A condensed story 🙃
Many of you know of my personal story with Sabre, the fluffbutt that propelled me on a journey that I am still on. 😉
When I was fumbling around for the first few months getting things wrong and really struggling I came across a FB group specifically for reactive dogs. I joined and shared my woes with people who had the same struggles. At times it could be confusing as it was an American group, laws for one were very different. 🤔
Then in October 2015 due to an upset in the group, a UK reactive dog group was set up. Myself and 16 others who were on that specific thread jumped straight away. Thanks to Brain Holmes for creating the group and handing the reins to Nic Crampton an IMDT trainer to run with it. Run with it she certainly did and still is! 🤩
How that group has grown and evolved over the last 7 years! Within a couple of months I was helping on the Admin team with a handful of other happy helpers. Welcoming new members by painstakingly tagging each name on a Welcome post, adding them to a private map and giving support on posts.
The group was set up for that all important emotional support to people who had a reactive dog in their lives. We celebrated when we got to 100 members, then 500, then 1000. It now stands at over 23k members and has been renamed RDuk Campaign Group. 🐾
I found a flare and love for organising and became responsible for the annual online dog show, the competitions, prize give aways and organised the 1st Ninja Ball which was a wonderful event. I still run the dog show each year and absolutely love doing so. ❤️
All the while supporting others when they had a horrendous walk, celebrating when their dog had a success, however big or small, raising awareness of Dogs in Yellow and still posting about my personal ups and downs with fluffbutt. I started getting more involved with the running of the group and became immersed in my own dog training education, qualifying over 3 years ago with the IMDT. 🐕
Ducks were in a row and a year ago the new all singing, all dancing group was set up. A group with a difference. A membership group with a website and resource section for members. The legacy group (campaign group) had had qualified trainers commenting on specific posts for training advice. Advice you could listen to and know it was the right advice. 😊
A small team of qualified trainers with a certain amount of years helping reactive dogs came on board on the new group and were named Authorised Trainers. They give thoughtful, appropriate and importantly ‘insured’ advice to members. 😍
Overall there is now nearly 90 people who volunteer in one way or another on the group. I have made many friends, (some who are very close to my heart) and continue to do so from my time on the group. I meet up with members who come to Norfolk on holiday. I have arranged Norfolk Meet ups for coffee and cake and Reactive Dog Walks. 🐕 ☕️
I am honoured to have been asked to step up from my Admin role to become one of the Authorised Trainers. My first ‘shift’ is tomorrow night (May)