Richard Curtis (dog trainer)
Richard Curtis is a leading dog trainer, judge, instructor and competitor in the United Kingdom. He has over twenty years experience in training and owning dogs and has taught pet owners around the world.
Biography
Curtis was born in Southampton, England. He obtained his first dog when he was nine, a West Highland White Terrier, which he took to dog training classes and also started to breed and show him locally. At fifteen Curtis started to teach pet dog training at a local dog club.
Heelwork to music / canine freestyle
In the UK the sport of heelwork to music had a slow start with only one show a year but then as the sport gained more popularity the amount of shows increased. Curtis won several classes at these shows. In 2006 he competed in the first Crufts freestyle final where his dog won with "Make em laugh".
Curtis has taught heelwork to music/canine freestyle throughout the UK and abroad in places such as Australia, Japan, Canada, Italy, Finland, and Belgium. As well as teaching, Curtis regularly judges abroad and in the UK where he judged all the Crufts finals in 2007.
Television appearances
Various television programmes have featured Curtis including BBC2's The Underdog Show, It's Me or the Dog, and Richard & Judy. During these appearances Curtis taught Matt Baker, Selina Scott, EastEnders' Charlie Slater, and others various dog training techniques.