About Clever Companions
Qualified, Experienced and Insured, Dog Trainer and Clinical Animal Behaviourist
My name is Lesley Townsend and I’m a qualified, insured dog trainer and clinical animal behaviourist.
Living with a dog can bring you immense joy and companionship, but it can also bring stress and frustration, when things aren’t quite going as planned. Whether you’re a busy parent raising children and a puppy, a veterinary professional referring a client or an experienced dog owner getting to know your new best friend, I have the skills, experience and qualifications to help.
Qualifications
I have a Masters in Clinical Animal Behaviour from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh, where my dissertation research on lead-walking and pet-dog welfare was awarded a distinction and achieved the highest marks in my year. I’m a qualified Canine Behaviour and Training Technician (CBTT-13119) with AniEd Ireland, I hold a Fetac level 6 in Canine Obedience and Training, a CAP Level 1 (Clicker Trainers Competency Assessment - Distinction) and I’m a certified Canine First Responder.
I’m a member of the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) a provisional member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) and a candidate member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Consultants (FABC), professional organisations which require members to adhere to the highest standards for knowledge, competency and ethics. As a provisional member of APBC I have demonstrated that I have the appropriate level of knowledge and understanding for the professional role of Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB). I am currently working towards (CCAB) accreditation. The APBC and FABC support provisional and candidate members undertaking behaviour consultations. I am an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Authority (AFHEA) in the UK and have been a peer tutor on the Companion Animal Behaviour and Production Animal Welfare post-graduate courses for the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh. I’m a founding member of the Irish Veterinary Behaviour Association.
I’ve been published in the Journal of the British Veterinary Nursing Association (VNJ) and the journal of the British Veterinary Association (Vet Record) and my research has been featured in Psychology Today. I have contributed original research to both the British Veterinary Behaviour Association (BVBA) study day and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) conference. I regularly attend workshops, seminars and conferences, ensuring my knowledge and skills are always at the cutting edge of behavioural science.
Most importantly, I have hundreds of hours of ‘real-life’ experience, working with people and their dogs every day. I believe a rewarding learning experience isn’t just for dogs, it’s for people too, so making training fun and achievable for both ends of the lead, is at the heart of everything I do. My goal is to help you better understand your dog’s behaviour, and to empower you to change it, using welfare-centred, evidence-based, training and behaviour programmes.
“I have had a wonderful experience working with Lesley over the past six years. She is kind and professional, and it’s so comforting to know that she is fully trained and accredited. I have yet to come up against an issue that Lesley can’t help me with. She takes such great care of the dogs (and their humans) and all of her advice is specific to your dog and your circumstances. When my puppy broke his leg, she came up with an entire enrichment programme so that he could continue to reach all his puppy milestones and we could continue his socialisation in a safe way. The dogs adore her (and her treat bag) and she is always so happy to figure out solutions to whatever is causing problems. Lesley’s approach is dogs first. Dogs have dog behaviours and Lesley helps me to make sure all their doggy needs are being met. Her training techniques reward good behaviour and help me to encourage them to express their doggy behaviours in non-destructive ways. She is an excellent trainer and I would encourage any dog parent to get in touch!”
Michi, Henry and Koko D8
Contact me
For more information on how Clever Companions can assist you and your pet, please contact me