Dog care business owner achieves advanced diploma

A DOG carer from Emmer Green says achieving a diploma will help her better understand the animals she looks after.

Toni Ilsley, 52, who owns Charlie’s Dog Place, studied for more than a year to achieve the advanced dog behaviourist level four diploma.

She set up the business by converting the garage at her home in Buckingham Drive, in memory of her son Charlie, who died of cancer two years ago, aged 13.

She expanded when she took over Doggy Dips in Kidbys Yard in Kennylands Road, Sonning Common, a year ago and renamed it.

Mrs Ilsley said: “A trainer can teach a dog tricks, how to walk on a lead, how to lie down and to return when called but doesn’t really understand a dog.

“It takes a behaviourist to understand why problems arise in their behaviour.”

Her studies involved online lessons with a tutor each weekend and revising for an hour each night after work.

She said: “The course started with the evolution of dogs and their history and how humans have affected their behaviour.

“It also looked at the different problems dogs have like aggression, separation anxiety and chasing squirrels and how they can be helped.” She now uses her training to anticipate the behaviour of the 30 dogs she looks after each day at the dog care business as well as those she looks after overnight at her house.

Mrs Ilsley said: “I know by a look or a body language how a dog is going to behave. For example, if a dog is interested their tail will wag, while if they are scared it will be between their legs.

“You also know if it’s going to go for another dog when its ears are up, straight together and facing forward.”

She is now looking to study for her level five diploma, which takes a more advanced look at dog
behaviour.