When Christina first trained to be a dog trainer never once did she imagine just how much ICC would grow. She has been joined by some of the most lovely people and Christina is truly blessed to be working alongside such a wonderful team.

The team gets involved with all sorts of things from instructing and assisting in classes, to helping with walks and one-to-one behaviour clients, home boarding, photos and videos of classes, raising money for rescue charities and general administration. Each team member receives on-going training and support and brings something different to the team. If you are interested in getting more involved please contact your centre manager. Members of the team are asked to agree that:

• Clients will be treated with care and consideration with a genuine concern for what it best for them and their dog.
• Dogs will be treated kindly and with knowledgeable care.
• Alternative therapies that go against the Christian faith will not be promoted.
• They will not offer any of the same services as ICC (or work for another company that does) within any of the catchment areas of ICC both when they are a part of the team or for a number of years (exact number TBC) afterwards.

Some members of the team go on to train to be instructors and their training is a combination of assisting in classes, shadowing an instructor, theoretical work about dog training and behaviour and also how to work alongside and instruct people (good people skills are essential.) Gradually they will be allowed to instruct small parts of lessons under the supervision of the main instructor and then they will go on to instruct classes with the instructor assisting them. When the Branch Manager feels that they are knowledgeable and experienced enough to deal with 99% of what walks through the door they are then assessed by Christina and if they are ready they become an ICC Instructor. The best instructors are the ones who know their own limits and are not afraid to ask for help when needed! The joy of working as part of the team is that there should hopefully be someone there who can help.

Once members of the team have begun to work / be trained as part of the team they are not allowed to work with other trainers / set up training classes themselves within each of the branch's catchment areas. (ICC is extremely proud of the standard of training and behaviour that we offer and the support that we give to our teams but we'd rather not invest in local competing training centres!) However, once instructors are experienced enough if they are suitable to open an ICC branch in their own catchment area, they will be welcome to do so and will be supported in this.

Structure of ICC

A Friend of ICC - no regular commitment, helps at one off events, helps with things linked to but not a main part of ICC business (ie. rescue, fund raising etc.), welcome to attend most team training sessions but not expected to be there, expected to attend crucial team meetings (once per year.)

Walk leader - expected to help at monthly walks, expected to attend team training sessions at least 4 times per year.

Class Assistant -expected to help at a pre-agreed number of classes per week, expected to attend team training sessions at least 4 times per year.

Trainee Instructor - overseen by a Senior Instructor who will help, advise and support them with their learning. Expected to attend team training sessions.

Instructor - overseen by Centre manager and Head of ICC. Has completed the ICC Instructor training programme.

Senior Instructor - overseen by Centre manager and Head of ICC. A particularly experiencd and knowledgeable instructor, usually a member of the APDT.

Behavioural Councilor - overseen by Centre manager and Head of ICC. Needs to have trained as an instructor and has also trained specifically to deal in depth with behavioural problems (above and beyond that required of an instructor.)

Centre manager - overseen by head of ICC. A Senior Instructor with in depth behavioural knowledge.

Head of ICC - Founder and Owner of ICC

Who's Who at ICC? - click here for more information about them...

Head of ICC - Christina

Centre Managers – Debbie / Wendy / Lorraine

Central Team - Staff plus Christina's Team - Christina / Debbie / Wendy / Lorraine / Gemma

Senior Team - Christina’s Team plus ICC Instructors - Christina / Debbie / Wendy / Lorraine / Anna / Heather / Lucy / Gemma

Regional Teams - Each belonging to a Centre Manager

Friends of ICC - Each belonging to a Centre Manager

Guest Team Members - (Specialist Instructors / behaviourists that we have a close working relationship with) - Bob / Paddy / Anne / Melissa