About me

Hi, I’m Kathy and I run KD Longdogs. I am owned by five lurchers, four of whom are rescues so each one has presented with their own behavioural quirks and issues which sparked my real interest in dog behaviour. All my dogs have taught me something different about dog behaviour and training, and I believe that we are all continually learning about our dogs.

Throughout my career, I have always worked with animals, I have previously worked at several zoological collections throughout UK. I have worked with many different species of animals and have been heavily involved in animal husbandry training to carry out veterinary treatment and care for the animals that I worked with. I have facilitated a husbandry training programme with a chimpanzee group, which was both challenging but extremely rewarding.

In recent years I have also worked with and trained large carnivores at the largest zoo in the UK.

I have studied with the  Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT) and I am a qualified dog trainer. Sighthounds are my passion, and in my spare time I volunteer with Accolade Hounds who are a local dog rescue, mainly rehabilitating greyhounds and lurchers. I offer one to one training support for the dogs that are rescued and rehomed by the charity, ensuring that the dogs settle into their foster homes or new adoptive homes successfully.

One of my rescue lurchers, Teazel has qualified as a therapy dog for Therapy Dogs Nationwide. We enjoy visiting a prison, schools and care homes and find it very rewarding to see the positive impact that dogs make to the mental wellbeing of other people. I volunteer for Therapy Dogs Nationwide as a qualified dog assessor, and I am also Area Team Support for Bedfordshire which involves supporting volunteers and their dogs within my area.

I look forward to working with you and your canine family members on your training journey, and I am excited to watch your dogs develop into happy family pets and companions.