The Daisy Dog Academy

06/06/2026

Two weeks. One session. A completely different picture. ❤️

When Mabel first came to see me, the world felt like a lot.

Walks were overwhelming. The lead became something to bite. Stress levels were high. Panting, worry, and feeling unable to cope with everything around her were all signs that Mabel’s nervous system was working overtime.

Fast forward to today’s second session, and we saw a very different dog.

Was she “fixed”? No.

But she was calmer. More curious. More able to engage with her environment. Most importantly, she was starting to use that incredible nose of hers.

By taking the pressure off, removing the expectation of traditional walks, and allowing Mabel to become the pilot of her own experience through Animal Centred Education, we gave her the space she needed to start processing the world differently.

Her owners have already noticed huge changes at home. She’s sniffing more, exploring more, and showing far fewer signs of stress. That’s not because we’ve taught obedience. It’s because we’ve started supporting the dog in front of us.

Dogs don’t always need more commands.

Sometimes they need more choice.

Sometimes they need more opportunity to process.

Sometimes they simply need us to slow down and listen.

Mabel’s journey is only just beginning, and we’ll continue building her confidence one step at a time, but seeing these changes after just one session is exactly why I love this work.

If your dog finds the world a bit overwhelming, struggles with walks, reacts to the environment, or simply lacks confidence, Animal Centred Education can be an absolute game changer.

And if you’ve been curious about learning more, our August ACE workshop might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Because when we stop asking, “How do I make my dog cope?” and start asking, “What does my dog need to feel safe?” that’s often where the magic happens. ✨🐾

Comment below to learn more ⬇️

06/06/2026

✨ This Is Where Training Really Starts ✨

When people think about dog training, they often picture the end result — the perfect recall, the loose lead walking, the calm behaviour around distractions.

But training doesn’t start there.

It starts with attention.
It starts with engagement.
It starts with a dog choosing to tune into their human, even when there are far more exciting things happening around them.

In this video, Evie absolutely nailed it. 👏

In a busy classroom environment, surrounded by other dogs, she made the choice to disengage from the distractions, focus on her owner, maintain eye contact, and work as part of a team. That’s not just a recall. That’s a relationship in action.

At The Daisy Dog Academy, we don’t believe in barking commands at dogs and hoping for the best. We build understanding. We create cues that have meaning. We help dogs learn that paying attention to their humans is rewarding, safe, and worthwhile.

Because when engagement is strong, everything else becomes easier:
🐾 Recall
🐾 Loose lead walking
🐾 Settles
🐾 Behaviour work
🐾 Confidence building

Real-life training matters. Dogs don’t learn in a vacuum, and there is huge value in learning around other dogs, people, and distractions in a controlled, supportive environment.

Evie and her owners should be incredibly proud of this moment. It’s a wonderful example of what happens when we focus on connection before control.

If you’re struggling on your own, you don’t have to, we can help you and your dog build the foundations that make training feel easier, more enjoyable, and far more successful.

Why not book your free call to find out more!

06/06/2026

05/06/2026

Today Mum and I finally got to tick something off my bucket list – spending time with Jack and Jill the capybaras.

What started as a capybara lunch experience turned into over 30 minutes of feeding, interacting with, and learning about two absolutely wonderful animals. It was a real privilege to spend that amount of time with them and something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time.

As someone who spends every day helping people build better relationships with their dogs, experiences like this remind me just how special our connection with animals really is. Whether it’s our own dogs, horses, cats, or in this case, two very charming capybaras, animals have an incredible ability to bring us into the moment and remind us what really matters.

The experience also got me thinking about how often we put things off. There is always work to do, another job on the list, another reason to wait until next month or next year. Yet none of us know what tomorrow will bring.

Having recently heard the sad news of the loss of Tony Head, Sarah Fisher’s husband, it serves as a powerful reminder that time is precious. We make plans assuming they’ll always be there waiting for us, but life doesn’t always work that way.

So maybe this is your sign.

Book the experience you’ve been talking about for years. Spend the day with someone you love. Take the dog on the adventure. Make the memory. Have the laugh. Connect with the people and animals who make your world brighter.

Today wasn’t really about capybaras. (Well it was a bit!)

It was about connection, making memories, sharing an experience with Mum, and feeling incredibly grateful for the opportunity to spend time with two amazing animals.

The to-do list will still be there tomorrow.

The moments that make us smile are the things we carry with us forever. ❤️

ConnectionMatters

04/06/2026

🚨 We've been meaning to try that...

If that's been your response every time you've seen one of our Mantrailing Introduction Workshops, this is your sign to stop thinking about it and just do it! 🐾

We've just released TWO brand-new Introduction Workshops for July and August, giving you the perfect opportunity to discover what all the fuss is about.

Whether you already enjoy activities with your dog, are looking for something new to do together, or simply want to spend more quality time with them, mantrailing is an incredible way to build confidence, connection and teamwork.

And here's the best bit...

You don't need a perfectly trained dog.

You don't need a dog that's great around distractions.

You don't need a dog that can sit, stay, heel or perform party tricks.

In fact, if your dog finds the world a bit overwhelming, struggles with confidence, is easily distracted, or simply needs an activity that's designed around how dogs naturally experience the world, mantrailing could be exactly what you've been looking for.

Using their incredible nose, dogs learn to solve problems, make choices, build resilience and discover just how capable they really are.

Every week I watch owners arrive wondering if their dog can do it...

And every week those same owners leave absolutely blown away by what their dog has achieved.

It's fun.
It's rewarding.
It's suitable for almost every dog.
And quite frankly, it's one of the best ways you'll ever spend a few hours with your best friend.

So if you've been sitting on the fence waiting for the right time...

This is it.

Come and join the Mantrailing Army this summer and discover just how amazing your dog really is. 🐶❤️

📅 July & August Introduction Workshops
📩 book your spot today at www.thedaisydogacademy.com

03/06/2026

Every dog comes with a story, and understanding that story helps us support the dog standing in front of us.

Today's one-to-one was with the rather handsome Buddy, a rescue dog who spent time living on the streets before finding himself a wonderful new home.

When a dog has been used to making all of their own decisions, coming and going as they please, and surviving in the world on their own terms, adjusting to life in a home can take time. Behaviours that owners find challenging are often just communication from a dog trying to work out how this new world works.

Today's focus wasn't about stopping behaviours. It was about understanding them.

We talked about building connection, rewarding the behaviours we want to see more of, helping Buddy engage with his new family, and creating a relationship where he feels safe, comfortable and confident.

One size never fits all when it comes to dogs. Every dog is an individual, with their own experiences, emotions and needs. Our job is to listen to what they're telling us and provide the support they need to succeed.

Buddy did a fantastic job today. He is full of enthusiasm for life, has landed firmly on his paws with his wonderful family, and I have a feeling he's going to be an absolute superstar.

And if I'm honest... I'm already a little bit smitten. ❤️🐾

03/06/2026

🚨 DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND - WE'RE DOING IT AGAIN! 🚨

What happens when your dog becomes the teacher?

The two ACE workshops we held in Wales were such a huge success that when I released the first Northern Ireland workshop, it filled in minutes. Literally minutes.

So if you've been watching from the sidelines wondering what all the fuss is about, now is your chance.

This workshop is designed for dogs that are already taking part in activities such as mantrailing, scent work, agility, hoopers, obedience, gundog work, or any activity where you and your dog work together as a team.

But this isn't about performance.

It's about learning what happens when we remove our attachment to outcomes, slow things down, and allow the dog to become the pilot of their own education.

Over two days, you'll learn how to observe differently, support your dog's nervous system, recognise the subtle information they are constantly giving you, and create an environment where confidence, problem-solving and genuine learning can flourish.

Animal-Centred Education is, without question, my greatest passion.

It's something I continue to do with Daisy on a regular basis, and something I continue to study because there is no finish line. The more you learn, the more you realise there is still to discover.

The changes I have seen in dogs through this approach have been nothing short of remarkable.

If you want to deepen your connection with your dog, better understand how they experience the world, and learn skills that will benefit every activity you do together, this workshop is for you.

👇 Comment "COUNT ME IN" below and I'll send you all the details.

But don't hang about...

If the previous workshops taught me anything, it's that these spaces won't be available for long.
🐾

02/06/2026

The thing I love most about mantrailing? The people, the dogs, and the fact that absolutely anything can happen.

This little clip was taken when Daisy and I were attending a workshop in Hampshire where, a capybara had escaped from the zoo… 🦫😂

One of the beautiful things about mantrailing is that we can safely introduce novelty and help our dogs learn that the world is full of surprises. Inflatable outfits, fancy dress, dinosaurs, capybaras… whatever appears at the end of the trail, our dogs learn to approach it with confidence, curiosity and optimism.

Every unusual experience adds another layer of learning and helps build dogs that are more adaptable, resilient and ready to tackle whatever life throws at them.

But just as importantly, it should be fun.

You work hard for your money, so if you’re spending your day doing an activity with your dog, it should leave you smiling, laughing and making memories together. That’s exactly what mantrailing does.

The dogs absolutely loved it, the handlers were in stitches, and Daisy was more than happy to add “professional capybara finder” to her CV. 😜

If you’ve never tried mantrailing before and fancy an activity that’s packed with enrichment, confidence building, learning and a healthy dose of laughter, this might just be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

🐾 Follow the scent.
🐾 Trust your dog.
🐾 Expect the unexpected.

31/05/2026

🐾👃 Calling all scent work enthusiasts, mantrailing teams, and anyone who's discovered just how fascinating the dog's nose really is... 👃🐾

Tomorrow night we kick off the very first Daisy Scent & Trailing Academy, and I'm opening the last few remaining spaces before we get started.

This Academy is all about helping you understand your dog better.

Whether you've joined me for:
🐾 Mantrailing
🐾 Scent Work
🐾 Animal Centred Education
🐾 Enrichment activities
..or you're simply fascinated by the incredible world of the dog's nose, this is your opportunity to continue learning and growing alongside your dog.

We'll be exploring everything from how dogs use scent, to reading your dog better, problem-solving, confidence building, video analysis, behaviour discussions, and all those moments on a trail or search where you've wondered, "What on earth is my dog telling me right now?" 😏

This is a relaxed, supportive community for people who love learning, love their dogs, and enjoy having fun while building their understanding.

🕕 First Zoom: Tomorrow Night (recordings available)
💻 Live online sessions twice a month
🎥 Video analysis
💬 Private community support
🎓 Founding Handler rate available

⚠️ Spaces are limited and once they're filled, I'll be starting a waiting list.

If you'd like to join us, simply comment below:

👉 I'M IN

and I'll send you the details.

Let's talk dogs, noses, scent, trailing, learning, and all the wonderful things our dogs teach us every day. 🐶❤️

31/05/2026

We will be there showing off Mantrailing!

We are super excited to be running the trick workshop again! Make sure you bring along lots of yummy treats to get your dog involved!!

Get ready for a tail‑wagging day out at Dog Royal 2026 on 9th August! 🐾
Join us for a packed programme featuring mantrailing demos, interactive trick workshops, K9 massage, search & rescue demons and so much more!

Whether you’re a dog owner, dog lover, or just looking for a brilliant day out, this is one event you won’t want to miss. 🐶💚

Tickets - downroyal.com/tickets