South West Dog Skills

06/09/2026

Last 2 spots left on our evening agility classes at Hunstrete.

Small, calm groups. No queuing, no chaos, just steady progress and real connection between you and your dog.

📅 Monday 7:45pm — starts tomorrow & 📅 Tuesday 7:45pm

Both sessions at Hunstrete.

Spots this small fill fast. Link in comments

04/09/2026

If your dog struggles, somewhere along the way you've probably wondered whether it's your fault.

Whether you did something wrong. Whether a better owner would have got it right by now. Most people carrying a sensitive dog have felt exactly that, and most have felt it on their own.

Here is the truth. You're not doing it wrong. You're doing something most people never have to, quietly, and with more care than anyone sees.

That's what this conversation is about. When you feel like you're the only one, Wednesday 9 September at 7pm. Free, online.

and you'd be welcome.

Link in the comments.

01/09/2026

If the idea of an online room makes you want to keep your camera off and say nothing at all, that's completely fine.

You don't have to talk. You don't have to share a thing. You can sit with a cup of tea, camera off, and just be somewhere that people understand, for once.

That's genuinely all this is. An hour where you don't have to explain yourself or prove anything.

When you feel like you're the only one. A free online conversation, Wednesday 9 September at 7pm. Come exactly as you are.

Link in the comments.

01/09/2026

As many of you will know we shared our life with Jonty, who has been our biggest teacher.

Sadly after a short illness we said goodbye to him at the weekend.

ACE saved his life when we needed it most and the words of Sarah saying “do least harm” led us to the difficult decision.

We owe so much to Jonty for everything he taught us and all that we experienced through his life. He gave us a true understanding of how ACE can create relationships and outcomes that were once thought impossible, of how connection and safety is the most important part of a dog - human bond and also how we can support others that are supporting sensitive dogs.

His legacy will be long lasting and he will never be forgotten.

24/08/2026

You're not the only one.

If you share your life with a dog who finds the world hard, you'll know the parts nobody sees. The walk timed for when the streets are quiet. The bracing before every corner. The judgement from people who have no idea.

And the strange loneliness of it, even when you're surrounded by people who love you.

On Wednesday 9 September at 7pm I'm hosting a free online conversation called When you feel like the only one.

It isn't training. No homework, nothing to prepare, and nobody telling you what you're doing wrong. Just an hour with people who understand.

Free, and kept deliberately small. If it sounds like your kind of evening, the link's in the comments.

16/08/2026

Thank you to Mark and Denise at The Association of INTODogs for this recognition award and for the very generous donation to Child Bereavement UK.

As a proud member of INTODogs it means a lot to be recognised for the work that we do.

Along with ACE, INTODogs has given me a home and somewhere that I feel comfortable to be the practitioner I wa

Huge congratulations to Matt from South West Dog Skills on being the recipient of our recognition award.

Well done Matt, you are doing fantastic work and we will donate £100 to your chosen charity.

Here are a few words from Matt.

"I'm Matt, an ACE Advanced Tutor and proud INTODogs member running South West Dog Skills in Bristol/Bath. I believe most training problems aren't training problems, they're understanding problems. Before I look at behaviour, I look at the whole dog: body, mind and environment. Because pain and discomfort get mistaken for "bad" behaviour more often than many people realise. My work is about the shift from fixing the dog to understanding the dog, and taking the pressure off guardians who feel they've tried everything. Connection over perfection.

My mum passed away when I was a teenager and the support I received from a specialist bereavement council really helped me make sense and deal with everything that was going on. I feel so strongly that any young people going through bereavement should be able to be supported by specialists. That is why I’ve chosen Child Bereavement UK as the charity for the very kind donation. https://www.childbereavementuk.org"

Well done Matt, keep up the excellent work, and thank you for a wonderful choice of charity too...

11/08/2026

Jonty came into our lives as an eight-week-old puppy, and puppyhood nearly broke us. Lead ragging, jumping, grabbing, shredding, pacing, restlessness, he was struggling every single day and we didn’t know why. He couldn’t even eat without it looking painful. To anyone watching, he probably looked “naughty”. What we were actually looking at was a dog in distress.

Sarah Fisher’s words became our anchor: if you’re struggling with your dog, they’re struggling too.

ACE gave us a different question to ask. Not “how do we stop this” but “what is Jonty telling us”. Through Free Work, mindful touch and quiet lead connection, we learned to listen properly, and Jonty learned he didn’t need to shout to be heard.

These days, he chooses to lie down with a chew he’s picked himself, in a room full of people, on textures he once couldn’t tolerate. That’s trust, built one small choice at a time.

If any of this sounds familiar, and you’ve ever felt like you’re the only one struggling, join us free online on 9th September at 7pm: When You Feel Like The Only One.

Come as you are.�🔗 bookwhen.com/southwestdogskills?tags=Online%20Courses%20and%20Webinars =ev-s7nlx-20260909190000

10/08/2026

One of favourite spots in Bath. We love Basil's Bakery

09/08/2026

Share this to your feed to tell your friends how they can help you.

Be a brilliant friend to a sensitive dog and their guardian.

Ignore the dog and keep on walking.

07/08/2026

A quick live showing all the balloons from the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta