Dorset Animal Pathways

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Dorset Animal Pathways

Animal Assisted Support & Learning to grow confidence, wellbeing, physical & mental health. Hi there! I look forward to meeting lots of lovely local Doggies.

We offer choice for both humans & animals, & all our work is kind & ethical 🐶🐾🐴❤️ Thanks for visiting my page,
After many years of caring for & owning dogs I am now in a great position to be able to start my own business working with these fabulous creatures. For several years I fostered over 30 fabulous dogs for a local dog rescue and I currently have a Labrador who is a registered therapy dog and a very elderly spaniel, I also own a gorgeous gypsy cob who I ride out in the forest so I am truly an outdoors sort of person! Earlier this year I was very lucky to be accepted to study with The Dog Training College to train to be a qualified dog training instructor, the course covers many topics such as Dog law, first aid ,scentwork, loose lead walking & reactivity in fact 146 separate subjects but all incredibly important for anyone working with canines! My objectives are to make sure what ever dog is in my care either dog walking or training they will feel safe and happy and ultimately enjoy their time spent with me.

30/10/2026

An absolutely perfect morning for letting the donkeys explore
the forest , Paula Coe thank you for being the perfect donkey walker 😍🫏

29/10/2026

What do choice-led animal assisted sessions look like—and why are they so important?

At Dorset Animal Pathways, choice matters for everyone taking part, humans and animals alike.
For the animals, this means opportunities, wherever safe and possible, to approach, join in, take a break or choose not to engage. Safety always guides how I offer these choices, especially around the horses and donkeys.
An animal might move away from a grooming brush, turn away from an invitation or choose to stay with their companions. They may need rest, feel unsure, find something uncomfortable or simply prefer another activity. I may not immediately know why, but their response deserves attention and respect.

For clients, choice might look like watching before joining in, trying a different activity, taking a break or deciding that today they would rather not take part.
I will always offer gentle encouragement and suggestions, while respecting that person’s decision. A “no” makes me curious: does something feel unfamiliar? Would more time, a quieter space or a different approach help? Is observing enough for today?
My role is to keep exploring how sessions can work for everyone, with no pressure to turn a “no” into a “yes”.
Respecting choice creates opportunities to build trust, confidence and a sense of safety. It also helps us practise listening, recognising boundaries and understanding that another individual’s needs may be different from our own.

Everyone’s voice matters—even when it is expressed without words.

26/10/2026

Apparently I am not supposed to be working today 😂🐾

23/10/2026

Anyone else feeling a little windswept, soggy and ready to hide under a blanket?

Wind and rain can leave us feeling tense, tired or a bit fed up. Our animals can be affected too, although they each experience the weather differently,
Heightened senses can make rattling gates, flapping objects and sudden movement particularly unsettling. Some animals become more watchful or jumpy, others seek reassurance, retreat to shelter or seem less interested in their usual activities.

It’s worth pausing before we describe them as “being difficult”. They might be feeling worried, uncomfortable or overwhelmed.

So how can we help?

• Provide suitable shelter and somewhere dry to rest. Donkeys especially need protection from rain, as their coats aren’t waterproof.
• Keep routines familiar where possible.
• Offer calm reassurance if they need it,
•Make sure they are warm and have plenty of forage to keep them occupied

22/10/2026

These 2 are ready for Storm Austen to arrive ,
It didn’t seem right putting rugs on them this afternoon as it’s warm and sunny at the field but tonight it’s going to get very wet and windy so hopefully they will be snug as a bug in their red rugs,
They look so cute 🥰

17/10/2026

Perfect Autumn stroll in the forest ❤️🐾

16/10/2026

14/10/2026

❤️🐴❤️🐴❤️🐴

11/10/2026

It appears that Donkeys are time wasters!
All we seem to do is stand and watch them doing their thing 😂😂🫏🫏

Address

Bournemouth

Website

http://heydoggie.co.uk/, https://www.heydoggie.co.uk/

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