Who Are We?

 

 Paws on the Levels was founded by three people.

Jan

 

Hi there - my name is Jan Windsor and I share my life with 4 Border Collies and Paul my OH (aka Head Pawman, who looks after the Paddock and maintains the kit) I am a qualified and experienced Sports Coach, an Agility Club Approved Instructor and I hold a Distinction in a COAPE Advanced Award in Companion Animal Behaviour.

(Centre for Applied Pet Ethology).

I have recently been accepted onto the COAPE Advanced Diploma in the practical aspects of Companion Animal Behaviour and Training in 2010 and if successful, will become
an Affiliate Member of the COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Therapists (CAPBT).

The Border Collie was our breed of choice long before we discovered Dog Agility, and our current 4 dogs are the latest in a list of 13 BCs, some of which were Rescue dogs
and some raised from birth. They have all been very different in character and temperament. As Border Collies are the most common type of dog found in Agility, my experience
and understanding of this breed has been invaluable.

I love to see handlers grow in confidence and get so much pleasure from our sport as their dogs advance.

My days of running around have passed - old injuries from my time in competitive sport now mean that I handle my dogs from a distance and can fully
sympathise with handlers who are not as mobile as they once were. Distance handling takes a little longer to train, but can be just as effective as the handler
that runs every obstacle with their dog.

July girls  Manda on the left and Jan on the right - UKA National Finals 2009 - would you believe in July?

 

Manda

I am Amanda Paddick and I'm the one without a collie! I live with my husband Pete, 2 dogs and 2 cats.

Although I hold a BSc Honours degree in Equine Science from Bristol University, I changed career paths a few years ago to become a Chartered Accountant,
which Nikki and Jan say is very handy when it comes to looking after Paws money!

Both my dogs are gundog breeds - Abby is a 5 year old Cocker Spaniel and Wookie is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (Toller for short).

Abby was my first Agility dog and like many other "first" dogs, did not get the early training that she deserved and needed. This lack of Foundation has meant that she
is slower around a course than she could have been, but she has still managed to win lots and is currently only 2 points off Champ class at UKA.
With Abby I have completed my CAP 1 & 2 from Learning About Dogs, as well as Paws n Music Level 1 in Heelwork to Music.
Wookie is a less well known breed, a retrieving gundog and much much bigger than Abby. Still a puppy, we are learning all about ways to play, motivate and succeed.

My experience with training and motivating gundog breeds is becoming more relevant as we see a marked increase in the number of these breeds taking
up agility - no longer does the collie dominate our classes.

 

Nikki

 

                        nikki       Hi - I'm Nikki Goddard and yes I've got a collie!  

Since achieving my Diploma in Dog Grooming in 2003, I have run my own business as a Canine Beautician and life is very busy.

"Difficult" breeds are all in a day's work for me so I've grown to understand a great deal about handling dogs with issues.
I've also completed a number of courses to learn more, such as the COAPE course "Think Dog", seminars including Dealing with Wolf Hybrids and Lookalike Breeds,
Aggression in Dogs, and Canine Health Concern amongst others. I am also really interested in the links between canine health, behaviour and diet.

For a couple of years I supported the rehoming work at Heaven's Gate Animal Shelter through being a member of their Agility Display Team,
which is where my attachment to rehomed dogs began.
My second German Shepherd was a rescue from a difficult background and he taught me a huge amount about what makes a dog tick.
In 2008 I rehomed Nelia, my little Collie bitch.  Nelia is a challenge and keeps me on my toes, but this anxious and hyperactive teenager has become
my best friend over the past 2 years.

Whilst Manda brings her experience with gundogs and Jan brings collie know-how to Paws classes, I'm the one that has dealt mostly with the big breeds -
German Shepherds in particular.

We also see plenty of rehomed dogs in both our agility classes and in the PawPlay pack. It is so rewarding to be able to help both the dog and their owner
enjoy their new lives together.

       

Why Paws on the Levels was formed

 

We formed Paws on the Levels primarily as a place where like-minded friends could meet to train their dogs. In a short space of time, more friends came to join us.

We have also seen a growing interest in what we do from people who live in the area.

Because of this, we now offer good quality training classes and workshops in many aspects of canine training and well being.

 

The Future

 

Whilst Agility is our primary focus, we have a growing interest in canine health and well-being topics.

Many of these subjects are related to the performance of the canine athlete or working dog, others provide an insight into what makes your dog behave the way he does and how you can change unwanted behaviours.

We are continually researching possible topics and workshop leaders. Please check our Diary from time to time to see what's new.