About The IABTC How it all Started...

How it All Started... The IABTC was established in 1996 by Angela (with husband Mike White) in response to a demand for quality personalised courses for dog training instructors, behaviourists and enthusiasts. Angela and Mike have infact been running courses and teaching in subject at various venues around the UK (and abroad) since the late 70's. They have also run many related businesses and in the past, were perhaps best known for publishing 2 magazines, (Obedience Competitor and Smart Dogs). They also ran a manufacturing company (Quadrupet) that specialised and designed equipment for dog training - supplying dog clubs and enthusiasts or training around the world, as well as larger organisations such as: Guide Dogs for the Blind, Police, RAF, MOD, SARDA. In latter years, both Angela and Mike moved more into teaching and gradually left the manufacturing and magazines behind. Angela's first love 'behaviour and training' was indulged when she became a lecturer in Animal Behavior and Dog Training at Bishop Burton college in the early 90s. She saw this as a special opportunity to educate young people (as well as more mature students) in the art of positive and motivational dog training, helping them to gain and utilise the underpining behavioural knowledge as well as the practical skills needed to make a good dog handler. She went on to become a senior lecturer and head of canine and specialist courses, developing and writing courses in animal behaviour and training to degree level. She wrote the first ever Canine Behaviour and Training course at Higher Education level and personally welcomed over 150 excellent students in the first year of its launch. In 2004 Angela decided to concentrate on what by now had become a passion - to educate instructors and the growing number of behaviourists - and put all her energy into developing courses, educational and practical workshops, seminars etc., to help instructors and behaviourists do a better job for dogs and their owners. Since then the organisation has grown. Angela employs a number of hand picked specialist instructors to help her to deliver what has become a comprehensive package of interesting, thought provoking and educational courses which are attended and enjoyed by learners from all over the UK and abroad. IABTC and links to KCAI - (See also About KCAI). When the Kennel Club decided the time had come to develop an education and accreditation programme for instructors and behavioral trainers, Angela was keen to get involved. She was a founder member and has continued to grow with and help develop the programme. All IABTC courses are closely linked to the educational and practical skills requirements of the KCAI. In fact some KCAI courses have been specifically developed to help instructors meet the KCAI requirements. Alongside IABTC - Angela and Mike developed Haxey Study Centre for local young people to learn about animal care, dog training, and other areas of interest such as horticulture, conservation, and even music. This facility has become popular with schools who send small groups for vocational study. It is praticularly useful for special schools, looked after children, and other vulnerable young people. They learn via individually developed learning programmes, using the animals and the rural environment, with specialist tutors to support them. Occasionally there is a cross over between IABTC and Haxey Study Centre when instructors on courses have fun working with the younger students and the centre dogs.