Leadchanges Dog Behaviour Modification

Description

Tamasine Smith Advanced Canine Behaviour Level 6 and has a specialist interest in how the canine gut impacts behaviour. She worked with horses for over twenty years and taught and studied horsemanship for around half that time, learning much about animal psychology and how humans and animals connect. For a number of years she was also a teacher and trainer at her own centre, around South Africa and other countries. Often those coming to the centre would meet the resident Ridgebacks and ask if she also trained dogs. While horses are considered prey animals and dogs predators, they actually both need the same thing when it comes to the humans in their lives – guidance and consistency given with calmness, confidence and compassion. For fear based issues, working on confidence, problem solving and helping animals have agency over their lives is the same for both species. This led to her taking up studies in dog behaviour and starting on a training programme for dogs. After working with a friend and colleague to create a self-development course called Inner Game (after W. Timothy Gallwey’s books) initially using horses as the teachers, it seemed that it might work just as well with dogs. It did. And so Leadchanges was born.

Tamasine continues her studies, also attending workshops and gaining inspiration from others. One such group was DogsandAll in South Africa who prepare dogs for protection work and sniffer dog work including drug and bomb detection.

Leadchanges then moved to Andalucia, Spain and in addition to the original workshops, grew to encompass Tamasine’s own work and work with rescue groups such as Lab Rescue (South Africa), Ridgeback Rescue (South Africa) and PEPA (Spain). This work involved fostering, rehoming, home checks and rehabilitation.

In Spain, Tamasine helped a number of rescue charities, including helping to set up a new group in the Alhama area where she lived. She offered a foster carer training programme and still gives ongoing support with two of the charities. She offers them support within the UK for any of their dogs adopted here. If you are interested in adopting a dog from Spain just let her know.

Leadchanges is now based Kenninghall in Norfolk where Tamasine particularly loves helping with dog reactive dogs, shy and fearful dogs, rescues, dogs that have experienced trauma, adolescent phase behaviour, preparing dogs for travel, working with travel worried dogs, and with people and dogs who do not necessarily thrive in group classes. Class situations aren't for everyone and in almost all behaviour cases, gaining skills away from a group situation is nearly always the right approach because it is mentally and emotionally better for the dog. While many think meeting in person right from the start is the best way forward, often this is not the most helpful, successful or fastest way of making progress. It's important that dogs bond and look to their human partners for support not the trainer and it is essential to help the human caregiver become their own mini behaviourist and expert in their own dog. The sessions covered help the caregiver to do this and take into consideration all aspects of a dog's background including finding out what a dog might enjoy in life to support the work put in. Having an in depth and up to date knowledge of canine psychology is essential along with helping dogs feel they have some agency in their lives. Sadly too much is about control and many do not have choices as the humans in their lives make so many decisions on their behalf - when to feed, when to go out, where the water is put, if they are neutered, when they go to the vet, how they have their harness or lead put on and so on and often this is done to the dog and not for the dog. Helping people build the most amazing relationship is part of the process so that dog and human truly communicate with each other.

Tamasine achieved a Distinction with average of 95% overall in her studies to Level 6 (the equivalent of a degree) in advanced canine behaviour with the International School of Canine Psychology and having a specialist interest in the Gut Biome and how this impacts on behaviour, Tamasine brings the highest level of current research and science based methods to her work with dogs and their humans.

Tamasine also has a Practitioner Diploma in Dog Behaviour, a Canine First Aid certificate and Dog Law Certificate with the British College of Canine Studies in the UK (all at Distinction) and has completed Level 1, 2 and 3 in Dog Scentwork with Talking Dogs Scentwork, has completed Dr Ian Dunbar's Growl course, Dr Dunbar's SIRIUS® dog training programme and Reliability and Games course. She has attended Dr Karen Overall's Veterinary Behaviour conference, and regular attends Webinars, courses and lectures on various subjects such as noise phobia, predatory behaviour, trauma issues, separation anxiety and aggression issues as part of her ongoing CPD. Tamasine attended the first UK Puppy Conference in January 2018 and the Welfare Implications of Unethical Breeding and Psychological Trauma in Dogs Conference in 2019. She has also undertaken internet courses with Sarah Whitehead's school including the really useful - Sex, Hormones and Neutering course.
Attended the Natural Dog Expo 2024 and is currently studying ACE Level 1 (Animal Centred Education) for gait analysis, pain assessments and behaviour.

Tamasine is a supporter and advocate for using scent work which helps dogs on so many levels and is accessible for dogs of all ages and abilities as well as owners of all ages and abilities. It can help with many behaviour issues and she regularly hosts workshops for a Talking Dogs Scentwork Accredited Trainer to bring scent work skills to more people and their dogs. Another workshop she regularly hosts is with a Mantrailing Global instructor, an activity that enhances and supports the behaviour work guardians and their dogs are working on. It is particular helpful for dogs that are dog or human shy, dog/human reactive or generally anxious and nervous about life.

Tamasine runs workshops and co-hosts with various other trainers to offer dog guardians the chance to learn more about what motivates their dogs and helps those with reactive and shy dogs re-enter the world around others in a safe and supported way. Many people end up feeling isolated and the workshops allow people to find a way to having fun with their dogs again. These workshops include scent work, canine Parkour and Mantrailing and are all run by accredited trainers. The workshops are for everyone - not just those who have dogs with behavioural needs! Tamasine of course still offers 1-2-1 in home consultations and is also totally comfortable and highly experienced in delivering affective 1-2-1 work (live and in person, not pre recorded) through internet/social media support - often the best way to get a few basics in place before meeting up.

She also gives talks on young dogs, new dogs and puppies - including rescues, adolescent dogs; canine psychological welfare and early development; Separation Related Disorders; Aggression and how Gut Health and Diet affect behaviour. With colleagues she runs a workshop called Inner Game which is for humans (pet professionals and dog guardians) who want to learn more about dogs or who have lost confidence around their dogs for some reason, in particular if they have had behavioural issues that they are struggling with.

Ad ID: 8727819264