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About Us
See the world through canine eyes
Take a virtual tour of the Centre
Meet Team Harburn Dog Academy
Sue
Dutch Herder x Belgian Malinois. One of my IGP and Agility dogs. The cuddliest and sweetest of all my dogs, as well as the most intense, toy obsessed maniac.
Gonzo
Sadly no longer with us Rottweiler. My first IGP, Obedience and Mantrailing dog. Currently retired from sports due to health issues. Invaluable help assessing and helping reactive dogs.
Twist
The newest addition to the Team HDA. 6 months old Papillon x Border Collie. Super cool little character and a future agility star, no doubt
Iskra
Belgian Malinois. One of my IGP and Agility dogs. Full of personalities ;) A living proof that breed does not define a dog.
Mia
Staffie X from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Our Golden Oldie. A living proof that breed matters and genetics can be a powerful factor in shaping a dog's personality.
Josie
Galgo Español x Podenco rescued from Spain where she was used for hunting and treated really badly. She arrived terrified of people. She is very independent and opinionated and has taught me how to be patient with my training, all about building connection with your dog. She’s a bit older now, a complete cuddle bug and regularly helps out with nervous or reactive dogs.
Rita
Papillon. Our little sunshine and an Agility star. Absolute social butterfly. Loves working with other dogs. Helped number of dogs come out of their shell and thrive.
The Boys
Borys, Casper, Max, Arthur, Pippin, Lord (of the Lambs), Robbie & Bruce. Our dog savvy, bottle raised sheep that will be helping out with the sheep awareness training when they grow up. Being very brave and curious they already volunteer their presence during some of the classes.
Kali
Malinois x Dutch shepherd mix, rescued from the streets of Cyprus. She’s a spicy, intense workaholic who is the perfect balance to sweet Josie. She's training to one day compete in agility and obedience.
Gosia Bates
I first moved to London in 2009 and that’s when my career working with dogs started. A few years later, after visiting Edinburgh and falling in love with Scotland, I moved up North. After a few years living in Fife and running some of my classes in Edinburgh, we found a beautiful piece of land located in West Lothian just outside of Livingston. In 2021 Harburn Dog Academy was born. Since then our centre is constantly growing, developing and improving. Thanks to my wonderful clients and the little dog crazy community we have created together that piece of land morphed into the incredible training centre it is now.
I use motivational based methods in training, but I am also a strong believer that life dogs is much more than just training. Understanding canine social communication, creating a strong bond based on mutual trust and respect are in the centre of my focus in everything I do.
My passion is helping working line dogs thrive in pet homes, as well as helping the owners of those dogs understand their 4 legged workaholics better.
Connie Simon Nutbrown
Connie has always had a passion for working with animals. They hold a BSc(hons) in Animal Biology and Behaviour, an MRes in Evolutionary Genetics, and a PhD in Genetics, and is now studying to become a Certified Veterinary Physiotherapist. Connie has also achieved Canine Conditioning and Fitness (CCF) Level 1, 2, and 3 with Josie.
To begin with, Connie will be leading the autumn-winter proprioception classes, and as they progress through their qualifications, we’ll be adding exciting new services including canine fitness, conditioning, sports massage, rehabilitation, and veterinary physiotherapy. Together, our vision is for HDA to be a hub where sport dogs, working dogs, and pet dogs alike can learn, grow, and stay active, healthy, and happy.
Beyond the practical work, Connie loves bringing science to life and making research meaningful for real dogs and their humans. Looking ahead, they plan to offer monthly sessions that translate academic research and theory into accessible insights for everyone.
Once fully qualified, they also hope to collaborate with vets and academic partners to combine genetics, behaviour, and physiotherapy to support dogs living with chronic pain, mobility challenges, and the behavioural challenges that often accompany them.
Professional recommendations
I first met Gosia when she was a client of mine with her lovely Rottweiler, Gonzo, but it rapidly became obvious that, as in all the best client-vet relationships, we were working as a team. In fact, I’m not sure that I wasn’t more impressed with her skills as a trainer and handler than she had reason to be with mine as a chronic pain clinician! Gosia demonstrated the most impressive practical example of co operative care in action, allowing me to examine a patient who, because of pain and temperament, would otherwise been impossible to examine with the subtlety needed for a chronic pain assessment.There is an impressive set up at Harburn that I wish I had had in my days of treating animal behaviour problems and I am consequently sending her way patients and owners who need support, frequent access to training and a safe space in which to practice newly learned skills.