All our trainers and committee members are unpaid volunteers who give generously of their time. We all have a deep interest and commitment to dogs and their wellbeing.

OUR TRAINERS

Hi my name is Cathy Benfield, I’ve been a member of B&BDTC since the 1980’s and have been a trainer here for about 6 years.  I’m also a dog agility trainer and have been for about 12 years.
As a child I always wanted a dog, but my Dad would not let us have one.  So when I left home at 20 I purchased my first German Shepherd Dog Khan.  Since Khan I’ve owned Thunder, Nikki, Trevor, Jaeger and Cito.  I compete most weekends throughout the summer with Cito at agility shows, we have also just started to dip our toes into the obedience shows this year.

Lynn Clark: Having been involved in keeping and breeding exotic animals and breeding and showing Chihuahuas, I started my obedience career with a black miniature poodle called Ellie. Having been bitten by the obedience bug, I bought my first collie who took me from Beginners to C class in competition. Over the years I have worked five collies with varying degrees of success! At the moment I am working Lacey, a small working sheepdog who has been quite a challenge to say the least. Having attended more obedience training courses than I care to remember I eventually succumbed, and, with a very good friend, assisted Janet Ford when she set up Tadley Dog Training Club. I stayed with her for a few years until she immigrated to Cornwall with her new husband Terry. I then continued to help Rebecca Cox, who is a qualified animal behaviourist for another couple of years and then I retired - or rather tried to, but not for long as I am now helping with the Good Citizens Classes here at the Basingstoke and District Dog Training Club!

Karen Thompson: I have worked with dogs since leaving school both in boarding/breeding kennels and as a professional groomer. I have been self employed for the last 15 years running "Trim Dogs" grooming service. I started competing at obedience shows in 1981 and have worked my own dogs up to Class C. I am a Kennel club approved judge and started judging in 1995 and have judged up to Class B. I have instructed at BDDTC for several years now and currently take the KCGC class with Lynn Clark as well as the competitive class. I currently own 5 border collies and a whippet.

Martin Livemore: I was bought up with pet dogs from an early age - wherever I have lived there has always been a dog in the house. I got involved in obedience training and competitions about 15 years ago. I love the friendly, supportive atmosphere of the shows. In the last 5 years I have been involved in Obedience Score Boarding and Stewarding for the Kennel Club. At the moment I’m training a German Shepard Dog called Bob who is very difficult, challenging and hard work, but he is also an intelligent character who reads me well in all situations...It is especially rewarding when one starts to see results with a dog like Bob. We have learnt a lot from each other.  I have attended numerous courses in dog obedience training over the years. What I get great pleasure from is helping people to train their pet dogs. I love seeing how the puppies develop over a short period of time. My long term personal ambition is to compete in a Crufts Obedience final.

THE COMMITTEE

President: Kathy Chandler
Chairperson: Sue Hannay
Show Secretary: Karen Thompson
Meetings Secretary: Caroline Stevens
Club Treasurer: Debbie Steadman
News and Advertising: Karen Hare and Kath Gorick
Trainers: Karen Thompson, Lynn Clark, Cathy Benfield, Martin Livemore
Trainees: Paula Conlon and Karen Hare
Reception: Aime Livemore