spent.”
– Sally and Indy
The dog who changed everything!
From a very different perspective, I’m a guardian to two dogs.
One who changed my life, literally.
Woody finds the world a very challenging place to be, he has big emotions about many everyday things.
Our journey together has been a bumpy one! I can’t tell you how many times I sat and cried in the first 6 months after he joined our family. I was able to find lots of information, some of it helpful and some really not.
Nothing individually provided the right combination of support that Woody needed, and I needed too.
I felt alone and that no one really understood how challenging our situation was.
One thing led to another in my quest for answers.
I found myself volunteering and then working in a rehoming centre as part of the animal care team.
This was such a valuable experience.
Working with dogs from all sorts of backgrounds, with a real range of training, behavioural and welfare support, dogs with; health issues, bite histories, guarding tendencies, abnormal repetitive behaviour, overly excitable adolescent dogs, nervous and timid dogs, to newborn puppies.
All in an individual, needs based, force free way.
I started Paws & Minds in 2022 as a way to reach more people, and spread the word about kind, ethical and compassionate training.
I also wanted to be able to offer practical and structured support to the human part of the equation. In particular, to anyone who, maybe as I did, felt that they couldn’t see a way forward and, even for just a moment, had considered rehoming their dog. You’re a team, and looking after both ends of the lead is vital for long-term success.
To provide a level of assurance I qualified as a dog trainer with the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT) in 2022. I’ve always enjoyed learning, and that’s no different now.
I’m always searching for new information and evidence of ways to support the physical, mental and emotional well-being of both dogs and their guardians.
My interest lies in combining both the analytical, conventional mainstream and the more intuitive, holistic side to get the best results for every dog and guardian partnership.
