www Facebook Group - Dog Guru Creative Dog Training (see training videos and reports) 

 T: 07789 870689        Affenpinscher sketch by Nina - 2008  See Art Work Page

Nina Bondarenko is the author and illustrator of the book "Hearts, Minds and Paws" - a lavishly illustrated book on dogs with unusual working jobs, from blood and explosive detection, through seizure alert and response, and including Assistance dogs such as Dog of the Millennium and Dickens Medal winner Canine Partners Endal www.milleniumdog.freeserve.co.uk
She has been training dogs for specific-purpose working roles for over 30 years.

Nina Bondarenko has delivered training courses and seminars for a range of organisations such as  Lancashire Police Dog Instructors Courses, City of London Police Dog Handlers, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Wood Green Animal Shelter, Dogs Trust, Canine Partners (UK), Customs Dog Handlers, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Services, Florence Dog Rescue Centre (Italy), Accadamia  Studio Cani Communicatione (Italy), Australian Support Dogs, etc.

Co-ordinator for Behaviour and Training for the International Detector Dog Congress 2007

DIABETIC ALERT AND RESPONSE TRAINING  News! Nina is setting up a new charity, to be called  K9 Paramedix - the aim is to train dogs to alert and respond to medical emergencies such as Low Blood Sugar in Diabetics. To support this work financially, in kind or as a volunteer, please contact  www.k9paramedix.co.uk

 Nina is currently training dogs of private clients with Diabetes.  Using the Homing Signals technique that she developed, NIna has started teaching puppies to detect samples of low blood sugar levels. Once the puppy detects these samples from amongst normal samples, the puppy is trained to offer a strong indication that will interrupt the person if they are active, or wake them if they are asleep. Once the person responds to the indication, the puppy brings an Emergency Resource such as a sugar source and ensures that the person takes it.  We welcome financial support for further development of this potentially life-saving work.

Quote from family of dogs trained by Nina to alert and respond to Diabetic changes -
"Forgot to tell you about an interesting offshoot of the alert training.

Exciting news ! Last evening, I arrived home late after a race, & sat for a while in my armchair, with Elsi asleep on the floor beside me. I felt very tired, & sleepy, & after a while (too long), I decided to do a blood test, which involved getting up & going to my rucksack, the other side of the room from Elsi.
My blood test was less than 1.4. i.e. 'about to go unconscious'  level, & very quickly, I felt faint, started to sweat profusely, & was pretty much rendered incapable of helping myself. I was vaguely aware that Elsi was the opposite side of the room from me, & seemingly asleep, so I was starting to panic, as I didn't know if I was capable of getting up to fetch the JBs.

However all of a sudden, she ran over to me, put her chin on my knee, growled furiously at [the older dog] , then shot into the kitchen. grabbed the JB bag, yanked it off the velcro, & plonked it into my hands!!!!! I was SO proud of her, & so relieved. Once I'd eaten enough JBs, I took her to the kitchen to give her the biggest treat of her life.
I hope you'll be pleased with her - I certainly am!!

Elsi bringing the glucose - Emergency Response

Specialising in the education of both dogs and people, her approach is based upon scientific principles of positive reinforcement and learning theory, coupled with nearly 30 years of practical dog and other animal training. Experiments have shown that humans have greater difficulty in changing behaviour than animals! Nina’s courses are designed to gently cultivate an interest in the new knowledge currently being uncovered, as well as reinforce existing sound practice in participants. 

Nina's practical hands-on sessions follow clear exposition of theory. Training courses and seminars (See "Events" page) available world-wide, include the following topics:  Operational police and service dogs.Understanding and using Operant Conditioning and Homing Signals; Clicker Training Chickens, Pigs, Sheep, Goats and Horses;  Puppy Education and Development; Puppy Assessment – for specific purpose roles (security, SAR, SchH , Assistance etc);  Introduction to Assistance Dog training;  Developing a Practical Training Plan;  New techniques for training and handling difficult or dangerous dogs and horses:  Conditioning zoo animals for optimum management and visitor impact:

Quotes from clients: “Your seminar was one of the most interesting I have ever attended” “Valuable, entertaining and fascinating” “Thought-provoking yet completely practical” “Really clarified the theory as well as the practise” “Very helpful, and professionally presented” “A young Konrad Lorenz” - John Fisher “Among the best trainers in the world” – Dr Ian Dunbar.                                    

As the author and illustrator of "Hearts, Minds and Paws" - a lavishly illustrated book on working dogs with unusual jobs - from Seizure Response, Explosive and Drug detection, Crime Scene Investigation Forensic Fido, to Assistance Dog Training, Nina explores the human-animal bond.  She is fascinated by animal communication and the ways in which dogs are able to adapt to working cooperatively with people, in this book  There are sections on Breed types and Puppy Assessment, Selection and Training, and some of the extraordinary stories of people who have a Canine Partner registered Assistance dog, including two dogs trained by Nina that have been awarded the Dicken Medal for Devotion to Duty.  "Hearts, Minds and Paws" can be ordered from www.caninepartners.co.uk and each copy sold raises money to support the work of Canine Partners.  Publications.

Nina is an artist and illustrator          Scraggle Chronicles - sock thief

TRAINER ASSESSMENT AND ACCREDITATION

As a member of the Committees for Trainer Assessment Standards, for the Assistance Dogs International, Assistance Dogs Europe and Assistance Dogs UK, as well as the IAABC (International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants) Accreditation Committee, Nina develops trainer evaluation  and certification programmes. She also specialises in the assessment and selection of puppies and dogs for specific purpose work.