Recently, one of our former Animal Management students, Maddie, came in to deliver a guest lecture to our current Animal Management students, outlining the journey she took into her role and discussing the importance of experience and passion to become a professional in the industry. 

Maddie completed the Level 3 Animal Management course in 2020 but has also had many years of experience, helping in a veterinary practice at just 14 years old, before managing livestock on a farm, working in rescue kennels and then working in a veterinary hospital. She then launched her own business, Maddie’s Pawfect Pooches, in 2023 where she provides personalised dog training for clients.

Throughout her Animal Management course, Maddie completed a range of work experience including White House Kennels where she helped care for dogs in boarding and Court Farm where she worked in the farming industry. She said, “The benefits to completing a placement at college are endless. You gain hands-on experience with animals, but you also learn how to talk to customers and clients. Depending on what you want to go into, it can also be a great way to make connections with employers, learn more about that specific industry, and how to secure a permanent job in that role.”

“I absolutely loved the Animal Management course. I felt it had a great element of practical as well as theory, and being able to work with the animals at Puxton Park was a great way to get the necessary hands-on experience.”

For many years, Maddie knew she wanted to start her own dog training business, therefore, after her Weston College course, Maddie completed a Level 4 Dog Training, Behaviour, and Welfare course to create a well-established business across North Somerset.

Within her business, Maddie supports dogs and their owners through tailored training sessions and solutions, specialising in rescue dogs and reactivity cases. Within these sessions, Maddie helps dogs build their confidence, overcome behavioural challenges, and help dogs feel safe and understood as well as help their owners better understand the reasons behind their behaviour and how to manage it in the future. She also creates puppy training programmes for owners to navigate and cope with the behavioural and developmental stages of a new puppy. 

During her 1-to-1 training sessions, Maddie completes a behavioural assessment through observations and interactions, she then creates a training plan and educates the owner on what she has discovered regarding the dog's behaviour. To overcome the issues, Maddie completes training with the dog, this can take anywhere between a couple of sessions to a couple of months depending on the severity of the case. She then has monthly catch-up sessions with the owner and their dog to monitor any changes and check progress.

This thorough process is the foundation of her successful business and has been extremely effective and received great feedback from clients, making the waitlist for her services around 6-7 months.

“My favourite thing about owning my own business is getting to know all the dogs and clients personally. I love seeing the progression that the dogs make, from when I first meet them, they’re nervous and reactive, to then seeing them confident and emotionally balanced, it’s just so rewarding.”

Maddie is an excellent reflection of what students can achieve when they set their mind to something and put in the work. She knew what she wanted and worked hard to get it, gaining a range of different work experiences to secure a wide knowledge base of working with different animals and specialties. 

A big thank you to Maddie for sharing her experiences and acting as an excellent role model for the students.

This Careers Event forms part of the Animal Management Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.

Progress to the next level in Animal Management! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here!

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