Ellie Evans

Hi, my name is Ellie. I’m currently studying BSc (Hons) Canine Training and Performance here at Hartpury University. I have three dogs that I absolutely adore. My particular interest lies in working dogs – including assistance, guide, and agility dogs – but I’ve recently become really interested in human-animal interaction with our canine companions.

Why I chose Hartpury University

I always knew I wanted to learn anything and everything about dogs, it’s been my passion from the start. After hearing about this degree, I knew I just had to jump straight in and apply – and here I am two years later, loving every moment! Hartpury has always been highly recommended, and with such a large campus, it’s full of volunteering opportunities that could help set me up for the future.

My course

I really enjoy how my course leads me to different career enterprises – I particularly love hearing about Hartpury graduates and where they are now. Before starting my degree, I had no idea what was out there. My course has allowed me to develop a variety of skills through practical sessions, and now I have a much clearer image of where I’ll be in the future.

One of my favourite practical activities was seeing the police dogs in action. As well as this, Hartpury has connections with mantrailing instructors (working with your dog to hunt down a missing person) canine hydrotherapists, and general behaviourists who have given us fascinating demos. We get to hear from some really interesting guest lecturers too, for an insight into different parts of the industry.

My interests intertwine with my course

I’m a huge fan of canine agility and have been doing it for over three years with my Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Hennessey. I love applying agility to my course, as well as focusing on the theory side within lectures; such as structure and motion.

One thing I’ve loved is having the Great Britain Championship train right in front of us in Hartpury’s new canine training arena. We were able to chat to them to learn new tips and tricks – we even got to meet lots of different dogs along the way. This also gave us an insight into canine coaching.

Hartpury have links with the UK Flyball team too, which is a huge addition to the course.

The Canine Hydrotherapy Centre; a commercial business run on site, now has a sports programme to help the top canine athletes reach their peak performance. You can volunteer and watch some of their sessions too, which is really educational.

TOP TIPS

Don’t panic if you don’t know what to do after university, sometimes just enjoying the experience is what it’s all about. You’ll find amazing career opportunities as you study the course – I certainly have. Get involved with anything and everything you can, and most importantly, make the most of all the memories you make. You’re sure to look back at your time at Hartpury as a great one.