Harwich trainer appears on Channel Four show with pet duck

Joe Nutkins, of Harwich, is a kennel club accredited dog trainer and she joined her pet duck Echo on Channel Four’s Steph’s Packed Lunch.

Echo is a two-and-a-half-year-old Khaki Campbell house duck who Joe has had since before she hatched and with whom she has a close bond.

Joe said: “More families are introducing pets of all shapes and sizes into their homes and positive reward-based training is becoming more well known.

“I’m thrilled to be able to show pet owners how much fun it can be to spend time with our pets doing something they enjoy and using praise, rewards and play to help them learn.

“We love being able to raise smiles for the people who follow her social media posts and being invited onto the Channel Four programme to entertain even more people has been a fantastic experience.”

Many of Echo’s trained behaviours help her such as using ramps to access her sleeping area safely, going to her crate to be securely transported to the vets and a beak target on Joe’s hand allows for Echo’s eyes, beak and nostrils to be checked stress-free.

Excited - Echo enjoyed her time on the daytime show. (Image: Joe Nutkins)

Tricks training using rewards can be beneficial in helping pets such as dogs and cats receive cooperative care calmly and deliver cues for their safety.

Joe added: “Echo’s appearance on Steph’s Packed Lunch included her showing some of her favourite tricks including playing her toy piano and enjoying her favourite snacks of blueberries and kale.

In addition to training Echo, Joe and her husband Jon recently launched the Harwich branch of Chicken Rescue UK, a charity that saves ex-commercial hens from slaughter.

The charity had its first rehoming event in which hundreds of hens were adopted by kind residents in the area as pets.

Echo and Joe appeared on the Wednesday, February 22, episode of Steph's Packed Lunch on Channel Four.

To watch the episode and see them in action visit bit.ly/3SL5eji.