About WaggyTails

WaggyTails was formed in February 2001 by Sheena Tyrrell-Sheppard KCAI(CD)

Sheena does all the 1-2-1 and behaviour work. All of the instructors at WaggyTails take part in an on-going training program, which involves attending monthly trainers meetings to cover all aspects of dog training. This is to ensure that all instructors, although they have different personalities, train using the same methods & commands.

Sheena has been instructing dog training classes since 1995 and achieved her KCAI (Kennel Club Accredited Instructor in Companion Dogs) in October 2006. She has attended many dog training courses, health seminars, lectures & workshops.

WaggyTails Instructors:

Chief Instructor: Sophie Rolf PDTI(Adv)

Sophie has been teaching dog training classes since 1998, focussing on pet dog and puppy training. Sophie passed her PDTI and PDTI advanced in 2007 and has since been back in the role of tutor and assessor. Sophie is also a Kennel Club listed Assessor for the Bronze Good Citizen award.

In recent years Sophie has been enjoying training and competing in several different dog sports including Flyball with her own team Dragonflies, KC competitive obedience and Talking Dogs Rally in which she both competes and judges. She also enjoys Canicross with two of her dogs and races locally during the Canicross season.

Sophie’s daughter Beatrice is following in her footsteps with her own dogs, enjoying both training and competing in competitive obedience, qualifying both of her own dogs for Crufts for the past 4 years in the YKC obedience finals and Special Pre Beginner Good Citizen finals, as well as training and competing in Flyball with her own team Dragonflies and qualifying for Crufts Flyball with Tails We Win ‘Tiny Tails’ in 2026. Beatrice has a lovely natural affinity with dogs and her calmness makes her a really effective trainer and teacher.

Sophie and Bea have 6 dogs between them; a working cocker, two springer x collies, a border collie and two sports-mix puppies of mixed parentage.

Instructors: Lisa, Liz and Bea

We also have many others helping with the general running of WaggyTails and maintenance of the grounds and equipment.

WaggyTails uses positive training methods, which basically means we use tit-bits & toys as lure - reward & also clicker training. Therefore a bag of tasty treats cut up small & a non squeaky toy are essential training aids.

Our main method of training is playing fun games that build confidence, self control and trust, building a great bond with your dog.

All dogs at WaggyTails are worked on flat buckled collars, we do not allow choke chains or half checks to be used, as they are not conducive to our methods of training. A harness or halti may be used, however you will also need a collar on your dog at all times. A flexi-lead is not suitable to train your dog in a class situation, a 6 foot training lead is best.