We Are
Project:
Happy Dog
Meet the Team
Project Happy Dog was founded by Emma and Jess - two people truly passionate about dogs. Through formal study and years of hands-on experience, they have learned a thing or two about what makes for a successful dog. Meet them (and their own four legged inspirations) here!
Jessica is a DTC Certified Dog Trainer and Puppy Training Specialist with 5 years experience as both a dog walker and trainer. She has an Honours Degree in Zoology and has studied with The School of Canine Science, The Dog Training College and The Dunbar Academy.
Jess' passion is in helping owners to read their dogs and understand their emotions in order to create truly solid relationships. Jess is a kind, compassionate coach skilled in working with owners through frustrating periods such as puppyhood and adolescence. Jess will help you laugh, relax and develop the skills we so often need through our dog’s training journey - patience, new habits, observation skills and a great sense of humour.
With many years experience handling groups of dogs of all shapes, sizes and outlooks, Jess is a highly evolved dog communicator. She works closely with dogs, through their development, playing a hands on role actively teaching them all the vital life skills.
Jess has an Irish Setter, Ernie, who is a chilled out, gentle giant and a testament to what teaching impulse control and calmness can achieve.
Jessica Smith
BSc DTC-cdt
Dog Trainer and Co Founder of
Project: Happy Dog
Emma Robinson
PDT-cdt
Dog Trainer and Cofounder of
Project: Happy Dog
Emma is a PDT Certified Dog Trainer with Absolute Dogs and has 5 years experience as a dog walker, trainer, and behavioural coach. She’s studied with the IMDT, Canine Principles and The School of Canine Science, as well as being a Puppy Care, Coaching and Development Specialist.
Having spent four years as a trainer with South Manchester’s best puppy and dog training school, Emma has worked with hundreds of new owners to truly understand the experience. Time spent in rescue and rehome settings, working with litters and among the sports and gundog community has given Emma an empathy and insight she uses to educate and empower others.
Emma is skilled at making you see the world through your dog’s eyes, helping you to unlock their full potential and enjoy them for the wonderful creatures they are.
Emma shares her life with a Working Cocker Spaniel named Riga - a dog that's living proof 'calmness' is a skill we can teach.
The Happy
Dog Mission
We aim to bring together the resources, relationship and opportunities needed for those raising dogs. The science, research and dedicated world of dog professionals have long since uncovered how to live harmoniously with dogs. We know how to care for them, teach them and nurture them in ways that prevent and overcome common behavioural struggles; and yet anxiety, obesity, disease and difficulties are on the rise for our companions.
Here at Project: Happy Dog we’re dedicated to turning this around; to spread what we know, through years of learning and experience, for everyone to truly see their dogs, and enjoy every ounce of freedom, fun and happiness available to them.
Our mission at Project Happy Dog is to reframe dog ownership; putting happiness and enjoyment at the forefront and letting go of old myths and methods. We want to dispel outdated ideas that stand in the way of progress, laughter and friendship with your dog. Owning a dog is much more than obedience, rules and social expectations; it’s a beautiful cross-species bond, completely unique in this world.
The Project was set up by two local dog trainers passionate about sharing the need-to-know and how-to of positive, dog centred training methods. We want to build a community of like minded dog lovers, keen to develop their teaching skills and support their dogs to reach their full potential.
The Story and Future of
Project: Happy Dog
Our story… So Far!
We (Emma and Jess!) met in the summer of 2021 when we attended a training seminar together. Like anyone who’s into dogs we got to talking canine within the first few minutes of meeting. From the outset it was clear that both of us shared a lot of the same thoughts on the dog training industry, where it is and where we thought it could, and should, go. Project: Happy Dog was borne out of a genuine passion and love for dogs, and the idea that if only everyone could see dogs as we do, people’s lives would be so much richer. With a world where dogs are more and more popular, we believe people are missing a trick if they don’t fully appreciate the wonder and capabilities of dogs; and that is exactly what we endeavour to share with people. We’re excited to bring you our ethos for dog training that respects but doesn’t prioritise classic obedience training, and which promotes a pressure free, compassionate mindset when working with these wonderful animals. Dog’s really are a masterpiece of human creation and we believe they deserve to be enjoyed just as they are; complex, loving and incredibly clever animals that need us far more than we need them.
Our future plans
For us, the other, big part of Project: Happy Dog is community education and keeping people safe. The Happy Dog Community is something that we will continue to build as the project grows, focusing on keeping people safe, creating a network of understanding and empathy between owners of all types of dogs, and creating a space where people can learn, judgement free, about positive dog training, dogs themselves and the ways in which we can enjoy our lives together. We are also on the hunt for a shiny venue to call our own so we can expand the group class options, further bringing together a community of like-minded people!
We can’t wait to welcome members of the South Manchester community into the Happy Dog world where we laugh, build skills and work to make dogs happy!
