Nicola Keeling

 

From being a youngster I was always going to work with animals.  “Can I have a dog mum” should have been printed on my forehead!  She relented when I was 7 and my little world was complete.

 

By the age of 13 I was working at a large boarding kennels and cattery and volunteering at a couple of vets practices.

 

By the age of 20 I had my own horse and was showing my own dog.  This working with animals malarkey was not going to disappear!  I had decided I ultimately wanted my own boarding kennels so mum told me to get a job earning lots of money as it was the only way I was going to get one!  This I did and 17 years later my dream was achieved.

 

After searching for a number of years and viewing over 20 boarding kennel and cattery businesses up and down the country I finally decided on Longmeadow Pet Hotel Ltd.  It took 3 years in all to buy this place but I was determined it was not going to escape my grasp after all of these years wishing and saving. 

I finally moved into the property and business in May 2007.  I have never been happier and can honestly say it was the best and scariest decision I have ever made.

 

My accomplishments include:

NEBOSH –  trained at Stockton Riverside College, Stockton on Tees

Dog grooming – trained with Shaun Leach at Scruffy Pups & Amy Manser

Canine Massage, Homeopathy, Zoopharmacognosy, Emmet, Reiki for dogs - trained with Tina Ogborn, Lori Rose, Caroline Ingraham, Teresa Barron & Rob Fellows

Pet First Aid  and advanced canine first aid and cpr– trained with Claire Martin & Rachael Bean

Requirements of a dog show judge – trained with Christina Chapman on behalf of the kennel club

Conformation and movement – trained with Frank Kane on behalf of the kennel club

Conformation and movement – hands on – trained with Frank Kane on behalf of the kennel club

Ring Stewarding – trained with Christina Chapman on behalf off the kennel club

Various breed specific seminars, teach ins and hands on assessments - breeds include irish wolfhound, rough collie, norwegian elkhound, afghan hound, whippet, ibizan hound, azawakh, black and tan coonhound, beagle, basenji, shih tzu - all through the various individual breed clubs via the kennel club

Various raw feeding seminars and natural dog conferences

Amichien Bonding – trained with Jan Fennell and Gill Tuxworth

 

I have also previously worked with the Irish Wolfhound health group undertaking a weights and measures programme, collecting and collating data to see if over time there is a correlation with longevity and currently serve on the Irish Wolfhound Club committee