Growing up around dogs, especially black Labradors trained by my grandfather, sparked my lifelong fascination with how dogs communicate. Anywhere I went, if there was a dog, you could find me asking to walk, train, handle them. After being made redundant from my office job at the very start of the pandemic, I asked myself what is was I wanted to do with my life and what was my passion. The answer was clear to me, I wanted to work with dogs. I trained under ex military dog handlers and went on a steep learning curve working at a pet and working dog company in a verity of rolls from kennel manager to head trainer. This steep learning curve enabled me to handle and train hundreds of different dogs with vastly different of needs. I quickly learned to adapt to the dog I had in front of me and learned how to coach owners to understand there dogs and build a strong relationship of clarity and fulfilment. I then set out to work for myself and expand my knowledge learning from many other renowned trainers before setting up Prometheus K9.
The inspiration.
The story of Prometheus resonates with me and how I see dog training. They both share themes of empowerment, transformation, and responsibility. Prometheus gave fire to humanity, symbolising the gift of knowledge and enlightenment, dog trainers provide owners with the skills and understanding to communicate with their dogs. This “gift” transforms the relationship between owner and dog, creating a bond based on mutual understanding. From this sheared knowledge comes empowerment. Owners learn how to overcome challenges, communicate and understand their dogs and how to give them the life they deserve. Prometheus took on great responsibility when he gifted humanity fire, much like how owning and training a dog is a significant responsibility. Training requires ongoing commitment, understanding, and a sense of duty to guide a dog’s development properly.
Erebus
Erebus (Berry) is my dog. He is a 4 year old Belgian Malinois and he is also a rescue dog. He had had four homes by the time he was 8 month old, and did not have an easy start in life. He was extremely low in confidence and had very little trust in humans. He last family, had reached out to me for training to help with Erebus’ issues. After a very tricky month, the family knew that Erebus needed a home that could commit a lot more time and energy to him. I offered to rehome Erebus and give him the time, care and patients that he desperately needed. While it was tricky to say goodbye the family did what was best for Erebus. I am forever thankful to that family, they loved Erebus enough to know he needed something else in life and were selfless enough to let him go. Berry and I had a lot of work to do and we got to it straight way, addressing his human and dog reactivity and working on his confidence, stability and bond. It has taken a long time but Erebus is now one of the most balanced dog I know. He is adaptable, balanced, enthusiastic and well trained. I use his as a stooge dogs, he helps mw train other dogs who are lost and confused just as he was. I am unbelievable around of the dog he has become and so thankful to have him by my side as my right hand man and inspiration for Prometheus K9.