Dog Trainer and Behaviourist in Reading

About Dogs Be Dogs
Meet our team:

Tash Clark - founder of Dogs Be Dogs.

I help dog owners to understand their dogs better and address issues related to anxiety, aggression and reactivity, often working together with the veterinary professionals.

I also help new puppy owners to give their puppies the best start in life, by effective puppy socialisation and preventing behavioural issues from developing.

My training and behaviour modification approach is practical; I am committed to helping owners and dogs to lead a fulfilling life together, focusing on what is important to you. I use the most up-to-date training and behaviour modification methods, due to continuous professional development, as I am constantly investing in my knowledge of dogs’ behaviour.

I specialise in aggression (reactivity), anxiety (including separation anxiety and handling at vets/groomer), however can help with other behavioural issues as well.

Choosing the right dog trainer or behaviourist is extremely important (as the wrong approach could do more harm than good). Here are a few of my qualifications to give you peace of mind about my approach. 

I am a qualified dog behaviourist with Level 5 / DipHE qualification in Canine Behaviour with OCN .

I am a full member of APDT 01425 (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), an accredited instructor with the UK College of Scent Dogs, and a member of PPG (Pet Professional Guild). I only use force free methods, giving dogs a choice, and focusing on building positive relationships.



Sarah Turner, trainer

I have always loved animals! I fell in love with horses at the age of 7, despite no one else in my family having the same feelings. As soon as I had my first full time job I saved up and bought Niamh, a beautiful chestnut mare, whom I owned and adored until she passed away.

I had always wanted a dog, but the job I was in and the yard where Niamh was stabled, made this impossible. As soon as my circumstances changed, we rehomed Ziggy, a 3-year-old blue staffy. He was a typical staffy, cuddly, funny, loyal and also ball obsessed. At the time, I didn’t see this as a problem, but I started to realise how anxious he was and so sought help. 

In my search, I learnt about positive, science-based dog training and I was hooked. I knew this was the method that I wanted to use to help Ziggy, but I also wanted to find out more for myself. Working with Tash taught me how to read dog body language, about how dogs learn and behaviour modification. I was hooked! 

This year I passed the extensive IMDT (Institute of Modern Dog Trainers) assessment, to become a full member and trainer. I continue to work with and learn from my incredible mentors at Dogs be Dogs and I want to help owners build strong relationships and have a happy life with their dogs.



Zuza Ochocinska, training assistant & dog walker.

For as long as I can remember, I had a passion for dogs.

The first ever dog I tried to train was my father’s super patient Polish hunting dog Tanya.

It was not until much later, when a life changing event made me realise there is no better time than now to welcome a dog into our family, we decided to adopt a puppy from Romania. That was a bit of a shock at first! I realised I knew nothing about raising a puppy. I started my research on how to help dogs who never lived with people. This is when I learned that there are all different training approaches and discovered how important kindness is in training dogs. 

I travelled to Bucharest in September 2019 with a charity to see for myself how dogs are cared for in public shelters. It was an eye-opening and heartbreaking experience, but it made me understand my dog’s individual traits so much better! 

I had my own dog walking business before I joined Dogs Be Dogs. It's been the most rewarding work of my life, and I looked at bunch of training classes offered on the Internet, but let me tell you, when you have no guidance, it can be confusing!

Currently I am studying with IMDT and volunteering at dog training classes with Tash and Ian. Soon after joining Dogs Be Dogs I fostered (failed foster) a lovely Bernese Mountain Dog called Baloo. Assisting dog training classes helped me with my confidence and how to help him to come out of his shell.

I now am a dog walker for Dogs Be Dogs taking out a variety of Gundog breeds and cross-breeds every day, and enjoy my time spent with dogs of different sizes and personalities. The learning never ends and every day at work brings something exciting and new. 

Kelly Young, our friend in the North, and trainer.

Having worked and learned with us for 2 years, Kelly is now running Dax's Doggos, based in Lanchester, Co. Durham.

Having always been an animal lover and pet owner from a young age, it was no surprise to find me around my horses and dogs at every opportunity.

After many happy years with the loves of my life Monty my gelding for 20 years and Kia my American Bulldog for 14 years. Also fostering a few strays along the way, we welcomed Dax a staffy cross rescue into our lives. While we expected some issues with Dax, I felt I'd be able to help him settle into the family. 

We soon acknowledged we needed and sought out help. As I went about researching the best way to help my new best buddy, I quickly learned that much has changed with regards to training and Dax required a different approach. 

There was so much more quality information and training available. I dived right in and found myself wanting to advocate positive training methods not just for Dax but as a future career. So here I am, now an approved IMDT trainer working with a great mentor, to help dogs and their pawrents with everyday life skills.