Sascha Cox , Head Coach

Sascha has been with Dogs Trust since 2017 after graduating from her MSc in Animal Behaviour where she trained Zebrafish and worked with lions! She started off as a coach, then she opened Dog School Belfast in 2019 before moving up to Community Education & Engagement Team Leader. She lives with her wife and two dogs, Bailey & Molly. Bailey was adopted from the pound when she was 8 weeks old. She is 5 now and enjoys watching her mom working from home! Molly came to live with Sascha when she was 5 as a foster dog initially and decided she wasn’t leaving. Molly is 9 now and is enjoying her semi-retirement. Alongside walking and training her own dogs, Sascha enjoys playing drums, reading and watching K-Dramas on her days off.

Lucia Doherty, Senior Coach

Lucia originally studied Biochemistry in Galway, and quickly decided that a career without animals was one she didn’t want! After 9 months in Australia, she completed her Masters in Animal Behaviour and Welfare from Queens which she loved. After this, Lucia moved to London to work at Battersea where she worked for 3.5 years, first as a Rehoming and Welfare Advisor then Canine Behaviourist and Training Advisor, helping, training and fostering rescue dogs.

During this time she spent her spare time learning more and more about dogs and behaviour but has always wanted to work for Dogs Trust and decided to move back home. Her favourite dog is any bully or collie, having owned her beautiful tricolour Brandy, but has always loved pugs. Lucia loves nothing more than going for a hike or activity, as well as a cosy night on the sofa watching TV.

Alice Stening, Coach

Alice has always had a love for animals and used to foster dogs back in Sweden, before moving to Belfast 7 years ago. After moving to Belfast, she decided to change career and completed an Animal Management HND and an OCN level 3 in Dog Training and Behaviour. After completing her studies, she began working as a self-employed Dog Trainer in Belfast, gaining experience in dog training, behaviour, and coaching. However, when the opportunity to get a job working for Dogs Trust Dog School came up, she jumped at the opportunity!

Alice spends most of her spare time training (and cuddling) her own two dogs, Darcy – a 5-year-old red Staffordshire Bullterrier, and Fred – a 1.5-year-old chocolate Bully x Olde English Bulldogge mix. They both love running, training, and playing, and will do anything for a ball!