Positive Connections

Positive Connections Using Real Life venues to grow the dogs confidence to search like a real detection dog

Specialising in Detection Style Scentwork for pet dogs my passion is giving handlers the theory and understanding whilst training their dog to search any (legal) odour.

It has not been the easiest decision but Positive Connections will be closing at the end of December. It has been an inc...
09/12/2025

It has not been the easiest decision but Positive Connections will be closing at the end of December.
It has been an incredibly challenging year and I need a reset and fresh start for 2026.

I WILL still be training Detection Scentwork training going forward but will be starting up a new business. More details will follow over the next few weeks.

IMPORTANT INFO;
ALL workshops, bookings for training, and lessons for 2026 that are in place WILL still go ahead
ALL credits for cancelled workshops and trials and ALL vouchers that were purchased WILL still be valid to carry over until March 2026 when the accounts for Positive Connections will close. If credits are not used by then refunds will be given.
If you are owed a credit, could I please ask you to message me. Most of these have been put against bookings between now and into January 2026, but if you believe you still have credit, PLEASE let me know asap.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have supported me over this difficult year, there really are no words strong enough to tell you how much I truly appreciate it. Your kindness, support, hugs and generally holding me up in those difficult moments. Regular clients and those from afar, new clients and old, just being part of your journeys, watching you and your dogs grow as a team - the journey is not over!
New year - new start!

Friday afternoon was the Novice Detection Dog Trials at East Somerset Railway. In true style with the Novice Trials this...
06/12/2025

Friday afternoon was the Novice Detection Dog Trials at East Somerset Railway. In true style with the Novice Trials this year, it certainly set the judges some challenges!
Element 1 was an area of the platform and inside, and although a tricky high hide was put out the standard was incredible and handlers allowing their dogs to problem solve this beautifully. Well done all.
Rain was forecast to come in for Element 2 so this was planned and walked as a small undercover part of the platform and inside the train carriage. In true form just before we started the train disappeared up the tracks!! Bye bye search area!! 🙈. A quick change to a larger area of the platform, but with the rain and then wind picking up quickly with each dog, this became more and more of a challenge for us judges and teams! I gave the option for any team wanting to have a refund for E2 due to the weather getting worse, and handlers all made the right decision for their dogs. Some went home, others knew their dogs and continued, and it was incredible how these dogs worked through these conditions, with things flapping around, but just had one thing on their mind - the motivation to search. Well done teams, despite the conditions and not having walked 2/3s of the area, you smashed it. What amazing dogs.
A HUGE THANK YOU to Cheryl for judging with me in these conditions, and holding me upright!!
Element 1
1st Penny and Lexi 90
2nd Karen and Elka 89
3rd Andrea and Tilly 88.5
4th Kate and Darwyn 88

Element 2
1st Liz and Bodie 88
2nd Flis and Jofra 80.5
3rd Penny and Lexi 78.5
4th Karen and Elka 74.5

No prize giving for this trial due to scoresheets blowing away in the wind into a puddle and needing to spend the evening drying out on my radiators before we could add up totals!
Scoresheets will be messaged to you all and rosettes given out/posted.

Huge well done guys, it was a challenge!!

Congratulation to all teams that competed in the Prelim Detection Dog Trials at East Somerset Railway yesterday morning....
06/12/2025

Congratulation to all teams that competed in the Prelim Detection Dog Trials at East Somerset Railway yesterday morning. 7 teams using 4 different odours - Kong, Clove, Gun Oil and Lapsang!
2 very different areas to challenge the teams E1 being a platform and inside area and Element 2 searching a train carriage.
The weather was kind and it was lovely to see a couple of new teams competing.
Huge Thank you to Cheryl for judging one of the elements whilst I judged the other.

Element 1
1st Rosemary and Lanner 90
2nd Gillian and Ember 89
3rd Sooz and Goose 88
4th Aicha and Miko 86

Element 2
1st Jayne and Indie 91 (this team not only did a wonderful search but had one of the station volunteers come into the carriage, rummage through his rucksack, take out a flask and start pouring himself a coffee whist the team carried on searching in a calm way!!
2nd Rosemary and Lanner 90
3rd Sooz and Goose 87
4th Holly and Bonnie 85

There was a Novice Trial in the afternoon, but the highest combined score of the day was Rosemary and Lanner who earn themselves the High Trial of the day. They have also now moved up to Novice level. Well done!

Busy 5 non stop days of training. Thank you so much to those who helped keep me upright with food, coffee and biscuits! ...
02/12/2025

Busy 5 non stop days of training. Thank you so much to those who helped keep me upright with food, coffee and biscuits!
Friday I held another Understanding Odour and Odour movement workshop. Working with Clove, Gun Oil, Pyro and Kong. I do love this workshop.
Saturday a full day training at Mendip Bunkhouse. Each team working on their individual needs from foundation of search right through to experienced teams clearing areas and some really challenging hides.
Sunday back at Mendip Bunkhouse with 2 teams taking the challenge to clear outside and inside with unknown number of hides and some 121 private sessions.
Monday back at Castle Combe Race Circuit with dogs at a variety of different levels working on clearing areas, recognition of dogs in odour, confidence to search with handler in another room, and large area searches.
Finally today at Shepton Mallet Prison with 2 groups. From retraining an indication, confidence on different surfaces, reading your dogs body language and area clearance.
Well done each and every time, there certainly have been some celebration moments over the last few days 🎉🎉
I will be catching up on admin tomorrow for those awaiting replies to messages.

Availability left for current workshopsFriday 12th and Saturday 13th December - 2 days of Deconstructing Foundations. Du...
01/12/2025

Availability left for current workshops

Friday 12th and Saturday 13th December - 2 days of Deconstructing Foundations. Due to injury we have one space come available for a 2 day workshop. Day one is at Castle Combe Race Circuit and day two near Castle Combe, working indoors. This can be split into 2 separate days. This is a joint workshop with Jenny at Deliverance Dogs and can be for an level and any legal odour. Please message if interested.

Monday 15th December - 2 spaces available in the afternoon at Boscombe Down Aviation Collection near Salisbury. Please book via booking link.

Thursday 18th availability for 1-2-1, shared or small group sessions at Shepton Mallet Prison

Friday 19th morning availability at Shepton Mallet Prison. Afternoon fully booked.

JANUARY

Friday 9th - afternoon availability at Shepton Mallet Prison. Morning fully booked.

Wednesday 14th - space on a small group at Shepton Mallet Prison in afternoon. Morning provisionally booked.

Friday 16th January now fully booked at Shepton Mallet Prison

For Deconstructing Foundations and Shepton Mallet Prison please message for info and booking.

Searching at Shepton Mallet PrisonI am offering the opportunity for either 121, shared, or small group sessions at Shept...
29/11/2025

Searching at Shepton Mallet Prison

I am offering the opportunity for either 121, shared, or small group sessions at Shepton Mallet Prison over December and January. This could be a wonderful way to get together with your scentwork friends before Christmas as a Christmas get together (there is a small cafe on site too!), or to start the New Year.
Training can be tailored to any level, and any legal odour can be used.
The dates that are available are;
18th and 19th December
9th January
14th or 16th January

Please message if interested, or you have a small group of friends who would like to come together. Sessions can be any length, from 1 hour to a day.

Workshop availability in the next week;Saturday 29th - a place has become available for a Full day workshop at Mendip Bu...
25/11/2025

Workshop availability in the next week;

Saturday 29th - a place has become available for a Full day workshop at Mendip Bunkhouse, BA3 5HY. This super venue has indoor areas if weather is bad as well as outdoor areas. 10am to 4pm, max 5 handlers, £95. Please message if interested.

Sunday 30th I have the opportunity to run a 2.5hr workshop at Mendip Bunkhouse, BA3 5HY. This can be for dogs on any legal odour and any experience. Only 3 handler spaces maximum so lots of search time and learning, and each handler can work on any areas they need support with. I can run this from 9am to 11.30am, or 12.30 to 3pm. Please message if interested and times can be confirmed. £65 per handler.

Tuesday 2nd December - Shepton Mallet Prison. Option for private, shared or small group from 1pm onwards. Please message if interested.

Thank you so much Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum for allowing us to use the venue to run a Prelim Detection Dog Trial today....
24/11/2025

Thank you so much Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum for allowing us to use the venue to run a Prelim Detection Dog Trial today.
Lovely to see some first timers today and also to see how much work some teams have progressed since their last trials working on the areas they lost marks on last time. It really shows!
Thank you so much to Penny Druitt for judging Element 1 whilst I judged Element 2 and for helping out. Really appreciated.

Element 1 results
1st Meg and Tess 90
2nd Stephanie and Riker 87
3rd Jak and Ralph 86.5
4th Daphne and Monty 86

Element 2 had a false start due to a runaway odour (literally!!) so thank you for your patience
1st Meg and Tess 90.5
2nd Holly and Bonnie 90
3rd Daphne and Monty 88
4th Jak and Ralph 87

High Trial went to Meg and Tess as well as a Diamond Award. Well done on now winning out of Prelim and for two beautiful searches.

Well done to Ayla and Buzz this morning for their fantastic searching in the INTRO Detection Dog Trial. This little boy ...
24/11/2025

Well done to Ayla and Buzz this morning for their fantastic searching in the INTRO Detection Dog Trial.
This little boy had only ever searched for Kong at home, coming into a strange environment at the Motor Museum a little anxious, he quickly built his confidence in the workshop before the trial and absolutely loved it! Such an exciting little boy for the future 😍

All information and running orders for the Prelim Detection Dog Trial at the Motor Museum has been emailed. Please also ...
23/11/2025

All information and running orders for the Prelim Detection Dog Trial at the Motor Museum has been emailed. Please also check junk mail. Good luck everyone!

19/11/2025

I will be taking the next week off except for the planned Trial and day at the Motor Museum on Monday 24th. Competitors will receive an email with info and running order.

Huge Congratulations to Ruth and Radar for an incredible Intermediate DDT search at Bath Racecourse to win first place a...
18/11/2025

Huge Congratulations to Ruth and Radar for an incredible Intermediate DDT search at Bath Racecourse to win first place and a Diamond Award.
Challenging conditions for this trial and all teams embraced the challenge and worked so well. Well done to each and everyone one of you.

Intermediate
1st Ruth and Radar 90.25
2nd Elissa and Dexter 84
3rd Liz and Gus 78.5
4th Karen and Kylo 62

Address

Trowbridge
BA140TF

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

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