Just a Dog in a Field Secure Dog Walking Field

10/07/2025

As I stood watering the trees in the quiet strip between the two fields—the so-called no man’s land, or perhaps I should say the “no woofer zone”—I paused to take it all in. We planted these trees for practical reasons: to form a natural barrier, to help with drainage, and to muffle the hum of the folks in the other field. But watching them now, it’s clear they’ve taken on a life of their own.

The young sapling have started to hum with activity. Ladybirds clung to the leaves like tiny jewels, hoverflies danced lazily in the warm air, and a whole host of miniature life scurried or fluttered just out of focus. Despite the lack of rain, nature’s resilience was on full display—adapting, thriving, quietly getting on with it.

It’s easy to see these trees as just another part of the field’s infrastructure. But they’ve become more than that. They’re a living corridor between spaces—serving purpose, yes, but also inviting biodiversity to return. A reminder that even the most functional features can bloom into something quietly magical when given a bit of time and care.

08/07/2025

Please can I have your vote, just click on the link below

DOG FIELD OF THE YEAR

🏆 Can We Fetch Your Vote Again? Let’s Do This, Worcestershire! 🐾

We were over-the-moon, tail-wagging thrilled to win Worcestershire’s Field of the Year last year—and guess what? We’re sniffing around for the crown again!

But this isn’t just a patch of grass. Oh no. This is where doggy dreams come true. Think:
🌋 Sand MOUNTAINS (not just boring ol’ pits)
💦 Sprinkler sprints & paddling pool parties
🏕️ Teepees for chill time
🎡 A full-on doggy village
🐶 Agility adventures & tyre climbing triumphs

Not to mention the views that’ll make your jaw drop (and maybe your dog’s too).

We know there are plenty of great fields out there, but ours? Ours has a soul. It’s a place full of muddy paws, happy barks, belly flops, and big grins—a field with heart.

So if your pup has zoomied their way through our paradise and left with a wagging tail… we’d be overjoyed if you’d give us your vote.

Let’s keep that crown sparkling! 👑

Use the drop-down menu below to find your county, then select the dog field that deserves your vote. It takes about 20 seconds to cast your vote — and just by doing so, you’ll be entered into a draw to win a free session at the field of your choice. 🎉 Why Your Vote Matters […]

05/07/2025

Where the Field Found Me

Some journeys aren’t mapped out—they meander, stumble, then settle in the most unexpected places. Mine led me back to the very farm where I grew up, surrounded by cows, sheep, horses, and dogs. Being a farmer’s daughter shaped me quietly and deeply, instilling a love for animals and a respect for the land that still grounds me today.

Living with dyslexia made finding my place harder. I moved from job to job, working twice as hard just to stay afloat in systems that didn’t see me fully. But then my brother encouraged me to come back to the farm. And little by little, I did. Not with a grand plan—just a willingness to start again.

I began home boarding, welcoming all kinds of dogs: bounding bundles of energy and gentle souls looking for calm. They taught me everything. One day, I thought, what if there was somewhere secure and peaceful just for them? Somewhere to breathe, explore, simply be. And the field began.

Since then, I’ve seen transformations—an old spaniel remembering her youth with every step, a runaway lurcher choosing to stay, Charlie finding focus through scent. Wanting to do more, I trained with the IMDT, deepening my understanding of how to help dogs thrive through kindness, trust and tailored enrichment.

Now the field is something bigger. It’s shared. It’s loved. And my next hope is to make it more accessible—to add a proper path so everyone, no matter how they move, can enjoy it fully. We’re working on it, season by season.

I never expected this to be my destination. But now, I can’t imagine being anywhere else.

03/07/2025

03/07/2025

Puppy soup!

02/07/2025

Scent Work: A Vital Tool for Prey-Driven Dogs

When people talk about “prey drive,” it’s often with a tone of concern—especially if their dog has a history of chasing squirrels, birds, or even shadows. But prey drive isn’t a flaw; it’s a natural, instinctive part of many dogs’ behavioural makeup. Rather than suppress it, we have a far more effective and fulfilling option: redirect it.

Enter scent work.

At its heart, prey drive is about searching, stalking, chasing, and sometimes catching. Scent work allows dogs to engage with the searching and tracking phases of this sequence in a safe, controlled, and rewarding way. By doing so, we honour their instincts while gently guiding their energy into something positive.

Why it works:

• Mental fulfilment: Prey-driven dogs are often highly intelligent and energetic. Scent work challenges their brain as much as their nose, giving them a “job” that scratches the same itch as chasing.
• Emotional regulation: The calm focus required in scent work helps balance the adrenaline highs prey-driven dogs often experience.
• Reinforcement through sniffing: Dogs with high prey drive are often motivated by the thrill of the chase—but if we make sniffing just as rewarding, they begin to choose it on their own.
• Safer engagement: Instead of darting after deer or lunging at birds, scent work offers a structured outlet to express those instincts without chaos or danger.

Take Charlie, for example—a bright and beautiful spaniel who first arrived at the field bursting with energy and a nose for mischief. His recall was hit-and-miss, especially when a pheasant made a surprise appearance. But then his person introduced him to scent games—hidden treats among tyres and pallets, little trails through the long grass. Within weeks, Charlie transformed. The once-scattered dashes became purposeful hunts. His tail wagged a little lower, his eyes stayed soft and engaged, and that wild energy found a focus.

Now, Charlie’s visits to the field are a joy to witness. He still loves a good chase—but he’s learned that the real thrill lies in the search. And we’ve learned, too: that a dog’s instincts don’t need suppressing—they need celebrating.

So instead of asking how we can curb a prey-driven dog’s urges, let’s ask how we can channel them—ethically, creatively, and compassionately. The field is proof that when we do, both dogs and humans find something truly rewarding.

The video is of my own dog Tano and not Charlie @ a Trail hunt day run by JBK9S

02/07/2025

Puppy time

02/07/2025

🏅 “And in the gold medal position: Rocket-dog, clearing imaginary hurdles with Olympic precision—while the crowd (aka me, watering trees on the other side of the fence) roars with laughter!”

01/07/2025

I was genuinely horrified to read a post from a so-called trainer claiming that dogs shouldn’t be allowed to sniff on walks, as it supposedly increases prey drive. What utter nonsense. This kind of thinking ignores everything we know about canine wellbeing—and worse, it completely overlooks the simple joy dogs find in just being dogs.

The field has become a haven not only for people, but for their dogs too. It’s a place where sniffing is celebrated, where every blade of grass holds a secret message, and every scent trail is an invitation to explore. Denying a dog that natural right, especially in a space as rich and full of life as ours, is both unkind and uninformed.

Scent work is essential enrichment—not a problem to be avoided. When dogs are free to use their noses, they’re tapping into their most powerful sense. It calms them, stimulates their minds, boosts confidence, and lets them engage with the world in a way that’s deeply fulfilling. And here, at the field, you can see it in action: the relaxed tails, the thoughtful snuffles, the quiet contentment of a dog simply being allowed to follow its nose.

Let’s keep standing up for our four-legged companions by creating and protecting spaces where they can thrive—not just physically, but emotionally too.