The Richie’s Room Dog Trainer Interview – all you ever Wanted to Know about Rosee Riggs

How well do we really know the people who help us to train our dogs and to manage any behavioural issues that they may have?

Do they use Positive Dog Training methods as advocated by the likes of Victoria Stilwell?

Or are they stuck in the past with the Dominance methods employed by Cesar Millan?

Do they drink tea or coffee?!

And where does their greatest challenge lie? I suspect that this probably sums it up:

I can train any dog in 5 minutes. It’s training the owner that takes longer.

Barbara Woodhouse

With that in mind, I thought that it may be interesting to find out a little more about some dog trainers and behaviourists.

Welcome to ‘The Richie’s Room dog trainer interview‘.

In this episode, we are going to meet somebody who was recommended to me by a previous interviewee – Freya Locke. Presenting … Rosee Riggs.

Let’s get started …

Introducing – Rosee Riggs

Rosee, or if we are being formal, University Professor Rosee Riggs B.A. Hons., has over a decade of experience as a canine behaviour adviser.

And she has first-hand experience of living with a dog with separation anxiety so she is fully qualified, both by training and by experience, to help those of you who have a dog with this phobia.

Getting to Know Rosee

This series of questions is designed to tell us a little more about Rosee other than her role with dogs.

I was a theatre director and a professor of acting at a university for music and performing arts.

Indian.

Gardening.

I have a huge permaculture-type garden, designed for insects and all wildlife.

I grow my own vegetables.

Black tea with milk or black coffee.

I would buy my daughter a house and myself a camper to travel with my dogs and see all my friends.

Then I would buy a vast tract of land and re-wild it as a nature reserve. That would be so cool!

Then I would carefully donate the rest.

Till recently, I lived with a greyhound and two whippets, but they sadly passed away through old age.

Now I share my life with an elderly golden retriever.

Gillian Anderson.

Suits.

Capoeira.

Rosee as a Dog Trainer

OK, this series of questions relate to Rosee’s role with dogs.

I was given so much contradictory advice with my first dog – and so much incorrect advice which caused havoc – that I decided to take things into my own hands and study canine behaviour myself.

My approach is relationship and choice-based.

I work as often as possible in natural surroundings and where the dog lives.

I love coaching caregivers to enter the emotional and sensory world of their dogs and support them to cope better in our human world.

I am passionate about good handling, including understanding how dogs naturally use the environment to orientate and communicate, and how best they can enjoy a walk. This is not just lead work, but a whole way of living in harmony with dogs.

When caregivers perceive more about this, they can facilitate harmonious social interactions for their dogs.

I also offer successful online programmes for people helping their dogs recover from separation fears/the fear of staying home alone.

I have 12 years of experience as a canine behaviour advisor.

I studied with Sheila Harper, one of the great pioneers of a dog-centred approach (IPACS I & ll).

I hold the Level 5 Diploma in Canine Behaviour from the International School of Canine Psychology and Behaviour.

I am a Certified Separation Anxiety Pro Trainer (trained by Julie Naismith).

I am a full behaviourist member of INTO Dogs and the Pet Professional Guild, and am signed up to the UK Behaviour and Training Charter.

To read canine body language so that they can facilitate two-way communication with their dog.

How to go at your dog’s pace, give your dog time and space to process things, by recognising their current needs and skill set.

My motto:

“The smaller the baby steps, the faster your progress will be.”

Rosee Riggs

Sheila Harper whose knowledge is profound, and who has developed a unique practice to benefit dogs.

Lead handling and going for successful walks, and also how to help dogs feel safe at home alone.

Yes, it is really useful to look at recordings to school observation skills.

Continuous learning is vital.

And then finding really experienced practitioners to help you translate theory into best practice which benefits the individual dog.

Seeing dogs being able to relax, practise their natural talents, and caregivers finding joy again in the relationship with their dogs.

Reading their dog’s body language to set up two-way communication.

Helping their dogs feel safe and learning how to support them to learn the skills they need to navigate our human world.

Finding the time, the optimism and the peace of mind.

I help them by showing them the fascinating world of their dog and by concentrating solely on what is really important.

To me, that is facilitating life skills rather than training exercises to get particular behaviours. Caregivers generally find this a more natural and rewarding way to live with dogs.

I am a huge fan of positive diaries: noting the skills your dog does in fact have (instead of only concentrating on a problem), noting all the wonderful things about their personality and all their successes, is life-changing in terms of admiring your dog in a new light.

I love working in a team, learning together and complementing each others’ skills. So, I am currently working on building a team.

And I want to write a book about my greyhound, Stevie, and what I learnt from him.

I definitely would still do it 🙂 🙂

I feel grateful to have found the right people for me to learn from.

All ways round, I am content with everything up till now – and am still curious, looking forward to further learning from the best in the industry.

Contacting Rosee

So, if having read Rosee’s answers you’d like to contact her, or follow her on social media, the details you need are as follows:

• Website : https://separationanxietydogtraining.com/
  and : https://good-dog-practice.com
• Email : rosie@separationanxietydogtraining.com
  and : riggs@good-dog-practice.com
• Telephone : 0043 (0) 680 1169363
• Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/groups/separationanxietydogtrainingsupport
• Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/separationanxietydogtraining/

Acknowledgements

And …

The End

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