About Me, my
commitment to dog
training and behaviour training

Positive, reward-based training
tailored to you and your dog.
Built on trust. Backed by experience.

Pete Head
Whitepaw

Not sure which service is right for your dog / dogs?
Please get in touch and I can help you discover the right pathway.

My Journey:

For more than three decades, I have dedicated my life to going above and beyond for dogs and their owners. From stubborn puppies to complex behavioural cases, my tailored approach to each dog and its owner ensures success where others see obstacles. Every dog is unique so I don’t believe in "one-size-fits-all" style of training. My experience means I can adapt to every dog breed, age, and behavioural challenge, finding the way that works best for your circumstances and expectations.

My underlying philosophy is simple:

  • Understand: A lifetime with dogs has taught me that no two dogs are identical. True training starts by deeply understanding the individual animal.
  • Communicate: I don't just train dogs; I teach owners how to clearly communicate, closing the gap between human and canine.
  • Transform: There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a stressed owner and a frustrated dog transform into a harmonious team.

MY LOVE OF DOGS BEGAN VERY EARLY

  • My life with started at an early age. By 7 I was assisting my father with training the family labrador for farm work and was holding ‘training parties’ for my friends and their dogs. My first dog Trixie, a Fox Terrier, became my constant companion at that time.
  • Lady, a police bred German Shepherd, joined me when I was teenager and we achieved considerable success at club obedience and open shows around the country.
  • This passion grew and I achieved national success with my wonderful German Shepherd Pacer and Mayday Kelly, a little Collie rescued from appalling abuse before she learned to enjoy life again with me. She scooped every major trials award in the country , an award for CompAnion Dog Excellence, and learned all the skills required by the Associate of Army, Sheep and Police DOG Training Society.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

  • 1974 – member of Chequers Dog Training club at Prestwood. A club focused on reward based fun training for all breeds. Where I received my intermediate certificate.
  • 1978 – I was awarded an advanced instructor’s certificate by Norman Braithwake.
  • 1980 – Awarded Advanced instructor Certificate by Norman Hills
  • 2003 – Member of the British Institute of Professional dog Trainers. The Leading Premier Organization in dog training in the country.
Early Pete With Dogs

TRAILS SUCCESS

  • 1978 - During this time Pete began competing being placed and winning with his own dogs in obedience competitions. Then moved on to Working trials for a tougher variety of exercises required of the dogs.
  • Pete qualified CDex, UDex, WDex, TDex with seven different dogs and winning Kennel Club Challenge Certificate, these are where the dogs become a National Champion. Pete was also successful in handling other people’s dogs on their behalf.

JUDGING

  • 1984 – Judging
    Pete started judging obedience competition
  • 1986 – Working trials open and Championship level

SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS

  • Doberman Working Club of Great Britain invitation to judge at high level. Where the best handful of the Leading Dobermans compete by invitation only.
  • The German Shepard League of Great Britain. Where the North and the South best 5 dogs compete against each other at the highest level over 2 days.

OWN COMPANY FORMED

  • 2000 - Founded Rossway Dog Behavior and training

RESCUE SUCCESS

  • From the time that my first rescue dog Kelly came into my life, I have always had a particular affiliation with dogs that have been rescued and given a second chance of life It is certainly true that most rescue dogs do not come with any particular problems, but sadly a significant number have not had the best of starts and may even have suffered physical or psychological abuse. Can they learn to put this abuse behind them and move forward ? Absolutely, they can, as I see every day.
  • I have worked closely with Chilterns Dog Rescue, RSPCA, and several other rescue centers around the county. to help dogs at their centres as well as countless dogs that have come from rescue organisations across the UK and from abroad. There is nothing better than helping dogs transform and make the very best of their new lives.

FILM WORK

  • My dogs are no strangers to film and television work. ‘Lights, Camera, Action’ were all in a day’s work for some of my dogs like Cerys, a German Shepherd, who starred in the TV police series Murphy’s Law with James Nesbitt and the Rowan Atkinson film Johnny English. My dogs also appeared in New Tricks with Dennis Waterman, Jack Shepherd in Wycliffe and Jericho with Robert Lindsay. A brave, well trained dog with a fantastic temperament is essential for professional film work, especially when they have to take the most violent and explosive scenes in their stride.