About Us - The training school and behaviour practice

My name is Zoe Willingham and I am a qualified, independently accredited dog trainer & behaviourist.

I am owner/founder of Best Behaviour Dog Training which is an independently run dog training school and behaviour practice. Best Behaviour Dog Training was born out of a genuine concern for dogs and owners after seeing and experiencing first hand, a number of outdated and potentially damaging training techniques that were, and are still being used to train dogs.

I felt so passionately about bringing kind science based training to dogs and their owners I decided to retrain as a trainer and then as a behaviourist. I trained for many years whilst holding down a full time job, and when the time was right took a leap of faith to do the one thing I had passionately trained for, for so many years.

The training school and behaviour practice has gone from strength to strength, thanks to the support and recommendations from dog owners as well as animal welfare chairites such as the Blue Cross, vets and other animal related organisations. I have built a reputation of delivering top quality dog training and behaviour support, with many dog owners chosing to train with us for many years enjoying the varied, fun training classes and workshops we offer.

Accreditations and Qualifications
Due to the industry being unregulated, I have been assessed and accredited by leading independant industry bodies, so you can be assured I have the practical and academic ability to work with your dog. My IMDT and IMDTB accreditations are a kite-mark of quality, knowledge and understanding which ensures you and your dog have a great experience.
I have worked with animals all my life, including having trained as a Veterinary nurse, worked in the pet food and pet health industry. As well as my accreditations, I am also an assessor for the IMDT, and am honoured to be part of an organisation that is striving to gain industry regulation and assurance for pet owners of the future.

The training experience

I personally teach classes along with my team as well as conducting behaviour consultations as I believe your dog is a part of your family and it’s really important to me that me and my team know you all personally. I have a fabulous team of trainers and assistant trainers that are present at classes.
Training ranges from puppy and dog training, agility, flyball, dog activity classes and helping dogs with behavioural problems across Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire. Best Behaviour Dog Training is often referred to as a centre of excellence by owners attending classes, setting us apart from standard training and helping not only train your dog, but prevent behavioural problems in the future.

We are unique in that we truly are up to date with modern dog training science and techniques and have written a bespoke 44 week training programme to support you and your puppy or dog through the first year of dog ownership. This combined with our free lifetime access to our community and further progression available with agility, off lead training, scent detection, advanced training and so much more.

My accreditations include:

Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT)
Institute of Modern Dog Trainers and Behaviourists (IMDTB)
The UK College of Scent Dogs accredited Instructor & Handler
City & Guilds in Scent Detection
Talking Dogs Rally Instructor
British Veterinary Behaviour Association
Registration Council for Dog Training and Behaviour Practitioners
International companion Animal Network – Welfare First.
ISCP – International School of Canine Psychology – In progress

I am also a proud member of the Pet Professional Guild and am DBS checked.

About our service

Puppy and dog training classes are available in Ipswich, Martlesham, Felixstowe, Barham, Colchester and Stowmarket where we offer lots of varied and interesting puppy and dog training classes. Many of our dog owners enjoy trying new classes and training with their dogs over a number of months and years. 

Dog training with a difference:

Quality training that goes beyond the basic
Training to prevent problem behaviours of the future
Modern force free science based teaching methods
Access to an exclusive online community for support and help for anyone using our services, or has used our services in the past
Force Free, reward based training - No yanking at leads, no choke chains, no training collars, or anything that causes your dog fear or discomfort.
Training that really works for the rest of their lives.  
Family friendly environment - everyone welcome
Classes at the Blue Cross Rehoming Centre in Ipswich to support the Blue Cross financially, and allows the dogs awaiting a forever home a place in every class to prepare them for their new life.
Our training is ongoing, so you can do as much or as little as you would like. Training is booked 8, 12 or 16, weeks at a time and classes are always different and interesting.

My business partners 

As well as my wonderful behaviour and training team and assistant dog trainers, I have 17 business partners. These guys are the reason I do what I do. Every single one of them has taught me things books and study can’t, and each of them hold a special place in my heart. They are all rescues. So, when you phone me and say, ‘my dog's doing this’ I have probably been exactly where you are with my own dog and know how you are feeling. For more information on my business partners see below

Why I do what I do - The Team

As well as my wonderful human assistant dog trainers, meet my 19 business partners

These guys are the reason I do what I do. Every single one of them has taught me things books and study can't, and each of them hold a special place in my heart. They are all rescues. So, when you phone me and say, "my dog's doing this" I have probably been exactly where you are with my own dogs and know how you are feeling. Over time they have all developed their own little roles in the Best Behaviour / Dogversity family.

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About Us - The training school and behaviour practice

Why I do what I do - The Team

As well as my wonderful human assistant dog trainers, meet my 19 business partners

Millie

The Boss - My Princess and Inspiration - The reason I became a dog trainer. I owe this gorgeous girl everything, she changed my life in ways I could never imagine possible.

Charlie

Company Stylist - king of the hair - Charlie likes to take life slowly, and his biggest challenge in life is his hair style! For those of you that meet him, you will remember his wig!!

Shadow

Head of education - Coming to me as severely reactive to the point Shadow was likely to be put to sleep. We are inseparable and through her rehabilitation Shadow has taught me so much about the needs of reactive dogs. The love I have for this girl is beyond words.

Quince

Communications director - Communication is Quinces strongest attribute, and she certainly likes to bark with joy to approve what we are training!!! One happy, yappy springer!!!

Ted

Head of HR - As the oldest Ted has taken on the role as head of HR. He sees in the new arrivals, shows them the ropes and reminds everyone of meal times. Every home needs a Ted!

Scooby

Trick tester - Scooby loves doing tricks and tests all the new things we do in classes and on our online courses.

Tia

Security - Every growing dog training business needs a reliable head of Security and Tia is it! Tia checks all the bookings to make sure we have the best dogs and owners. She does a great job, as we really do have the best owners and dogs training with us.

Bonnie

Gone but never forgotten. Bonnie was a very elderly lady and came to us when her daddy died nearly three years ago. She came with a broken heart which we mended for her, but sadly she passed away at the grand age of 14 years old. (We miss you Bonnie x)

Dottie

Head of rest and relaxation - Dottie diligently tests all the beds to ensure all the team get a good rest in between testing all the fun training we offer to you and your dogs. It's a dogs life and all dogs need their rest to be training superstars!

Odie

Entertainment director - Odie is constantly entertaining everyone with his clowning around. He's one clever cookie, but boy oh boy does he make us laugh every single day!!!

Ollie

Quality control - You will often see Ollie at the physical classes held at our locations. Ollie Quality controls all the training to make sure the dogs attending love it! He gives very honest feedback to make sure we teach your dogs all the best training.

Loki

Head of Training Development - Loki has taken the role of training development. Ensuring he pushes as many boundaries as possible to ensure the training team are well equipped to advise you on helping your own dogs. He say's he has taught the humans a LOT!!

Barney

Head of Puppy Training - Barney is the Peter Pan of the puppy world. Barney helps us work on lots of puppy training for the Dogversity online training. He hopes he will have lots of fans soon!

Olive

Spud

Noodle

Pug Noodle as she is called! - Noodles main aim in life is too find mischief and run around like a looney. Noodle is chief mischievous maker and teachers her human trainers how to help you with your mischievous dogs.

Artemis

Wilbur

Is a back yard breeder rescue. With a severely undershot jaw that impedes his eating Wilbur was being sold to breed from until the rescue intervened. Wilbur is a sweet boy who is head of play. He plays with everyone and helps socialisation with new puppies.

Snoopy

AKA Big nose - Snoopy is a rescue cocker, that was born just before his owner died. He is learning to be a sniffer dog to be the next generation of sniffers in the Best Behaviour sniffer dog team.

Waffle

Waffle is head of special needs. Being a deaf dog Waffle shows owners how easy it is to train a deaf dog when you know how! She's a super star ambassador for deaf dogs and their training.