Welcome to KT's K9s
Force Free and Dog Centred
My Ethos
At KT's K9s, I will only use science backed reward based training methods. My approach focuses on rewarding good behaviour, building trust, and fostering a genuine desire in your dog to learn. I strongly believe that training should never involve punishment or fear; instead, it should be an enjoyable experience that strengthens your bond and encourages effective learning. Punishment provides a temporary fix as it does not teach your dog what behaviour they should have done in that situation. Reward based training focuses on understanding your dog and working out why behaviours are occurring to find effective solutions. Dogs trained with force free methods are more likely to retain and generalise their training, leading to better long-term results. The aim is to create a supportive environment where your dog is set up to succeed and are never punished for making mistakes.
About me
My name is Katie Sayers (used to be Thompson, hence the business name!) and I am a lifelong animal lover. I have an undergraduate degree in Psychology where my interest in animal training began, when I did my applied behaviour analysis module. At the same time, my family rescued a dog from Romania, who was very anxious, in which my passion grew stronger and I started researching how I could use training to build his confidence. I decided I wanted to learn more, so I went off to travel in Bermuda where I shadowed trainers and behaviourists. Next, I got offered a place at the University of Edinburgh for Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare to develop my theory knowledge. I went on to work at Dogs Trust where I developed my practical skills. I have a rescue adolescent cockador who is an absolute whirlwind but has taught me so much and is still teaching me every day and helping me develop my skills (and increasing my patience and tolerance!) I am a very passionate person and will very much treat your dog like my own!
My experience and qualifications
I hold a Master’s degree in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare from the University of Edinburgh. As a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC), I completed extensive coursework, two oral exams, and a practical exam to earn my certification. Over the past three years, I have worked as a dog trainer for Dogs Trust, gaining hands-on experience with dogs of all ages and breeds.
Testimonials
'Katie is enthusiastic, reliable and professional. Her knowledge of training and dog behaviour is exceptional, she knows how to make a dogs day fun, and puts their needs before everything else. My dog can be reactive on walks, but she knows exactly how to handle this and keep him safe and calm. Most importantly, Katie is clearly devoted to animals, and my dog absolutely loves her. I wouldn't trust my pet with anyone else.'
'Katie has been walking & looking after our dog, Biscuit, for a couple of years and we couldn’t recommend her more highly. Biscuit adores Katie.
Katie is knowledgable, warm and reliable . Her understanding of Biscuit’s behaviour has been excellent and really helped us with managing her reactive behaviour. Katie has taken the time to build a strong relationship with Biscuit so that she can provide the best of walks & care.
Katie always provides Biscuit with the most enjoyable of walks and we know that our doggo is getting best of attention & adventure when out with Katie.'
'Katie worked with our lovely 18-month-old Lurcher, Luna, to help her feel more confident around strangers and less excitable around other dogs. She was extremely patient and understanding, which quickly earned Luna's trust. Over a couple of weeks, Luna went from being unsure when Katie first arrived to tail-wagging excitement. Katie shared so many wonderful tips and tricks to keep Luna entertained and focused during walks, and they have worked extremely well. We now feel confident about redirecting Luna's attention when needed, and the best part is that Luna finds it fun! Thanks so much, Katie'
