#5 Charlie Houghton - From the High Seas to Houghton's Hounds

Welcome back folks :)In this episode, Steve sits down with the incredible Charlie Houghton, founder of Houghton’s Hounds. We navigate through Charlie's fascinating 10-year career as a Logistics Officer in the Royal Navy and discover how teaching leadership to sailors perfectly prepared her for teaching puppies (and their humans!).We covered:The Navy-to-K9 Pivot: How a passion for adult education and leadership coaching transformed into a career in dog training.Public Speaking for Introverts: Why you might need to "fake it 'til you make it" when stepping into the center of a training ring.The "Safe Space" Philosophy: Drawing inspiration from trainers like Ollie Juste and the importance of kindness.The Money Talk: Why the industry needs to be more transparent about finances and "knowing your worth."Lessons from Jet: A candid look at crate training, choice, and why doing better starts with knowing better.Guest Bio:If you’d asked 5-year-old Charlie what she wanted to be, the answer was always "a vet." After a decade-long "detour" as a Logistics Officer in the Royal Navy—visiting 13 countries and clocking 15,000 miles at sea—she discovered her true calling: instructing. Today, Charlie is an ABTC-accredited Animal Training Instructor and the owner of Houghton’s Hounds in Worcester. Combining her background in adult education with certifications from PACT, Puppy School, and the IMDT, she helps owners find harmony with their dogs through 1-2-1s and expert puppy classes.Relevant Links:Find Charlie: houghtonshounds.co.ukCharlie’s Book Recommendation: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.Link to "A Dogs Best Friend" Podcast with Oli Juste: https://open.spotify.com/show/07nvgqwv572548BdNxublIDogX Conference Tickets: dogxconference.comStart Your Journey with PACT: pact-dogs.com