Sarah and the Game Changer Dogs
Hi, I’m Sarah, founder of Game Changer Dogs training and guardian to the wonderful rescue dogs that inspired it. As well as dog training, I’m also a secondary school teacher with over 20 years of experience teaching Religion, Philosophy & Ethics and PE.
I love walking with the girls and taking their photos in the Lake District, where we’re lucky enough to live. I’m passionate about helping rescue dogs, especially those who’ve had a brutal start to life.
It was adopting our two Podenco Ibicencos from Hope for Podencos that inspired me to take dog training further and Game Changer Dogs was founded in memory Irene Allan, who (along with her husband, Steve) brought Keira and Blink to us.
I love learning and I’m always looking to broaden my knowledge!
In 2020 I qualified as Pro Dog Trainer with AbsoluteDOGS including their great ‘geek’ learning.
I’m now studying to be a Canine Science Behaviourist with the School of Canine Science.
School Of Canine Science:
🐾 The Behaviour Bible (Year 2 of 3)
🐾 30 Days of Canine Science
🐾 Scent for Six
Absolute Dogs
🐾 The Naughty But Nice Boot Camps
🐾 Border Collie Live 🐾 Obedience Boost
🐾 Calm & Boundary Games 🐾 Puppy Pathways
🐾 Absolute Adolescence 🐾 Scent Games
🐾 Whistle Recall 🐾 Recall Rescue
🐾 21 Days To Stress Free Walks
Telling T Touch & Xtra Dog
🐾 Tellington T Touch Rocks
Other qualifications…
University of Wolverhampton
Degree in Religious Studies and Sports Studies 2:1 HOns
University of Birmingham
PGCE & the Clarence Greig Award (Best Practice and Theory across all PGCEs.
The Dog Training College
🐾 How Behaviour Affects The Brain (Danielle Beck)
🐾 Working With Aggressive Dogs (Danielle Beck)
Canine Principles
🐾 Canine First Aid
🐾 Canine Communication The Language Of A Species
🐾 The Dog Rescuers Course
🐾 Predation Substitute Training
Keira
Born in Spain in 2018, Keira had a dramatic start to life when she was abandoned without her Mum, just her and her two brothers. Fortunately they were rescued by the wonderful Steve and Irene Allan. The pups were hand reared by their ‘Granny Grant before being fostered by yet more angels, Paul & Kerry. It was at their home in Scotland that we first me her and it was decided in seconds, this gorgeous and gentle girl would be coming home with us …if we passed Irene’s fierce testing!
She’s a sensitive girl, her early experiences have made her naturally anxious and, typically of podencos, she is hyper aware of what is going around her. It was wanting to help her be more confident and optimistic that led me to the style of training that we use now at Game Changer Dogs. She’s happiest with someone to cuddle up to or taking long walks in the hills.
Blink
Blink was born in 2019 and I first saw her photo when we really didn’t need anymore dogs! It was a very short conversation with Irene this time …she was ours! She’d been rescued from a hunter who had her, and 12 other dogs, chained in a cave. They really were in a sorry state, but Blink’s young age and fierce personality seem to have been in her favour.
Blink is wonderfully optimistic and just a little bit ram bash. The dog that could have been a whirlwind of naughty behaviour, but she loves to train and work! She’s bright as a button, she’s pushed me to try scent work and sports …and she’s got own buttons so she can tell me what she’s thinking.
Poppy
Poppy’s our older girl and her origins aren’t quite as exotic …she hails from Meathop. Living on a farm, she had a troubled relationship with her sister leading to some nasty injuries. As she started to fear other dogs, my young daughter was also developing a wariness of dogs. Poppy knew the solution, be as small as possible …and wriggle her way into our hearts.
Poppy is small, but mighty! She loves big walks and other adventures. She’s a pro camper and my little paddle boarding buddy!
