Meet the Team
Hello, we’re the Axe Valley Dog Training team. Our trainers have a broad range of knowledge so you can be sure we’ve got you covered.
Davey Atkinson
Head trainer / Terrier specialist
Davey (aka The Terrier Guy) is a Clever Dog Company Method Trainer, terrier enthusiast and clicker trainer. His lifelong aim is to show the world that terriers can be trained very successfully using modern reward-based training techniques without the need for physical or psycological intimidation. His favourite training exercises include mat work and shaping, essential skills when teaching terriers!
He gained theoretical and practical accredited qualifications in Canine Behaviour and Training (Alpha Education, Clever Dog Company) and was handpicked by the famous Clinical Animal Behaviourist and Trainer Sarah Whitehead (BA, MSc) to join her team of licensed trainers in the Clever Dog Company Method. He is fully DBS checked and holds a Canine First Aid certification.
Learning is a continuous journey and Davey keeps his scientific knowledge up to date by attending courses, webinars and reading from some of the best trainers and behaviourists in the field throughout the year.
When not working he’s practising the flute (knowing first-hand about frustration!), plays in a small orchestra, and has started to learn the Chinese Xiao. He lives with his partner and their British Blue cat, Luna.
Hayley Clemson
Trainer/Nutrition Specialist
Hayley has always had a passion for dog training and welfare and decided to make it her full-time career in 2020 when she joined the team offering professional dog walking and admin support for the business. After shadowing Davey for a couple of years alongside studying Canine Behaviour with The School of Canine Science, Hayley is now a class instructor and continuing to support with administration, communications and marketing.
Fascinated by the link between diet and behaviour in dogs, Hayley also holds a diploma in Canine Nutrition and loves helping our clients in selecting the best food for their dogs and offering general nutrition advice as our in-house nutrition specialist.
Hayley is passionate about Scentwork and has recently completed scentwork training courses with ‘Talking Dogs Scentwork’ and ‘The Dorset Dog Trainer’; she will soon be offering scentwork courses to our clients and is spending her spare time testing and practicing this training with her cockapoo Ruby, who is becoming a scent work pro!
Hayley and Ruby also love to involve Hayley’s two children in both their scentwork and general training practice and she brings her experience in dog training with children to our classes, occasionally offering special children’s agility and handling sessions. Hayley holds a current DBS and Canine First Aid certification.
Ruby
HR Support
Ruby is a 2 year old cockapoo who allows trainer Hayley to live with her. Ruby is extremely thorough in monitoring Hayley’s admin work and likes to lay herself across the computer keyboard when Hayley writes the monthly newsletter, so that she can proof-read the copy. Ruby attends all of the team’s business meetings and has taught Davey how to take notes and type with one hand as she has added to his contract that she must be petted at all times when in his presence.
Ruby has recently introduced a new benefits policy for the business meaning bonuses for good behaviour are now paid out regularly to herself, Bonnie and Bambi in the currency of yak chew sticks. So far this policy has been well received.
Outside of office hours Ruby enjoys long walks on the coastal path, identifying ‘special’ pebbles on the beach (that she then needs to carefully carry home for her collection) and playing lots of scentwork games with Hayley and her human brothers. Ruby also does some overtime as a ‘stooge dog’ helping clients become more confident and comfortable around other dogs.
