Meet the Trainer

Here at Norton IPO, we have a joint approach to training. Everyone in the club is aware that each has a duty to help everyone else. After all it may be them that will be next to need some help.

To this end we work in a group in obedience, lay tracks for one another in the first phase and offer help and advice when needed, and encouragement to persevere.

Our main trainer is Heather Corkin.

Heather has runs a GSD specific dog training club for ten years, from 2005 to 2015. Amongst other things she is an approved examiner and Assessor for the Good Citizen Dog Scheme, She was for eight years the National Breed Health Co-ordinator for Mastiffs, and has been the Secretary of more than one Breed Club, gaining excellent reports from the KC on the running of Breed Specific Championship Shows. She is also an 'A2' judge approved to award CC's for German Shepherd Dogs, a 'B' list Breed Specialist judge for Mastiffs and for German Spitz in conformation.

She has her first confirmed appointment to award Challenge Certificates in the Breed in June 2015.

She has trained many pet GSD owners from scratch to competition level in Obedience, KCGCDS pre beginners stakes (competing at Crufts), to those first taking part in IPO.

Ever aware that the dog is a living being and not a 'tool' or the means to an end in itself, she also encompasses health and construction as part of her instruction, as well as impationg knowledge of the dog's psyche.

She ensures that members are introduced to health testing relevant to their breed, specific conformation, and ensures that all training is backed up in theory as well as in practice, to allow individuals to understand techniques and develop their own styles.

I was first involved in Schutzhund just before and just after the formation of the British Schutzhund Association.

Stuart and Pauline Nye held a seminar at their kennels in 1990 (I believe) with Mr. John Buckley from the GSA of Ireland, which I attended. I then began to take part in committee events at the North East O.G. initially as a Committee member, then as Secretary and then as Chairperson and Trials manager.

I was Trials manager in 2005 of the first WUSV selection trial ever in this country.(as well as being chief cook!)

I bought a famous book to teach me about the drives a dog uses, “Training the competitive Working Dog” by Tom Rose and Gary Pattison. I then realised that my showdogs, although good at many disciplines, were lacking the necessary drive and determination to participate in all three phases.

I have worked eight dogs to B.H., beginning in 1993 with 'Hazelgrove Lasso'

However marriage and shiftwork got in the way of continued attendance at club training.

Now retired I am able to devote more time to my hobby of all dog activities from treiball and rally through competitive obedience to Working Trials and IPO.