About us

Lisa Regan
Founder, trustee and behaviourist

I’m Lisa, and for the past 36 years, I’ve been a dog guardian—or more precisely, a guardian of springer spaniels. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a spaniel, but my passion and enthusiasm for these breeds are what led me to this fantastic rescue.

I’ve always been surrounded by dogs and horses. My parents bred and rescued Great Danes and St Bernards, and at the age of 9, my canine companion was a standard dachshund named Sniggles. In later years, while training in horse management, I met my husband. We shared our home with our first ever springer spaniel puppy, Honey, who was fortunate to be with us for 18 years. Since then, I’ve never looked back. Sixteen years ago, we adopted our first rescue, Blade, a Doberman-Rottweiler cross and our only non-spaniel. Just two weeks later, we adopted Rocky, a 6-year-old springer spaniel. I always said Rocky had ‘springerised’ Blade!

That was when I first started volunteering in rescue work with North-West English Springer Spaniel Rescue, initially as a dog walker and then as a trainee rehoming officer. I also began my own dog-walking business, specialising in one-to-one walks for nervous and anxious dogs. Eight years ago, we sadly lost Rocky but were able to welcome Maddie, a very anxious 5-month-old springer spaniel, into our family. A year later, we adopted Poppy, my little black-and-white ninja, who was just 8 months old.

That little black-and-white springer changed my life forever. She was completely different from all our previous springers, and I realised the only way to help both her and myself was to gain more knowledge. This led me to enrol in a Level 4 Advanced Canine Behaviour Diploma, which I passed with distinction. During that time, I also qualified as a dog trainer with the ADTB. After qualifying, I began receiving enquiries about behavioural issues, which inspired me to start Wagology Dog Behaviour & Training. Two years ago, Emily Nutter joined me, and we both share the philosophy that the welfare of the dogs comes first and foremost.

More recently, I have qualified as an accredited canine and small animal microchip implanter and am currently awaiting the outcome of my Ofqual iPET Network Level 3 Award in Canine First Aid. I am also studying for a Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Applied Animal Behaviour. Additionally, I hold memberships with IAABC, ICAN, ISAP, and am a Gold member of The Pet Professional Network. As part of my membership, I must maintain continued professional development and adhere to kind, ethical, positive reinforcement methods, which are monitored by these organisations. Over the past 8 years I have volunteered with various rescues in the capacity of home checking, fostering, behavioural training and Trustee. I am incredibly proud of what I have achieved, not just in my studies and business, but most importantly with Poppy. I understand the challenges and the little bumps in the road that can sometimes occur. Every dog is as individual as we are, and they deserve that extra guidance, some more than others.

Caroline Lewis
Founder, trustee and behaviourist

Force free and ethical dog behaviourist & expert witness, Caroline is a fully qualified and insured Dog Behaviourist with many years of experience of working with all manner of concerns and problems that dogs can face.

She runs courses, speaks at seminars, workshops, on radio and television.

She predominantly works with rescue dogs helping them recover from past experiences. Whilst guiding owners and rescues into understanding the behaviour communication the dog displays, and how to help it live a happy life full of trust once again.

As well as rescue dogs, Caroline really enjoys working with adolescent dogs and all the fun, confusion and challenges that can naturally come from this age range. It is a time when more dogs are surrendered to rescue than any other, so she feels it is important the misunderstandings are worked through calmly and ethically with the owner.

A huge passion though are deaf, deaf/blind dogs. She has two herself, and loves learning from them, as well as helping everyone recognise that these dogs are actually incredibly intelligent, great pets and not to be worried about. They really are not as difficult as we can think they are.

Caroline has a huge desire to help people and their dogs. Remembering that all dogs are individuals and will handle situations differently, is important. Reaching out to the right professional who will listen, understand and only use force free, ethical ways of working with you and your dog is essential to establish the relationship you want to achieve.

Being a Founder and Trustee of UK Spaniel Rescue is so important. The chance to truly help change the lives of both dogs and people combined can happen when with the right people, with the right ethics and same passion.

Andrea Phillips
Founder, trustee and volunteer manager

I’ve been involved in dog rescue for some time now and though a founder of UK Spaniel Rescue, my preferred breed is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. We’ve always had dogs in the home for as long as I can remember and, whilst growing up with both dogs and horses, it was always going to be more viable to keep dogs! I have been the proud owner of several rescues in the past and am now currently owned by a Staffie/Bulldog cross, Bella and a Puggle, Lemmy (my husband’s dog, very much his dog to the point where he will completely ignore me if my husband is out), having lost Gypsy, Harley, Kizzie and Lili. In the past family dogs have also been an English Springer Spaniel, Dan (or Daniel the Spaniel) and E-Buzz, our rescue mutt

I have 2 grown up children and a granddaughter, all are also dog mad, especially Elsie my granddaughter, whose first words on waking now are, “Where’s Mabel?” (their Staffie cross) and with Mabel sulking in my granddaughter’s room until she comes home from nursey.

I enjoy visiting Crufts for the networking and supporting small businesses there and was thrilled that this year, my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter joined me with my granddaughter making her ‘debut’ with her audience participation piece hiding scented items for dogs.

I started my venture into dog rescue as a home visitor for many other rescues. I then went on to become a receptionist for my local RSPCA, a volunteer for the Animal Team, founder and trustee for Wags and Bones Staffie Rescue Support, a trustee and volunteer/foster co-ordinator for the Senior Staffy Club and as trustee, secretary and chair for another Spaniel rescue. I also support owners of banned breeds and those of dogs that have fallen foul of the law in one way or another and have attended many seminars on dog law for professionals, held by Trevor Cooper, as a representative of my non-profit organisation, Deed Not Breed, along with my colleagues, Mel and Caroline. I have also had the honour of being a panel member of two of Trevor’s webinars on Breed Specific Legislation.

In recent months I have undertaken a microchip implanter course and have set up my own company, Kizzie Chips (named after my soulmate and familiar, Kizzie, who I lost in 2022). I have recently completed and passed my OfQual iPET Network Level 3 Award in Canine First Aid, I am undertaking an ISCP L3 Diploma in Supporting Rescue Dogs and an ISCP Canine Communication course. Every day is a learning day and I believe this to be very much so in the world of dog rescue. I have already learned so much from working alongside my fellow trustees which I believe has led us to having such a strong team who can rely on each other for help and support, which in turn helps our dogs and their families.

Babs Kinnear
Trustee and Rehoming Manager

I have had a lifelong passion for animals, having always felt a special connection to dogs and horses. Having grown up with dogs and experienced first-hand the complexities involved in breeding, I have combined experience with compassion in my approach to rescue work. Over the past decade, I have been heavily involved in dog rescue, working to ensure that spaniels in need find safe, loving homes. I feel humbled to be a part of UK Spaniel Rescue, working within such a talented, dedicated team, offering a second chance to spaniels across the UK.

When I’m not involved in all things dogs, I enjoy spending time with my family, my own rescue dogs and getting away in my campervan.

Amanda Coupland
Behaviourist

Hi, I’m Amanda. Thanks to my beautiful Romanian collie cross Tilly and our journey through her struggles I created Team Tilly Canine Coaching.

I grew up with a border collie who had been attacked as a puppy and later survived being poisoned you could see the resilience a dog can have but
also the trauma that deepened with age, we also a black Labrador who was very misunderstood and severely panicked when alone. I then had my
German Shepherd cross Labrador who came to me as an adolescent, we had our challenges seeing her struggle with over excitement, frustration,
anxiety and unidentified pain but I couldn’t find the help I felt we needed. It was actually my horse that led me to the brain, pain, behaviour relationship and I am grateful that my research bought me to better understand the animals in my life.

My current dogs both started life in Romania and found their way through local rescue into my life back in 2016. My older dog Caleb has really
blossomed engaging in games based concept training, he is very sensitive and was quite withdrawn when we adopted him. Applying concepts such
as confidence and optimism and making life fun really helped him find his way out of his shell, he is also testament that age is no obstacle to
learning. Tilly was incredibly worried about life in general, people and other dogs terrified her, she has built a lot of resilience through games based
training. Feeling safe is the first step to being able to build relationships and then start learning, Tilly has made me dig deep and reconsider what
and why we train certain behaviours.

In 2018 I studied how to apply the games based concepts. Something that really helped my dogs. In 2021 I completed the British College of Canine Studies Level 4 Advanced Canine Behaviour Diploma with a merit to gain a stronger background in behaviour. I am passionate about supporting
rescue dogs from overseas and the UK. I am a Gold Member of the Pet Professionals Network, which means I have accountability and am vetted
for membership so you can be assured of my ethical standpoint. I am also a Distinctive Dog Trainer through the Pet Professionals Network.

I am a graduate of the Dynamic Dog Practitioner programme in which I am trained in canine biomechanics, static and dynamic critical analysis, vet
report writing and have knowledge of how pain and discomfort can exacerbate and in some cases cause unwanted and often problematic behaviour in dogs. It is so important to view each dog as an individual and look at the whole picture.

This also supports my love of working with rescue dogs and older dogs in helping them settle into their new homes.

Emily Nutter
Behaviourist

I found my love of dog training in college when we studied about how animals learn, and why they behave the way that they do. We also rescued a dog which had some “quirks”, this motivated me to learn as much about behaviour and training as I could.

I went to university to expand my knowledge, and in 2018 I graduated with a 2:1 BSc(Hons) degree in Animal Behaviour and Training.

Since leaving university, I began working as an animal care assistant for the RSPCA. Working here provided me with the amazing opportunity to put my degree into practice and gain hands-on experience rehabilitating dogs of ages, breeds and backgrounds so they could find their forever homes. Whilst at the centre, I worked with countless dogs with various behavioural and training needs from teaching basic skills such as loose lead, to working with dogs who were reactive to strangers and dogs.

It was at the RSPCA where I fell in love with my beautiful Dachshund girl who came with her own history. She now loves trick training and will do anything for a bit of sausage!

I initially started volunteering with Lisa at Wagology in 2022, as I wanted to expand my knowledge and experience further by shadowing classes. We train using the same force free approach and share the same ethic and morals. This makes us a great team and she asked me to come on board with her, therefore I became self-employed in 2024.

I am a proud gold member of the Pet Professional Network, and an accredited member of the IMDT. Training and behaviour work is a science, and I have to keep up-to-date with the most modern techniques as part of my membership.

Maureen Blackwell
Treasurer

Hi, I’m Maureen.

Whilst I’ve never been directly involved with any rescues or spaniels as my preferred breed is a Border Collie, I’ve always supported the local ones financially. I do have 2 Border Collies and look after my daughter’s Cockapoo and a cat who ‘adopted’ me 13 years ago.

I’m a massive animal lover and my ambition has always been that if I ever won a lot of money I’d buy somewhere with a lot of land and turn it into a rescue for ALL animals.

My financial background began working in the wages department at Silentnight. I then became cashier dealing with hundreds of thousands of pounds on a daily basis. After my 2 children were born I went back briefly part time in wages before leaving. I’ve been volunteer treasurer in the past for the local youth club and also the local WI up until last year.

I look forward to working with you UK Spaniel Rescue as a treasurer