Jo Sellers
Repawter: Lisa Greener
Tell us a bit about yourself and about your book:
Hi I’m Jo, I’m a dog trainer and separation anxiety behaviourist and I live with my dog Reba, commonly called Reba the Reprobate.
The book is all my diaries from a time when she had a really freak accident last year and it kept me sane to all the trials and tribulations and all the emotions from the accident through to helping her to learn to walk again.
How and when did you meet Reba?
I had recently left my corporate life and I was wanting to change to become a dog trainer and I was moving house. I felt that this was a time where a dog would fit into my lifestyle because I was no longer commuting to the city. I was going to be at home and I was going to be there to be able to raise a puppy. I was looking online, I know, and I came across a litter, it was in the same county. I went to see the litter at 4 weeks and this particular puppy came up to me and stayed with me. Some of the others came up sniffed me and walked away, but this one hung around. I went to see her again at 6 weeks and then at 8 weeks I collected her. She’s a cocker bichon, so she's black and white with grey spots and really fluffy.
How did you choose a name? Was it after someone famous or a family member or friend?
When working at my desk sometimes I would have daytime TV on for background noise. I just happen to look up and the name came up. So when I met Reba I didn't want a really common name where I call a dog and like 20 dogs come to me in the park. I wanted something a little bit unusual. A lot of people have since asked me if I named her after the famous singer, actress and US voice coach Reba McEntire. I tend to just nod because it's much easier to explain that it's after watching terrible TV.
Did you always want to work with dogs?
I never in a million years though I would be working with dogs. As a very young child, I had a very scary encounter being chased by much larger dog. Over time, I won’t say how long as it will give away my age, it just started to seep into my conscience and then it just somehow fitted. I never had pets as a kid. It was never like a Burning ambition from a child but here I am and I love it and I'm very happy I am now doing this.
Was there a reason you wanted to specialise in dog training and specifically separation?
I wanted to become a dog trainer but I wanted to be educated and qualified in it so I started off with dog walking so I could learn about dog body language and I did some courses about dog body language first, canine first aid, all the essentials for that.
How I came about separation anxiety was because of Reba. I had never heard of it when I got her but she just didn't settle. She couldn't cope if I even moved away from her let alone after the room. It was so bad. Neither of us slept for months and it was a really, really challenging time. I really want to help other people not become a prisoner in their own homes.
Have you written any books before this?
I have written one book before. It's called adore your adolescent dog and it is a dog training book. When the dog looks like an adult but they're still developing and they get labelled stubborn, naughty, bad and they're not. They're actually still growing, although physically they don't look like it, inside then their brains are still learning, reforming, redeveloping and I really wanted to help.
How long did it take you to write your first book?
Writing the first book, Adore Your Adolescent Dog, took a few months and I had some help with how to structure a non-fiction book because I had never written a book before. It was a lot of organisation. The body took about 5 months of really detailed effort once I got the idea and the outline done.
Are you planning to write more books?
Yes, I think I will. I don't know quite what. I have a few ideas, but I don't know what kind of genre. I'd like I would like to do a nice murder mystery because I do read a lot of them.
What is your favourite book of all time?
That is so hard, I really read a lot. I love, I just love having a book in my hands. I think the book that I always remember was called I am David by Ann Holm and it just stuck with me.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone writing their own book?
You have to be really clear what it is you are writing about and who is it for. You use the right language, the right terminology, pitching it right to the right audience. Plan it. Otherwise you kind of get down little rabbit holes and you get lost and you drift.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment? Being here, being alive, being healthy. I’ve done a lot of really great things in my past. I have had a corporate career, I was also a firefighter for five plus years. I went travelling and stayed in New Zealand for a while. Played rugby down there. I’ve been proud of what I have achieved and certainly in work as well. Becoming self employed, having my business, it’s been 10 years, so I think that’s an accomplishment.
What is your favourite food?
My favourite food. I’m not a massive foodie, I do like some nice savoury foods, but I suppose ultimately coffee cake with lots and lots of coffee butter cream, no nuts, no beans, nothing on it, just coffee gooey mess. I think that's probably got to be my favourite.
What’s your favourite type of music?
I grew up with quite an eclectic mix of music in the family. There’s odd songs that I like, The Who, some classical stuff, 80’s and 90’s pop. I hear something and I think oh wow that's a really good song, but I don't necessarily like all the songs from that artist or maybe all that genre. I like a broad range of music.
Where is your favourite places that you like to be?
There is nothing beats the feeling of sitting in a nice quiet area outdoors with a great view having a breeze on you, the sun on your face and whether that's a beach and you're watching the waves or whether you're on a hill and you've got lovely views over the countryside, For me It's that just sitting there being at peace, just being out, being alone, not being disturbed, and just focusing on just being there.
