Bristol Dog Days, training and walking

24/04/2025

This week's walks! What a blast. These dogs truly amaze me. Although eau de fox poo isn't the greatest scent for this human!

20/04/2025

Happy Easter. Over and out! ❤️❤️

20/04/2025

The noses on these 2 class participants have come along nicely in Scent Work. Their owners have worked well with them.

This week we worked on position and duration. We even got professional and began to use the scent tins! Go dwags.

Remember not all dogs learn at the same pace and certainly, not all dogs learn in the same way. The sassy spaniel here needs movement to inspire her motivation to find the scent, whereas the dashing daschund is quite happy to lay down and indicate! Both are doing well in the active searches.

18/04/2025

18/04/2025

An amazing trainer and amazing business name.

What's in a name? The story of Rachel Trains Animals and Solidarity Dogs.

Rachel Trains Animals was never meant to be a business name. It was actually just the name of this Instagram account where I showed off what I was doing with my animals, mostly for the that started in lockdown.
I was working for another training business at the time, but when I decided to go out on my own, the name of this silly Instagram account became my business name (because I do train animals and I am Rachel, so it made sense.)
Right from the start I wanted my focus to be on accessible training. I'm disabled and have faced my fair share of ablism in the dog training world. Fairly quickly the focus started to move into assistance dog training.

Due to the huge need for qualified assistance dog trainers to support owner training teams, that's pretty much all I've been doing for the past few years.

So that brings us to today, aside from my Wednesday nights teaching with , it's only those on the journey to being assistance dogs that I'm working with. "Rachel Trains Animals" is probably too broad a description.
"Rachel Trains Assistance Dogs" is also wrong, because it's not me training them. I'm just supporting their handlers. And "Rachel Trains People To Train Their Own Assistance Dog" is just silly.

I wanted a name that captures my feelings about what assistance dogs are, as well as what the disabled community can be.

So this proudly disabled and neurodivergent led business is "Solidarity Dogs - assistance dog training support.

I believe in kindness and supporting the being at both ends of the lead.
That training should always be adaptive and individualised.
That safeguarding is something to take seriously.
That high standards of training don't need to be at odds with high standards of welfare.
And that the disabled community can be absolutely amazing.

17/04/2025

A mix up of training and walking today. The sun stayed out and it was soooooo enjoyable. First up some sniffy walking with the lovely duo and then some loose lead training and focus work with a little daschund. Rounded up with a mooch and some amazing disengagement from Freddie! Perfect day!

16/04/2025

Well, after a wash out this morning the sun came out and there were some lovely walks to be had. Lots to sniff "Eau De Rabbit" is definitely in the air. One was spotted but the recall was spot on (good job too he had a long line on! 🤣).

15/04/2025

A busy day with the dwags today! Seems it was "have a dip day!".

12/04/2025

It was a lovely class with fun to be had at Clack Mill Riding Stables (the barn) last night.

The dog's were fantastic and the humans too! See the "after class" photos to prove that sniffing and learning really do tire a dog out!

Reports from owners were fun and Informative.

Scentwork really is a fun, enriching and what's more, an engaging activity to do with your dog. If you fancy getting involved click the WhatsApp link and we can see if it will suit you and your dog.

09/04/2025

Rachel is amazing! Honestly if your son/daiughter/niece/nephew loves dog as is neurodivergant then I highly recommend joining her weekly event.

New Class Alert!

Starting in May!

"Dogs Club" is an informal social club and dog training class which is designed to be both fun and accessible.

Suitable for dogs over 5 months who are able to cope in a class setting, and young people who identify as neurodivergent.
It costs £65 for the month.

Run by professional dog trainer, volunteer youth worker and neurodivergent human- Rachel Sheppard.

More information; such as accessibility details, location details, and class structure coming soon!

If you have any questions please message or contact me via
[email protected] or text/WhatsApp 07702049267

[Image Description: a poster advertising "Dogs Club" on a graded colour background
Text on poster reads-
*Dogs Club
Weekly dog training and social group for neurodivergent 11-18 year olds.

St Augustines BS14 OLL
Monday Evenings 6:15-7:15pm]

09/04/2025

We've been busy this week with walks and with Training. Yogi and his owner began some settle work in a café. This is a fantastic thing to teach for those days when you've walked the dog and are ready for lunch! Saves leaving the dog in the car on hot days and allows you to fill that tummy without the worry!

Loose lead training for Ada on her walk. Remember we need to proof that loose lead in all manner of places.

Some others are learning not to alert bark at everything they see and other learning to disengage and remain calm when other dogs are close by.

Tomorrow brings much more and on Friday we have Bristol Dog Days first ever scentwork course, foundation level. There are still places availiable. If you fancy joining us. Let me know. Send me a message and I'll make sure you are booked on. You'll even receive your very own scent work kit worth £30. Wowzers!

09/04/2025

There is a need for some on lead social walks. So Bristol Dog Days is going to run some. It's an opportunity for dogs to be together in the countryside and learn to simply be in each other's company.

If you have a dog that looses his ability to focus when amongst other dogs then these might be the place for you to begin to gain that engagement. Drop me a message if you are interested in joining a walk.

If you need to clinch that loose lead before attending, I can help with that too..... send me a message. I will get back to you. That's a promise. Happy Walking!

03/04/2025

We have a couple of spaces left for our Scent Work Foundation Level course. It begins at 630pm at Clack Mill Riding Stables (in the barn). Contact me to secure your place or ask any questions.

SCENT WORK...... heaven for dogs! It's fun, it's enriching and it stimulates good endorphins in both you and your dog.

A 6 week course is due to start at Clack Mill Riding Stables. Contact now to enrol...

03/04/2025

Puppies! Do you have one? Need some help to train them? Puppy Class is a great way to begin your training journey and help your dog adapt to this modern world.

You'll learn stay, loose lead, husbandry skills and recall, as well a much much more.

Contact me via WhatsApp to secure your place. We begin on 10th April at 6pm The Park Centre

02/04/2025

Yay! Spring is upon us. We have had some happy rollers, some treat searchers and out smarters! They learn to outsmart the handler keeping them on their toes. Murf has a great stop, look at me for a treat, so we've done "with me" instead! That way he gets rewards for carrying on! Dodger he is!

31/03/2025

SCENT WORK...... heaven for dogs! It's fun, it's enriching and it stimulates good endorphins in both you and your dog.

A 6 week course is due to start at Clack Mill Riding Stables. Contact now to enrol...