Dr Rebecca Hassall

Cognidog is led by PhD-qualified canine behaviour specialist Dr Rebeeca Hassall. with 25 years experience working with dogs as a trainer, behaviourist, and welfare professional. She also holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare and an M.Sc. in Cognitive Neuroscience, focusing on dog behaviour and cognition.

Rebecca combines scientific expertise with a compassionate, supportive approach. She places strong emphasis not only on understanding dogs, but also on supporting their caregivers through every step of their journey. She helps make training an enjoyable, positive experience, empowering caregivers to feel confident in their ability to create meaningful change.

Rebecca recently spent eight in New Zealand, conducting four years of research and teaching at the University of Auckland. Her PhD focused on dog behaviour and cognition, but she took part in projects training native New Zealand parrots (Kea) and New Caledonian crows. After completing her PhD she went on to become the Head of Training at New Zealand’s largest dog daycare centre, developed evidence based behavioural programmes, classes and workshops for dogs and puppies at every age and learning stage.

She has now returned to the UK and established a Kent based dog training and behaviour practice, helping puppies, dogs and their caregivers build happier, more harmonious lives together.

Our Ethos

Training should be fun! We use force-free, science-based methods tailored to each dog’s individual needs and personality. Positive training is not permissive—it means setting clear, consistent boundaries and teaching appropriate behaviours without the use of fear, pain, or coercion.

Rebecca’s approach recognises the human side of training. She supports caregivers in navigating what can be an emotional process, helping to reduce self-blame and build confidence in both themselves and their dogs. Her mission is to strengthen the human–canine bond through ethical, evidence-based, and practical support that improves well-being for both dogs and the people who love them.