Michelle Marett - Educational Advisor
Michelle Marett - Educational Advisor
Bruce and I
having fun with a dip in the water
having fun with a dip in the water
Having trained as a dance teacher, I have run a school for the last 28 years, instructing both children and adults, ranging in age from 3 to 70+ years. As well as a passion for dance, I also have a passion for rescue dogs and our 4th rescue was Bruce, a Husky/GSD, who had many behavioural issues which led me to complete a canine behaviour qualification to put alongside my dancing ones. We always take on large breed, high energy dogs as they suit our lifestyle, and we tend to canicross &/or bikejor with them as exercise for both them and us. As part of my dance teaching qualifications, I had to undertake study in human anatomy & physiology to fully understand how the body moves and how to avoid injury in dance. Movement/body mechanics fascinates me, and it wasn’t long after completing the canine behaviour course that I decided to embark on a canine anatomy & physiology course as well. It was then, on observation, I noticed our beautiful, athletic, Bruce wasn’t moving quite as ‘fluidly’ as he should be.
It was some 3 months later in October 2017 that he was eventually given the presumed diagnosis of Degenerative Myelopathy at around 8 years old. I was devastated, but my way forward was to research all I could and then do everything possible to ensure Bruce enjoyed a quality life for as long as he could which all told, with the help of wheels, he did for another 2 ½ years.
My passion for giving dogs their best possible life, knowledge gained of Degenerative Myelopathy and everything associated with it during Bruce’s journey, along with my experience of teaching people of all ages for many years, have all lead me to be excited to take on the role of Educational Advisor within the board.
Having seen how very much Bruce enjoyed his wheels and how they maintained his quality of life – he even gained a couple of canicross medals whilst in wheels ! - I have a special leaning towards helping people set up their wheels to be as comfortable as possible for their dog, to enable ease of movement and hence confidence in them. I love nothing more than seeing a dog in wheels take off at speed with evident enjoyment once confident.
However, raising awareness of the disease, the steps towards a presumptive diagnosis and the various adaptions that can be put in place to help enhance life quality along the journey (however far someone chooses to travel along it), are all vital to those touched by Degenerative Myelopathy and I very much look forward to being of service.
"Taking in nature and enjoying a woodland walk together"
"Taking in nature and enjoying a woodland walk together"