Meet our team
Tracey Berridge B.Sc (hons), M.Sc (CABC), M.A.P.D.T. 00671
Founder, Trustee (Secretary), Senior Dog Trainer, and all other roles!
I originally thought of the concept of Dogs Helping Kids (or DHK as it is fondly referred to) in the early 1990's after being both moved and inspired by a film called Skeezer, who was a very unique dog. Skeezer, based on a book of the same name, is the true story of one of America's first 'canine co-therapist' who helped emotionally disturbed and troubled children at a Children's Psychiatric Hospital in Michigan. From this first initial 'seed' Dogs Helping Kids has grown and developed over the years into a charity that now trains special dogs to work in educational establishments for children and teenagers as both therapeutic and educational aids.
I am a qualified professional Canine Behaviour Counsellor and I have been a professional Dog Trainer for almost 20 years. I have a Master's Postgraduate Degree in 'Companion Animal Behavior Counselling' from Southampton University and I spent almost three years undertaking academic research looking at animal abuse by children, why children are cruel to their pets, and using dogs in schools as classroom assistants.
I was the first person in the country, at that time, to undertake academic research on the effects of using dogs in the school environment. My research showed that there were tremendous benefits to children from introducing a dog into a school environment and that this in turn could reduce cruelty to animals. Dogs Helping Kids came into being the year after (2004) my research was completed.
I am a member (00671) of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (A.P.D.T.), which only believes in kind, fair and effective dog training and has a 'no choke chain' policy. I am also a member (0143) of the International Positive Dog Training Association (I.P.D.T.A.) which is a world wide organization that believes in non- violence to dogs.
I have been a puppy specialist for over 15 years and I am an honorary member of Puppy School, Gwen Bailey's national network of qualified puppy tutors. I am a member of The Society for Companion Animal Studies (S.C.A.S.), an academic organization which promotes and funds research into the special bond between humans and animals and I am an assessor for the charity 'Pets as Therapy'.
For over 10 years I was the Founder and Director of 'Canine Etiquette', North Devon's first and only Dog Training, Behaviour and Education Centre, based at Chivenor Business Park, on the outskirts of Barnstaple. We used to run 22 training classes every week for dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds. In 2008 I founded Puppy Gurus (www.puppygurus.co.uk) the South West's first ever Puppy Consultancy where our motto is that 'Every Puppy Matters'. I am very passionate about making sure that each puppy has the best start in life to prevent problems from developing in the future and we place huge emphasis on the entire family attending our puppy training courses, especially the children.
Over the years I have been incredibly lucky to meet some amazing 'doggy' people who have helped me, inspired me and encouraged me to make Dogs Helping Kids into the unique charity it is today. I sincerely hope that over the coming years Dogs Helping Kids will become a nationwide success and a charity that North Devon will be very proud of!
Mark Berridge B.Ed (hons)
Trustee - Chairman
Melanie Cotterill
Trustee
After many years of living and working in London, the pull to live in North Devon was too great and I left the corporate world behind. The desire to have my own dog finally happened in 2007. When the timing was right, the big decision on the type of dog was made and Maisie entered into my life.
I first met Tracey through puppy training, then advanced puppy training and finally dog agility. After being a novice in the dog world, my eyes were opened by Tracey and her great team on how dogs operate, their needs and how to recognise their signals. Through walking Maisie I started to notice how many children were scared of dogs and this I have found to be very disappointing as I was brought up with dogs and I never feared an animal, to the extent of screaming and running away. So when Tracey asked me to be a Trustee of Dogs Helping Kids I felt honoured.
I wanted Maisie to be a PAT dog but was told as she as was trained from a puppy with a harness and lead, this was not allowed at the assessment level. I was disappointed as Maisie has never walked with a lead attached to her collar. So armed with this information I spoke with Tracey who mentioned Dogs Helping Kids and her desire to train dogs for schools using harnesses. So Maisie and I hope to join the DHK School Dog Training Programme as we want also to be part of the project and not just helping with the administration of Dogs Helping Kids.
My background is corporate sourcing, business communications and PR. I have extensive organizational experience in many different types and sizes of businesses globally. My role within Dogs Helping Kids is to help with anything that is thrown my way!
Zaina Nasser
Dog Trainer
From my earliest memories, I had a real love of animals. I grew up in Birmingham and during this time began a one women crusade to re-home the growing number of feral kittens in the local area which was successful. As much as I was in love with cats, our neighbours has a “guard dog” which for me needed so much more than being stuck in a garden day in day out with a dirty dish from which he would be given what-ever left overs the family had. I remember offering my favourite posters to my friends next door if they would agree to wash out the bowl!! My canine love affair had started!
A German Shepherd Cross named Bruno only added to my passion as I became part of his family and missed him when we were apart. To get my doggy fix when not with Bruno I became involved with the Evesham Branch of The Dogs Trust (Canine Defence League then), walking the growing number of dogs every weekend that had been rescued. This continued for a few years until I moved to sunny North Devon. Again I re-established myself as a dog walker for The Dogs Trust and had a growing overwhelming desire to adopt a dog (or three) of my own.
This was when we (my partner & I) took on Ripley, a young adult stray who had been moved here from Scotland. That's when my life completely changed. Initially we believed he was great with other dogs as he had shared a kennel with a Greyhound. As the “honeymoon” period passed, Ripley's behaviour became a lot more dominant with other dogs and extremely rude. We decided some basic training was needed and enrolled on a course with Canine Etiquette with Tracey Berridge and Sally Ansell. Ripley excelled in his training and continued to advanced level. Following the advanced training Sally recommended that we take our boy to see top behaviourist Angela Stockdale. I worked alongside Angela with my own dog and others, learning all about Canine body language, interaction and methods to help create a less unpredictable, aggressive and anti-social Ripley. I found the methods and facts fascinating and began to read a plethora of books on canine behaviour and training methods. I loved the training so much I became a trainer for Canine Etiquette with Tracey and Sally and was in my element!! I also worked alongside Sally on a weekly basis socialising dogs (my own included) that had issues with other dogs and again so loved being part of assisting and helping and seeing these dogs with issued learning from their peers, owners and trainers to become more sociable and less aggressive.
I am currently a trainer for Tracey Berridge with Puppy Gurus, teaching both beginners and advanced classes which I love very much. Having a dog that clearly had not been socialised or trained from an early age highlights the importance of these classes not only for the dogs but also the owners and the family unit itself. I am proud and privileged to have been invited to be a DHK trainer which I am thoroughly enjoying and looking forward to seeing it grow form strength to strength.
Ruth Martyn
Official Voluntary Fundraiser
I've been involved with Dogs Helping Kids for a number of years with many of my dogs with Tracey's work with the teenagers. I have to say it is one of the most interesting and rewarding charities I think I've ever come across. I have seen how a dog can change the child's perspective on life, increase their confidence and self esteem and make them a much better person for their future. To a child something so rewarding as a simple hug from a dog can go a long way.
When Tracey announced a few years ago about taking the charity to another level I was keen to be involved. Wynona (one of my dogs) is a trainee school dog for Dogs Helping Kids, we both love the training so I know first hand what is involved in training the dogs. I want to see this special Children's Charity grow and succeed, this is why I have volunteered to become a fundraiser for Dogs Helping Kids to raise the much needed funds to do this.
Tara Down
Official Voluntary Fundraiser
Before I got my first dog, Blaidd, my youngest son was petrified of dogs and would climb my legs to get away from any dog!
With basic training, my son's confidence in dogs and in life grew. Blaidd and my son are the best of friends now! My son is also helping Wynona (a trainee school dog) for her reading assessment, something he would not have done 3 years ago!
I think this is a fantastic charity to support as it teaches children of all ages to love & respect a dog and they will receive love and respect in return.
Simon Thompson BVetMed CertSAS MRCVS
Veterinary Advisor
Since graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in 1995 I have worked in Charter Veterinary Hospital Group at Roundswell, Ilfracombe, Pilton, Newport and Braunton. In 2002 I became an RCVS certificate holder in Small Animal Surgery and am currently based at Charter Veterinary Hospital in Roundswell where as well as doing some first opinion work I coordinate our internal and external referral services treating surgical cases for veterinary centres across the South West.
I work within a supportive and knowledgeable team of nurses and vets all with a passion to provide above average veterinary care, all with a philosophy to care for your pets as we would our own.
We are happy to be supporting Dogs Helping Kids for many reasons. Every day, within our clinics we are exposed to the immeasurable joy and sometimes sincere heartache associated with people sharing their lives with pets. These extremes of emotion have foundations in simple values our pets bring to us. A dog always knows how to be an agreeable friend, asking no questions and passing no criticisms.
Many responsibilities come with owning a dog, time commitments, costs of feeding, vaccinations, worming and parasite control, before we even start to worry about the cost of pet insurance or potential veterinary fees if they have an accident or succumb to an illness. As such not all children are fortunate enough to be able to have a dog in their lives. The work of DHK can particularly help these children to share some of that joy and friendship pet owners are fortunate enough to experience.
Other than a puppy trying to lick your face, there are few greater joys than that of a dog just wanting to share all or even part of its day with you.
Jon Lloyd BSc (Hons), PGCE, MEd
Educational Advisor
After graduating from Northampton University in 2001 with a BSc (Hons) degree in psychology with sport studies, I then went on to Exeter University (St Luke's Campus) to study for a postgraduate certificate in Education (PGCE).
Once qualified I took up a post at West Buckland School teaching Physical Education. Since then I have been working at Chelfham Mill School near Barnstaple, a special school for boys with Emotional and Behavioural difficulties. I have worked in a number of positions at the school right up to my current position of Deputy Headteacher, which I have held for the past 5 years.
In 2005 I studied for a Masters Degree in Education with the Open University, graduating in 2007. Here I worked on areas such as 'Managing Behaviour in Schools', 'Co-ordinating Special Educational Needs' and 'Researching Educational Policy'.
I work in an environment where not only are the students educational attainments important, but also their social education and general life skills, equipping them with the necessary skills and attributes to become effective members of society, and allowing them to reach their full potential.
I am very happy to be supporting Dogs Helping Kids as I have seen first hand what a huge positive impact they can have on our young people. Children are so pleased and excited when dogs come to visit and the level of care and attention they display is fantastic.
I myself have 2 dogs and they have become such a huge part of my life, as well as providing tremendous companionship, they give so much joy and happiness. I love the fact that my dogs are always so pleased to see me, and that I know, no matter what their love and support will always be there.
Gwen Bailey B.Sc (Hons)
Patron
Gwen Bailey has a BSc (Hons) in Zoology, and pioneered the use of dog behaviour knowledge in the rehoming of unwanted animals. She was the first person to be appointed as full time animal behaviourist by a leading UK national animal welfare charity and worked as Head of Animal Behaviour from 1988-2002. Her success in solving behaviour problems with rehomed dogs has helped prevent thousands of dogs being passed from home to home, substantially improving the rehoming success rate.
In June 2002, Gwen set up Puppy School, a UK network of puppy class tutors trained in animal behaviour and offering socialisation and reward-based training classes run to a very high standard. For further information, please visit www.puppyschool.co.uk
Gwen lectures at national and International conferences, runs animal behaviour training courses for staff at animal charities around the world and has written many books & education leaflets including: 'The Perfect Puppy' and 'Dogs Behaving Badly'.
Gwen is a member and past Chairman of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.
Please see www.dogbehaviour.com and www.puppyschool.co.uk for further details.
Gwen says, “I believe there is a gaping hole in education of children in the UK as subjects such as empathy, compassion and how to solve problems with non-violent means are rarely tackled. The Dogs Helping Kids charity seeks to address this and, by using well-trained dogs that also benefit from the experience, children can be helped to easily learn many life skills that will become invaluable to them as they mature into adults and become parents themselves.
The concept behind DHK is brilliant and it has been perfectly executed and developed by Founder and Trustee, Tracey Berridge. I wish the charity every success and hope that it goes from strength to strength.”
If you would like to make a donation
please contact us.
©DHK Dogs Helping Kids, Charitable Trust
Callanish, Eastacombe, Tawstock, Barnstaple,
North Devon, EX31 3NX
