The Cotswold Dog Hub

15/08/2026

14/08/2026

Hi everyone, sorry for being so quiet. As of next Monday 21st August I will be more available again to respond to queries and take booking requests. Thank you for your patience 🙏
ID: An image of Emma in the early morning sunshine with 3 cocker spaniels. Sadie, a red cocker stood on the grass near to Emma’s feet. Penny, (chocolate and tan) facing Emma and Tiger (chocolate) sat on a wooden frame. They are in a large enclosed space (Dursley Dog Park).
• dog trainer • spaniels • Gloucestershire

03/08/2026

As of 3rd August 2026 I am out of office until further notice due to a family matter. If urgent please contact me on 07413510948 and I will endeavour to get back to you as soon as I can. Many thanks

22/07/2026

Would you be prepared for the worst?

The emergency you never imaged you'd find yourself in?

This happened to me, when I was 20 and without any major life commitments. Nonetheless it turned my life, and my families upside down in an instant.

It happened again last December, only this time I was the one on the other side, trying to keep it together, trying to keep life moving as it needed to, whilst supporting myself, the animals and others where I could.

Day to day life, new choices to make and emotional overwhelm take over.
Planning ahead for things we can't predict can really lighten your load.

Have you ever considered what might happen to your dog, or pets if something happened to you? Would someone else know what is needed, what you'd want to happen?

If the answer is no, swipe through for a guide to create an action plan.

If this has been helpful, follow me and my wonderful friend Snout and About for more posts in this series.

21/07/2026

Introducing Woody, a 10 week old pup to a home environment with other dogs and barriers. We practiced settling, calmness and building independence with self-soothing.
Thank you - I had the privilege of taking Woody out for some socialisation and a day out, he was an absolute dream.

The barrier was in place for the older dogs to avoid rehearsal of unwanted behaviour, as well as avoiding overwhelming greetings. Taking this slow and steady is really important. Watching and observing is too.

Woody was very tired and needed a nap. You can see some short snippets of the process here. This took about 10 minutes in total. The only vocalisations throughout shown in this clip.
I decided to remain with him, behind a barrier. I offered reassurance with a calm presence, regulated breathing and verbal praise. If Woody had escalated and become truly panicked, I would have opened the barrier and assisted where needed.

Well done Woody, you’re going to make a fantastic addition to a lucky family soon 🧡

• Dog Trainer • Dog Training • Gloucestershire

06/07/2026

Anticipatory Grief *warning end of life discussions*

I'll be honest, I hadn't known there was a term for this phase of pet ownership. Whilst I grew up with pets, their care and responsibility was not on my shoulders, and so I hadn't fully experienced the level of emotion that has come as my girls have reached double digits and entered their later senior years.

The ache of missing them while they're still here. Tears that come after you notice a slight shift. The worry about tomorrow, even as you try to stay present and enjoy today. It can be REALLY tough.

Life expectancy of course depends on species and breed, and is always a guide. I'm grateful my two spaniels seem to be fairing well in their journey's, but I'm constantly aware of time being against us now.
Subtle shifts creep up slowly, and with good awareness and support, are easier to manage. The more sudden ones can feel like your world crumbles in an instant.

If you're feeling this, I'm here to tell you you're not alone. Anticipatory grief is a reflection of deep love and compassion, and it is not something to feel guilty about.

Along the way we have implemented medication, physical and complimentary therapies to help with mobility and day to day life.
Lately, I reached out to a vet to come to the house and prepare for end of life arrangements. This was difficult, but in doing so it's meant that, when the time comes, I will know that I've done what I can.

A quality of life assessment is a very good way of tracking your pets welfare as you all navigate trickier times. Having arranged the visit, to have met the vet, and chatted through things thoroughly before they are needed was hugely reassuring for me. Services like these are so valuable.

Outside of this, my biggest advice: Celebrate the ordinary moments. Sit with them a little longer. Tell them they're a good dog, over and over again. They may not understand every word, but they know our love.

Our senior dogs teach us that every day is a gift. The best thing we can do is meet them where they are, love them fully, and make every moment count.

If you're walking this journey, my heart is with you. ❤️
Photo credit: Claire | Bristol Family Photographer

03/07/2026

Hands down the best decision I made to complete this amazingly supportive and practical course that Adam The Whole Hound Academy ran last year. My confidence and coaching skill has grown so much.

With an overwhelming amount being offered online now, there is a real need for in-person courses like this to get hands on experience, along with building wonderful connections that last.

Adam really went above and beyond adapting content to suit the needs of the group and providing endless care, attention and patience.

Thank you so much for offering this amazing course Adam, and to my wonderful new group of professionals for their ongoing support and friendship. This industry can be pretty tough at times, but it also has the most kind and compassionate souls to guide you along the way.

•Dog Trainer •Gloucestershire •Cotswolds

01/07/2026

Excited for new kit! I have wanted to invest in this bottle ever since I saw post about it.
The quality feels great. It’ll be easy to carry on the go, and it also features a cup and bowl system so that I can stay hydrated as well as the dogs 🙌🏻
It also came with a seatbelt attachment which is always handy for the car.
• Dog trainer •Cotswolds • Adventures

26/06/2026

Our early hot weather activity after a week of high temperatures and accumulative heat.
This edited version of our morning walk and breakfast consists of a 20 minute low energy loop around the block in the early hours during cooler temperatures, followed up by some foraging. It’s also bin day - extra bonus sniffs.

Both my girls are older seniors, extreme weather can be even more dangerous for them, so it’s very important to be observant of their behaviour, taking water out on outings, and keeping those outings shorter and less energetic. Sniffing and searching brings their noses down, slows pace, and provides a tiring activity.

Remember each dog is an individual. Not all dogs will know how to slow down or regulate themselves in these temperatures, so it’s really important to look out for them and guide them to a safer activity if they need to do something.

Thankfully from today temperatures will start to cool, but still high especially in humidity which is also crucial to consider when evaluating safety.

I would love to know, what have you been doing this week to stay sane?

• Dog Trainer • Dursley • Cotswolds

15/06/2026

How I’m currently navigating change in my senior dog, Sadie.
If you are experiencing overwhelm with your dog, whether it be a puppy, adolescent or senior dog, my door is always open.
ID: a carousel of 10 images and videos.
1. An image of Sadie, a red cocker resting on a brown fleece blanket. Text: "Things I've been doing with my senior spaniel after mobility and sight changes"
2. A short clip of Sadie moving along a grass strip on a yellow flexi lead. Her head bobs as she trots. Text: "Short outings for toileting that aren't just the garden."
3. An image of a black plastic bowl raiser with metal inserts. Text: "A raised bowl, and mat to increase comfort. (Signs I needed to alter this were her collapsing and laying down to eat)."
4. A video of Sadie on a longline sniffing around a soily/leafy area at the edge of some grass. Text: "Sniffing opportunities. Both natural exploration of the environment, and short food searches."
5. An image of an orange lick mat and 3 different chews. Text: "Normal enrichment activities, such as lick mat, recycling foraging boxes, and a selection of chews of varying texture."
6. An image of the hall with a long runner. Text: "Ensuring all mats on slippy surfaces were covering enough space and suitable."
6. A video of Sadie with another red spaniel mix on a lane. Text: "Some short outings with friends when appropriate."
7. An image of the sofa with some fabric grey foam steps. Text: "More steps and access points for preferred rest areas to reduce jumping/falling. This has included restricting her space a little when I'm out as her sight has reduced and stumbles have increased."
8. An image of Sadie asleep having a massage. Text: "Added massage to her regular current treatment schedules to reduce soreness and tension."
9. An image of Sadie napping with Penny on the brown blanket. Text: "Every dog is different. Observation and small adjustments are your most valuable tools when navigating change, alongside a solid support system."