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The APBC Committee

  • Chairman-Rosie Barclay

    Rosie Barclay is a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) and a full member of The Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC). She holds a BSc (Hons) in Zoology and an MPhil in Animal Behaviour and Welfare from Nottingham University and is presently consulting as a companion animal behaviourist in Jersey one of the Channel Islands. Rosie is a contributing author in "The APBC Book of Companion Animal Behaviour” and has published a book on dog behaviour designed for dog owners called “Good Dog? Bad Dog?” Rosie has published several academic papers and is a contributing author on the APBC’s paper the “Association between prospective owner viewing of the parents of a puppy and later referral for behavioural problems”.


    Rosie is also involved in the welfare training of exotic animals at Gerald’s Durrell’s fabulous Zoo “The Durrell Conservation Trust” in Jersey. She presently has two children, a big fat gypsy horse called Thistle, two rabbits, one Maine Coon, two chinchilla’s, seven chickens, two terrapins, a pond full of fish and a very understanding husband.

  • Vice Chairman-Graham Thompson

    Graham Thompson gained the degree of Master of Science (with Distinction) in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling (MSc CABC) from the University of Southampton. He has been a student member of the APBC since 2005 and upgraded to Provisional Membership in 2009.

    He has worked with dogs in training classes situations, but now concentrates on one to one training and pet behaviour counselling. Graham is particularly interested in the behaviour of dogs and their owners in the countryside. During his under-graduate studies in applied animal behaviour at the University of Southampton he investigated factors affecting the distance dogs roam from their owners in recreational environments through the use of GPS technology. During his MSc he investigated the effects of owner initiated play on the roaming behaviour of dogs on a subsequent walk in a recreational environment.

    Graham is the Dog’s Monthly magazine Trail Hound’s News Editor and the Technical Editor of Trail Magazine. As a writer and photographer he has contributed to numerous magazines and newspapers as well as being the author of two books for hillwalkers.

    He lives among the mountains of the Lake District and has variable numbers of rescued pets under his care.  At the time of writing there are three cats and three dogs in the Thompson household.
     

  • Secretary-Claire Hargrave

    Claire is a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist and qualified from the School of Psychology at the University of Southampton with a Master of Science degree in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling. Claire has worked in veterinary practice for 27 years. She is practising in Carmarthenshire and taking companion animal behaviour referrals from veterinary practices throughout Wales. Claire runs a purpose built practice with seminar facilities on a 100 acre holding.

  • Treasurer-Mat Ward

    Mat has been working hands-on with dogs and cats with behaviour problems since 1998, after graduating from Victoria University in New Zealand with a BSc in Zoology and Psychology. He has also trained a variety of species for film and TV, working on projects such as The Last Samurai, Xena, and many TV commercials for household brands such as Pedigree, Whiskas and Chef.

    Whilst working full time with animals, Mat completed a Master of Veterinary Studies degree (Animal Behaviour) through Massey University in 2003. After finishing his post graduate study with first class honours, Mat practiced as a pet behaviour counsellor in Auckland, before moving to Scotland in 2007 and setting up his behaviour consultancy practice in Edinburgh. While most of his cases are seen in the areas surrounding Edinburgh, Mat sees cases from throughout Scotland.  Further information about Mat and his practice can be seen at www.petbehavioursorted.com

  • ASAB Representative-David Ryan

    David was a police dog handler and instructor for twenty-five years. He has handled and trained dogs from forty-five kilo German Shepherds to five kilo Cocker Spaniels, entered police dog trails, performed public demonstrations, instigated breeding and selection programmes and was responsible for all aspects of dog and handler training involving tasks as varied as detecting cash, drugs and explosives through to firearms response. Now retired from police work, he conducts pet behaviour consultations, dog training and puppy classes on veterinary referral, and offers an expert witness consultancy in canine behaviour and training.

    He is a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB), holds Southampton University’s postgraduate diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling (PG Dip CCAB) with distinction, and is a member of the Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy Study Group.  

    David’s particular interest is in inherited canine predatory motor patterns and the lengths that pet dogs will go to find a way to express them, usually despite their owners’ best efforts.

  • Veterinary Representative-Clare Wilson

    After qualifying as a veterinary surgeon from Cambridge in 2001, Clare spent several years working in mixed practice in the Welsh Borders and more recently in Warwickshire. As the daughter of two human psychologists she has always had a fascination with behaviour, both human and animal. In 2006, having completed the Southampton Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling, she went to work for Sarah Heath in Chester for 12 months to gain invaluable behavioural experience. In 2007 she set up her own behavioural referral service in Warwickshire and in 2008 became a Full Member of the APBC. With a busy home life with 2 young boys, dogs, cats and chickens, she now continues to work on a part-time basis seeing canine and feline behavioural referrals and also working as a general practitioner at two local practices.

  • Public Relations Officer-Pippa Hutchison

    Pippa Hutchison qualified from the School of Psychology at the University of Southampton with a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling. She also holds a post-graduate diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling (Dip (AS) CABC). In addition, she has been accredited with the RCVS recognised post nominal of CCAB (Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist) Pippa is a full Member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) and stands on the committee as their Press and PR Officer. Since 2004 she has been in practice as a companion animal behaviour counsellor holding veterinary referred consultations throughout Scotland. She is a behaviour consultant at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the University of Glasgow, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
    Her main interests are the reinstatement and improvement of the human-animal bond between a client and their companion animal, through manageable behaviour modification programmes.

  • Online Public Relations Officer-Karen Wild

    Karen Wild BA (Hons) Dip App Psy, is a full-time U.K. dog trainer and behaviour consultant with 16 years in the field. She has a degree and diploma in Psychology from the University of Nottingham.

    Karen's work has ranged from class teaching, obedience, flyball, agility and working trials competition to running a popular dog display team. When she started her own family Karen realised there was a genuine need for one-to-one help in the family environment. She formed her consultancy Pawprint which specialises in online and practical advice in this area. Her passion is to create and rebuild the 'enjoyment factor' that can come from family dog ownership.

    Karen's work with dogs and young people includes her current programme to bring more dogs into schools in the UK. Her writing has been published in Dogs Today Magazine and she is a regular contributer to dogstardaily.com.
     

  • Provisional Members' Representative-Holly Hunt

    Holly is a Pet Behaviour Counsellor based in Sussex.  She primarily works with cats and dogs, but also provides advice with other species (including horses). Holly has a BSc in Animal Behaviour Science and is currently studying with Southampton University. Following her undergraduate degree Holly went on to work for the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA), the Pet Health Council and National Pet Month in London. Holly is also dedicated to animal welfare and has volunteered for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in London, RSPCA and ran the London Marathon to help raise money for the Blue Cross. Her and her partner live with their latest edition, a Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer puppy called ‘Leskie’.

  • Student Members' Representative-Stuart Greenfield

    I began my career 7 years ago working in rescue kennels whilst studying for my HND in Animal Welfare and Management at Pershore College. I then progressed into working for Guide Dogs for the Blind as Dog Welfare Staff. After a stint travelling I went back into rescue before obtaining a role with a large veterinary referral practice in Surrey. All through my career I have had an interest in behaviour and have undertaken small Certificates in the subject. I have now furthered this whilst working in practice and am coming to the end of my BSc Applied Animal Behaviour with Portsmouth University. My role in practice now includes behavioural elements such as stress release through mental stimulation and assessing dogs to instruct staff on the best ways to handle them for both the safety of the staff and the upkeep of a good level of animal welfare. This is something I aim to further with further study and work into the topic. I hope that my drive and enthusiasm is something I can inspire in other students as part of the APBC. If any student memebrs wish to contact me please do so at stuieg2009 [at] hotmail [dot] com

  • Vet Nursing Representative-Stephanie Hedges

     Stephanie started her career in the animal care industry as a Veterinary Nurse in 1990. After working for many years in general practice she decided to specialise in companion animal behaviour and was awarded the Certificate of Applied Animal Behaviour by the University of Southampton in 2005.
    In 2006 Stephanie started her own canine behaviour consultancy whilst continuing to work as a Veterinary Nurse. She was accepted as a full member of the Association of Pet behaviour Counsellors in 2009 and finally retired from nursing in 2010. Since then she has continued to run her behavioural consultancy, alongside her roles as an undergraduate lecturer in animal behaviour at Warwickshire College, an external examiner to Bishop Burton College and the Veterinary Nursing representative for the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.