The Pet Professional Guild British Isles Special Counsel Experts

The following industry experts have made themselves available as Special Counsel to the Pet Professional Guild British Isles Steering Committee. We thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules to assist us in their areas of expertise. Their ongoing support is very much appreciated. 

Victoria Stilwell

Victoria Stilwell is a dog trainer and behaviour expert best known as the host of the international hit TV series "It's Me or the Dog" through which she promotes the power, effectiveness and safety of force-free, positive dog training. A best-selling author of three books, "Train Your Dog Positively", "Fat Dog Slim" and "It’s Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet", Victoria Stilwell is Editor-in-Chief of Positively.com, President of the Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior, and the CEO of Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training (VSPDT) – the premier network of world-class positive reinforcement dog trainers.

The recipient of multiple awards and a regular contributor to print, radio, digital and TV media as a dog behaviour expert, Victoria Stilwell is committed to helping the cause of animal rescue and rehablitation and is heavily involved with organisations around the world to increase awareness of puppy mills, dogfighting, animal abuse, pet overpopulation, dog bite prevention and other animal-related causes. 

Victoria Stilwell is a National Amabassador for the American Humane Association and serves on the Advisory Boards of RedRover, DogTV, Dognition, The Grey Muzzle Organization and Canine Assistants. 

For more information about Victoria Stilwell and Positive training visit: positively.com

Helen Phillips

Helen Phillips is the owner of the 'Clicker Gundog' Training Centre. She is a qualified teacher and an Instructor for The Gundog Club. She has been shooting and working dogs in the field for over thirty years and has been breeding Hungarian Vizslas since 1998 and therefore has extensive understanding of living with and working with hunting dogs.  Helen teaches a Canine Training & Behaviour Course at Warwickshire College and is an active assessor for the Learning About Dogs Clicker Trainers Competency Assessment Programme.  She trained with Kay Laurence for many years and taught Clicker Training workshops at Wagmore Barn in Gloucestershire. She teaches a variety of Clicker Training and Gundog courses around the world as well as at her own training centre in the UK.

Helen Phillips is the Author of the popular ‘Clicker Gundog’ Training Book. Gundogs have inherited specialised skills that have been honed over hundreds of generations. Helen takes this natural skill, enhances it and uses it to enrich a working partnership that is a joy to experience. With Clicker Gundog the focus is on learning how to develop a partnership using reinforcement strategies and how to use careful planning so that you build a high level of control that exceeds the stimuli of the hunt and shoot.

Helen Phillips has developed a range of workshops and seminars to help teach these skills to both the handler and the dog. For more information contact helen@clickergundog.co.uk. Clicker Gundog Training, Ryden Lane, Charlton WR10 3LH.  www.facebook.com/clickergundog

Robert Hewings

Author of the recently published ‘Introduction to Canine Scent-Work’ and head of learning and development for the UK College of Scent Detection, Robert Hewings is a highly experienced Canine Trainer. He retired from the Metropolitan Police after 30 years’ exemplary service, twenty-five of which was as a Police Dog Handler, and the final nine years as a full-time trainer with the Metropolitan Police Dog Training Establishment. He has enhanced this experience with a BSc (Canine Training and Behaviour), MA (Professional Practice Police Dog Training) and a Doctorate of Professional Practice (PhD) Canine Scent Detection.

Robert Hewings has instructed all police canine-search disciplines including explosive search and narcotics, supporting this with practical experience gained in London, UK where he has supported many large events, including the 2012 Olympics, Wimbledon Tennis and protecting the Royal Family.  During his time at the prestigious Metropolitan Police Dog Training Establishment (2007-2016).  Robert Hewings headed the training for SWAT dogs, and was active in the instruction and development of all aspects of Police Dog and Handler Training. He played an active role in the instruction and development of the ‘Canine Training Instructor’, authoring two training manuals, and designing coaching programs that have enhanced the effective performance of operational dog handlers.

After his retirement in 2016, Robert Hewings took on new challenges to complete his desire to learn, including lecturing at university (BSc Canine Behaviour and Training) where he specialised in ‘Assistance Dog Training’ and practical assistance dog training using scent-work within epilepsy-alert, diabetes-alert and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder alert. Along with writing his recently published book, he also attended Bergin University of Canine Studies where he gained a valuable insight into assistance dog training, particularly for PTSD sufferers.

Chirag Patel

Chirag Patel PG Cert (CAB), BSc (Hons), Dip CABT- Domesticated Manners

Chirag is passionate about applying behaviour science for animal care. He consults with pet owners, organizations such as Guide Dogs for the Blind UK and Kong as well as consulting with zoos. Chirag also gives seminars internationally, writes for popular dog magazines and blogs. He also works part time as an Assistant Head of Canine Training and Behaviour at Dogs Trust and is an the scientific advisor for the British & Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums Training Group. He started Domesticated Manners in 2004. Previously Chirag managed the Training and Behaviour Centre at Dr. Roger Mugford’s Company of Animals.

Chirag has a BSc (Hons) in veterinary Sciences from the Royal Veterinary College in London as well as a post graduate certificate at the University of Lincoln in Clinical Animal Behaviour under Professor Daniel Mills and Helen Zulch (Veterinary behaviorists). Chirag also previously worked at the University as the head trainer clicker training rats and degus for odor discrimination and indication. Currently Chirag is doing his MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis at Queens University, Belfast.

Karen Wild

Karen Wild Dip. App. Psych, CCAB, MBPsS has both a degree and a diploma in psychology from the University of Nottingham, England. She is a certificated clinical animal behaviourist and qualified dog training instructor who runs full-time behaviour practice Pawprint, near Peterborough, England, working with family pets. Karen Wild also lectures on behaviour practice, practical training and consultation for Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England, and on the professional diploma for clinical animal behaviour at Central College for Animal Studies, England. Most recently she has specialised in behaviour and puppy work but her career has ranged from class teaching, obedience, flyball, agility and working trials competition to running a popular dog display team. 

Karen Wild writes on dog behaviour and training for Dogs Today, Pet Product Marketing, PETS International, Dogs Monthly and Pet Focus and is also a guest blog writer for Dr. Ian Dunbar's website, Dog Star Daily. She has authored three books: What Your Dog Wants, 21 Days to the Perfect Dog, and Being a Dog. 

Karen Wild is a strong advocate of positive reinforcement-based training methods for both pets and their people.