About Search Dogs UK

Lindsay is an operational search dog handler, instructor and international canine team leader and coordinator. Working across search and rescue and detection, she has trained and worked multiple specialist dogs and attended hundreds of searches in the UK and overseas. She was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2022 for her services to Fire and Rescue and has been recognised for her pioneering work with search dogs, with nominations for multiple awards, including ‘Most Influential Individual in Search and Rescue’. Alongside her operational role, Lindsay is the Search Dog Subject Matter Expert for the Institute of Search and Technical Rescue. She teaches at the University of Lancashire, speaks at conferences and seminars, and has assisted with multiple MSc search dog research projects. She is currently studying for a PhD focused on search dog training. Lindsay founded Search Dogs UK to share her passion for search dog training and help others enjoy what they can achieve with their dogs. Whether you’re just starting out or building on existing skills, she makes training approachable, breaks goals into manageable steps and supports you at your own pace. There’s room to ask questions, make mistakes and build confidence together.

Heather is a veterinarian and Head of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Lancashire, where she has developed a new curriculum equipping future veterinarians with practical, problem-solving and ethical reasoning skills. She holds a personal chair in Clinical Animal Welfare, integrating animal psychology, health and behaviour to improve welfare in clinical practice. For more than 20 years, she has worked internationally on veterinary education, animal behaviour and welfare projects through the Universities of Lancashire and Edinburgh, and previously served as Veterinary Director of Animals Asia. She continues to work with charitable and veterinary organisations, supports UK International Search and Rescue as one of only three deployable veterinary surgeons, and is a member of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Executive Board. At Search Dogs UK, Heather connects veterinary science with practical training, helping handlers and instructors understand how health, emotional wellbeing and environmental conditions, including cold, heat and humidity, influence working dogs’ learning and performance. From puppy development through to retirement, her expertise helps teams recognise individual needs, make informed decisions about care and training, and support their dogs through the demands of working life.

Emma brings nearly 20 years of specialist experience as a dog handler, trainer, instructor and assessor, working with police and fire service dog teams and supporting the development of over 100 operational dogs. With an MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour and a university teaching role in canine behaviour, she combines academic expertise with extensive practical experience. An NPCC-qualified General Purpose Dog Instructor, Emma jointly managed one of the UK’s largest Police Puppy Development Programmes, delivered operational training and licensing assessments, and developed external accreditation for the police force she worked for. At Search Dogs UK, Emma delivers our canine behaviour and learning theory courses, creating content specifically around the demands of search dog training. She connects the science of learning with the practical decisions involved in developing motivation, reliable indications and effective search behaviour. Her depth of knowledge gives handlers and instructors a thorough understanding of why training works, what influences a dog’s behaviour and how to make informed training decisions suited to each individual dog.

Paul brings over 25 years of policing experience, including more than two decades working with police dogs. His expertise spans general purpose, explosive detection, digital detection and drugs, cash and firearms search dogs. An NPCC-qualified General Purpose Dog Instructor and Police Dog Search Instructor, Paul is also a national licensing instructor for explosive and digital detection dogs. He holds qualifications in teaching and assessment and a Diploma in Animal Psychology. Known for his warm, approachable manner, Paul is well loved by our students and particularly skilled at building confidence in dogs and handlers alike. He brings extensive practical knowledge to our structured courses, which provide achievable steps and clear course criteria. Through individual guidance and encouragement, Paul helps teams overcome challenges, recognise their progress and enjoy developing their search skills together.

John is an experienced educational consultant with 26 years of operational Fire Service experience and an extensive background in teaching, coaching and professional development. Throughout his career, he has supported individuals and teams to build confidence, develop their skills and achieve their potential. Combining practical experience with established educational methods, he specialises in understanding how people learn, adapting teaching approaches to individual needs and developing effective communication, coaching and leadership skills. His work also includes national educational roles, research and speaking at professional conferences. At Search Dogs UK, John brings a different but equally important perspective to our training team, focusing on the person at the other end of the lead. While much of search dog training focuses on developing the dog’s skills, John helps people develop their own confidence, knowledge and ability to support the learning of others. His courses are open to everyone interested in improving their coaching, communication and teaching skills, while also forming an important part of our instructor development programme.

Chris is an experienced operational dog handler, instructor and assessor with 29 years of professional experience working with specialist dogs. He holds a Master’s degree in Animal Behaviour, advanced dog instructor qualifications and a Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training. Throughout his career, Chris has trained and worked dogs at the highest operational level, including deployments to major international events. His expertise covers patrol dogs, search and rescue and a wide range of specialist detection disciplines. Combining extensive frontline experience with a strong understanding of canine behaviour and learning theory, Chris is committed to developing confident, capable dog teams through effective, evidence-based training. Chris is particularly passionate about developing new handlers and young dogs, helping them build strong foundations and progress towards their full potential. With hundreds of hours of instructional experience, he is known for his approachable, relaxed teaching style and ability to make complex training concepts easy to understand. He enjoys problem-solving and adapting training methods to suit individual dogs and handlers, creating a supportive learning environment where people feel comfortable asking questions, developing their skills and building confidence.