As people we are individuals and so are our dogs, there are many different training methods and approaches we can use to cater for their individual needs. At Buddies we call on our knowledge & experience to achieve the flexibility to train you and your dog.

Let’s introduce ourselves

Karen has been running dog training classes in Bolton for 15 years and specialises in puppy socialisation and problem dogs. Having grown up in a very doggy household Karen began a career with Guide Dogs for the Blind 20+ years ago initially in the kennels, she qualified as a guide dog trainer in 1988 and then became a senior guide dog trainer in 2000. Karen lives with Buddy, a Jack Russell who is quite well behaved now he’s 10 years old, and a young German Shepherd called Billy. Billy is very special, he and his brothers were hand reared when his mum Tipsy died during their birth. Tipsy was Karen’s own beloved GSD and her sudden death was traumatic for all who knew her.
In 2009 Karen achieved a Professional Diploma in Education by successfully completing a teacher training course at Bolton University, with Dog Training as her vocational curriculum area. Karen is also a member of the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers and has qualified with The Kennel Club as an examiner for the Good Citizen Dog Scheme up to gold level.

Derek R is a qualified instructor with the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers to Graduate level. He too is an examiner of the Kennel Club Good Citizen Award Scheme. He has been training dogs for the past 17 years. All his own dogs have been rescue dogs with problems that he has rehabilitated.
Derek has until recently worked for Guide Dogs for the Blind in the kennel environment of an evening helping trainee dogs settle in to their new working dog environment. He has also been involved with helping Puppy Walkers across the North West with rearing and training the Guide Dog puppies prior to them entering kennels as trainee guide dogs.
As a renowned local dog trainer he was selected to help with the training of a Doberman by Victoria Stillwell for her TV programme “It’s me or the dog” during filming in Bolton.

Derek W assists in our classes working alongside the instructors and giving individual support to people. Derek has a lifetimes experience living with, training and working dogs. He recently trained his dog Bailey to pass the bronze, silver and gold Good Citizen Dog Scheme awards. The family has owned, showed and bred several dog breeds over the years and have puppy walked numerous dogs for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Derek attended obedience training classes with the family GSDs, followed by years training and working his Labrador Retrievers as gundogs. They still breed Labrador Retrievers with working lines today. (ps. he’s also Karen’s dad!).

Sarah is our other assistant. She works as a store manager for Pets at Home and having grown up with family dogs she currently owns 3 Boxers, two of these came from rescue. Sarah is currently studying on a puppy class instructors course. Sarah has interests and knowledge in a wide range of animals so you can ask for her advice on all your pets as well as your dog.