#8 Dion Watts - Breaking Boundaries with a Pomeranian Powerhouse

In this episode, Steve sits down with the incredibly inspiring Dee Watts, a PACT student and trainer who is breaking down barriers, challenging industry norms, and redefining the world of dog training. From childhood barn owls to criminal profiling, and overcoming a life-altering functional neurological disorder (FND) diagnosis, Dee’s journey is nothing short of a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and profound communication with Dogs.What We Covered in This Episode:Show & Tell with a Twist: Dee shares her earliest animal memories, which include growing up with a dad obsessed with birds, two resident barn owls (Mika and Stomper), and a pet snake that sparked her lifelong fascination with predatory behaviour.From Crime Scene to Canine Behaviour: Dee explains how graduating with a first-class degree in Crime and Investigation crosses over beautifully into dog training—turns out analysing nature vs. nurture and solving criminal minds isn't too different from unpacking dog behaviour!Understanding FND: Dee talks about living with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), how it impacted her university journey, and what it truly means when the brain and nervous system's signals misfire.Oreo the Accidental Assistance Dog: How a tiny, fluffy Pomeranian named Oreo completely changed Dee’s life.The Myth of the "Easy" Social Media Fix: Dee and Steve unpack why the dog training world needs a serious reality check when it comes to accessibility. They discuss how general advice can actually hinder certain handlers, and why we must take ore time to look at the individual handler's emotional and physical well-being alongside the dog's.Filling the Gap in the Market: Dee’s mission to become an accredited behaviourist and fill a gap that's much needed.In Dees' words: "Don’t let other people’s limits limit you."Useful Links & Resources Mentioned:Read Dee's Story: Check out Dee's inspiring guest feature on the PACT Lunches blog over at pact-dogs.com/blog/my-journey.Follow Dion & Oreo: Keep up with Dee's journey and watch her masterclass in deep communication over on TikTok at @a.pom.with.a.purpose_.Work with Dion: Visit Dee's website to stay tuned for her upcoming training services at oreoswaydogtraining.com (currently under construction but coming soon!).Danielle Beck (Control the Meerkat): Shout out to Dee’s incredible mentor and friend, Danielle Beck. Check out her game-changing work at controlthemeerkat.com.Start Your Journey: Ready to dive into the world of dog training with a community that actually builds you up? Find out more about PACT and start your dog trainer journey at pact-dogs.com.Get Your Tickets: Don't miss out on the biggest event in the dog training calendar! Grab your tickets to the DogX Conference at dogxconference.com.