CCAB ​Dog Behaviourist, dog trainer CCAB

Linda Roberts Ryan veterinary nurse technician lecture VN VTS oncology specialist CPD CE referral

I have loved, lived & worked with animals all my life. I am a passionate advocate for animal welfare & the human-pet relationship, & I always enjoy working with pets & their people!

But that - in itself - is not enough! I am also highly qualified! I have been in the veterinary profession since 2000, & have studied animal behaviour & welfare for many years. 

My interest in training & behaviour management started at the beginning of my Veterinary Nursing career. It developed into a hobby, which I pursued with my two "misunderstood" collies. Seeing the results that positive reinforcement training had on these wonderful dogs & on our relationship, my interest soon became a passion. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn! Over the years, I have been able to apply principles of positive reinforcement training & behaviour modification to my Veterinary Nursing work, both in the hospital setting & in conjunction with owners at home.

As a Registered Vet Nurse, I have spent over half my career working at university referral level, ultimately becoming dedicated cancer nurse at Edinburgh Vet School’s Oncology Service. Working with the cancer service taught me a huge amount, not only about patient welfare & quality of life, & the human-animal bond, but in helping owners to cope in difficult circumstances, as well as considering pets' behaviour & emotion in all interactions & interventions.

Going hand-in-hand with my specialist interest in medical & oncology nursing, I am passionate about the maintenance of optimum quality of life in chronically ill patients, balancing welfare with medical needs - especially within the context of the veterinary clinic setting. This is where my interest in training & behaviour management really took off, with behavioural health & emotional welfare becoming my highest nursing priority. 

Since then, I have specialised in clinical animal behaviour, preventative behavioural health, animal training, & the vet-behaviour connection. I have qualified to a high level, undergone independent accreditation & am governed by professional bodies.

I am a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Behaviour, & a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist - ASAB accredited (for cats & dogs).

I hold a BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour & Welfare; as well as being a Certified Trainer with the world-renowned Karen Pryor Academy. I am a full assessed member of both the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, & the International Association of Animal Behaviour Counsellors (IAABC). I am also a member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians. I am both an Animal Behaviour & Training Council-registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist & Animal Training Instructor.

I continue to enjoy studying & increasing my knowledge of animal behaviour & welfare, undertake regular CPD in order to keep up to date & further help my clients & their pets. 

I remain involved in the teaching of veterinary professionals, as well as training & behaviour paraprofessionals, being passionate about supporting & educating the next generation of veterinary & pet professionals. I am a Vet Nurse at all times, including at the heart of my behaviour work, & this whole-pet approach is so important in collaborating with you, your pet & your vet.

I am proud to work in collaboration with various educational bodies, such as International Cat Care, Karen Pryor Academy, BSAVA, OncoreEPD, Fear Free, & others. I am a faculty member of the Karen Pryor Academy & offer training courses for professional animal trainers - find out more.

I live happily in the New Forest National Park, with my husband, a little brown dog, & a tortie-kitty! (The "co-workers" that can often be found sleeping on the job!)