PDTE 2012 March Newsletter

WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS
LINE SKAUGERUD
NORWAY
was there as an assistant. An exciting way
to get repeated all the lessons from my
own education.
Right now I am in the startup phase of my
own dog business as a dog trainer, mostly
based on private lessons. Currently, this
will be something I do when I have time
to spare, and when I am contacted in particular.
I also plan to arrange lectures and
many seminars in my area, in future.
DIMITRI PONTIKAKI
GREECE
character, and also how our relationship
became so much better. I strongly believe
in the dog-oriented methods of training,
and I’m sure of its best results.
ARLETTA HODGE
ENGLAND
My name is Line Skaugerud, and I live
with my partner Eirik, our border collie mix
Kira and two cats, Lilo and Stichi. I work as
Office Manager at the Norwegian Animal
Protection Alliance (NAPA) four days a
week. NAPA concentrates on helping animals
on fur farms, in intensive agriculture
and in animal experiments. When needed
I’m the one who answers dog-related
questions, together with our veterinarian.
The fifth day is dedicated to the publishing
house, Huldra, which I own together with
Anne Lill Kvam and Turid Rugaas. Huldra
publishes animal books, for the present
mostly dog books (www.huldraforlag.no).
Huldra is working to increase knowledge,
understanding and respect for animals.
I am an educated economist with specialization
in Marketing from the University
College of Buskerud.
I have worked with dogs in periods since
I was fifteen, and had my first job at a
kennel back then. In 2004 I started to
study Animal Welfare at Nord-Trøndelag
University College, but after a few months
I found that it was all about producing as
much meat as possible for less money. So
I dropped out, and went back to my job at
a bookstore. This was like taking a huge
step backwards in life, so I searched everywhere
for some other animal-related, or
ideally some dog-related work. In February
2005 I went on a weekend course with
Anne Lill Kvam about dogs with behavioural
problems. She told me that Turid
Rugaas needed a dog sitter, and in May
2005 that became my job! From spring
2005 - autumn 2007 I worked for Turid
as her dog sitter, and in 2007 I graduated
as an international dog trainer from Turid
Rugaas’ dog trainer school. When last
year’s students graduated in Norway, I
Page 8
Hello, I’m Dimitra Pontikaki, a positive dog
trainer, and I live in Greece. I have two female
dogs: Mimi, an 11-year-old Labrador-
Grenendal mixed, and Neda, a 5-year-old
English Setter. Both of my dogs were stray
animals and Neda, whom I found last November,
was abused and left on a mountain
by her previous “parent”. I studied at
Yiannis Arachovitis’ positive dog trainer
academy and I have worked with dogs and
their parents for almost four years. During
this time I have helped many people who
have problems with their dogs, and as
result many dogs who had problems with
their parents. My interest in positive dog
training started when Mimi and I started to
work in a pet therapy group. To be able to
enter the program, we had to be trained
in basic obedience. The trainer of this
group wasn’t that positive, so I started to
reach for an other method to train my dog.
Until then I hadn’t looked for any training
technique because I had no problems with
my dog, and I didn’t care that much for
basic obedience. I was happy that I had a
healthy, social and happy dog who could
participate in every activity of my family.
On the other hand, the image I had of
dog trainers was the traditional image of
the cruel man. That really didn’t express
either me or the relationship I wanted to
have with dogs. Finding a positive dog
training method changed my mind, and
when starting to train Mimi that way I sow
the difference to both myself and my dog’s
I have been very lucky to spend my tender
years surrounded by animals.
My best friend, German shepherd girl Wilma,
used to take me for walks in my pram
and told me stories, straight into my ear! I
think of her often and have a clear picture
of her in my mind.
While studying, I was allowed to live in
student accommodation with my dachshund-cocker
spaniel cross, that was very
unusual but the credit was hers not mine,
as everyone loved her company. She was
a fabulous dog. We slept, ate and travelled
together, shared everything — well, maybe
except boyfriends.
I was naïve in thinking that I knew something
about dogs, even though I had spent
lots of time with them. My current dog
Mela, an English Bull Terrier, laughed hard
and long when I tried to use my ‘knowledge’
on her.
Meeting her has changed my life. I have
enrolled in Sheila’s Harper IDTS and have
been very fortunate to also meet Turid,
Winkie, Anne-Lill, and many more ‘doggiemad
people’.
I work from home now, helping my better
half run his business. I have a degree in
psychology and used to work with disabled
and autistic children. I truly believe this
helps in dealing with people — after all we
train them not dogs.
PDTE NEWS