ABOUT

Hello! 

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I'm Zara Linehan. I started More Than Sit Dog Training to help people with canine problems, big and small, and to help fend off those problems developing further down the road.

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As a Guide Dog Mobility Specialist, I've spent most of my career training dogs to perform some pretty complex, precise behaviours and calculations as part of their guiding role, as well as teaching their new handlers how to do the same. Working with pet dogs, however, has enabled me to shift my training focus more towards companionship, confidence and resilience rather than just obedience and job performance. Yes, it is important to have a dog that listens to his owner. But dog ownership should be so much more than that. It should be about forging a mutually trusting relationship with your dog, having him become part of the family, affording him autonomy, allowing him to be...more Dog!  And it should be about you enjoying that relationship.

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I left university in Edinburgh with a BSc(Hons) in Zoology, an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare from the Royal (Dick) Veterinary College, and a desire to improve the lives of domestic and/or zoo animals. I started out in animal rescue and quickly found myself heading up the ranks towards managerial roles, which took me away from the whole reason why I got into the industry in the first place: the animals and the people. Moving to become a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (as it was called then) was the ideal opportunity for me to both train dogs and help people: win-win! I started with Guide Dogs in 2008, gaining a degree in Canine Assistance Studies (with the University of Chester) along the way. Since those early days, I have moved to Singapore and rolled out their guide dog training service for them, worked closely with Guide Dogs Victoria in Melbourne and came back to Guide Dogs in the UK with 2 kids and multiple furry and scaly friends in tow.

I am based in Oxfordshire and help dogs and their owners locally and further afield, in person and remotely. Whatever the problem, wherever you're based, do get in touch to discover how More Than Sit Dog Training can help.