My name is Gina. I am a Scientist (PhD Medicine, MChem Chemistry), University Lecturer (Cancer Medicine and Proteomics) and Biotech Business Leader (mass spectrometry). My passion for dog training began in 1989, when I took my new rescue puppy, Penny (a black lab cross) to my very first training class. I’ve been hooked ever since and over the years I’ve loved, trained and shared my home with many dogs of various breeds. I have been a member of many different training clubs around the country and have competed, scribed and judged Kennel Club rally obedience.

I currently have 2 dogs, both rescues. Tess was a street dog from Romania who came to live with me in 2014, she is about 15 now. Tess and I have achieved gold level with the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme (KC GCDTS) and began competitive rally in 2016. Lyra is a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, who joined our family in 2021 when she was 5 months old. We are currently working through the KC GCDTS and started to compete in rally in 2024.

When I moved back to East Yorkshire in 2022, after 15 years living in the North West, I was disappointed that there were no training clubs that offered KC rally or GCDTS courses nearby. Lyra and I were travelling a 3 hour round trip every Sunday to GCDTS classes and Tess' vet suggested I set up my own, local training school. I began training with the Professional Association of Canine Trainers (PACT), working towards becoming a registered Animal Training Instructor (ATI) with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) and in 2024, K9 STARS was born.

In addition to Tess and Lyra, I share my life with a number of other rescue animals... Chiquita (a horse, who has lived with me since 1998), Ursla (a donkey), Charlie and Roz (Cockerels), Chrissy, Naomi and Camina (ex-caged hens) and Little Duck (a duck!).