Active Instincts Dog Training Academy

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Active Instincts Dog Training Academy

Specialist dog trainer for high-energy dogs, nervous dogs, co-operative care, and kids' classes. Let’s train, play & grow together!

Building trust, teamwork & tail wags through exciting, games-based training!

05/06/2026

I'm struggling to find the words to describe just how incredible it was to watch the UK's first-ever bridleless dressage and show jumping championships at Merrist Wood at the weekend.

The level of harmony, connection and partnership between the horses and their riders was simply breathtaking.

I started riding my amazing horse, Kia, without a bridle around 25 years ago. Back then, I was laughed at, ridiculed, and even told off for how "dangerous" it was. I was told that it "wasn't how horses should be ridden", and the yard manager made it clear that I wasn't to do it again.

Since then, I've largely kept myself to myself in the horsey world. Meanwhile, my incredible, one-in-a-million horse is now 35 years old and enjoying a well-earned retirement.

When I heard about the bridleless championships, I was absolutely over the moon. I knew I had to be there, even if only as a spectator.

It was an emotional day for me because, after all this time, the world of equestrian sports is finally starting to acknowledge and celebrate the possibility of achieving incredible things with a horse through partnership rather than control. Watching horse-and-rider partnerships built on trust, communication and genuine connection take centre stage felt incredibly special.

Thank you, The Heart of Horsemanship, for having the courage and determination to challenge convention, for creating a space where these partnerships can be showcased, and for organising such a wonderful event. Seeing so many people come together to celebrate harmony between horse and rider gave me so much hope for the future.

08/04/2026

I can’t believe it’s already been a week since I returned from the incredible Emotional Wellbeing in Animals conference, organised by the fabulous Andy Hale from Dog Centred Care : The Emotional Experience of Dogs and their caregivers and the amazing Pet Remedy team. The week has flown by, and I’ve only just had a chance to sit down and reflect on it.

There really aren’t the words to describe the positive energy at the event. I was surrounded by hundreds of like-minded professionals, all passionate about supporting and improving the emotional wellbeing of the animals we work with every day. It was also lovely to catch up with familiar faces and make some new connections.

I’m committed to keeping my knowledge and skills up-to-date and guided by current scientific understanding - so events like this are incredibly valuable.

A huge thank you to Andy and the Pet Remedy team for organising such a fantastic event, and to all the delegates who made it such a positive and inspiring experience.

05/03/2026

I had the most incredible time at the European Treibball Championships in the Czech Republic at the weekend.
It was really lovely to catch up with some of my existing international Treibball friends and it was absolutely amazing to meet so many new Treibball comrades from all over Europe 🤩🐶

19/02/2026

I’m delighted to share that I’ve just renewed my accreditation as a KAD Kids Around Dogs® Professional for another year. This affiliation reflects my ongoing commitment to safe, positive child–dog interactions and relationship-based training. It offers you peace of mind that I meet recognised professional standards, stay up to date with best practice, and structure my classes with both physical and emotional safety at the forefront.

Teaching children how dogs learn - through clear communication, positive reinforcement and understanding body language - builds empathy, responsibility and stronger lifelong bonds. Today’s kids are the next generation of dog owners, and giving them the skills to train kindly and confidently helps create a healthy dog training culture for the future.

I’ll soon be releasing details of my Easter Holidays Kids’ Dog Training Classes - fun, interactive workshops designed to build confidence and connection between kids and their dogs. Keep an eye on this page for more information coming soon! 🐶

25/12/2025

Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas! I hope you're all having a fabulous festive time with family and friends 🎅🏼🎄🐶

16/12/2025

The last week has given me total puppy fever! 🐶

Training and socialising these gorgeous pups to give them the best start in their new homes has been SO much fun!

Now that they've all had their second jabs, Thursday involved group classes, then I spent Saturday morning meeting this little cutie-pie's hopeful new family 🥰

There are a couple of pups from this litter who are still looking for their forever families. Could it be you?

For adoption criteria and applications, please contact Every Paw Matters directly 🐶

11/12/2025

This is awesome value for money and a great idea for Christmas 😊🐶🎅🏼📸

06/12/2025

This is Flora - a Griffon Bleu de Gascogne whose story sits very close to my heart for two reasons.

Firstly, she’s a rescue who recently travelled from Spain to the UK, just like my own two spaniels did a few years ago. Alongside some of the quirky behaviours we often see in foreign rescues, Flora arrived feeling understandably anxious about the world. Life as a hunting dog in Spain can be incredibly tough, and everything she’s ever known has suddenly changed. Her caregiver reached out because she wanted to help Flora settle, feel safe, and start building new skills in her new life here.

Secondly, Flora’s caregiver asked if her young daughter could join our sessions - and of course, the answer was a huge yes! As a Kids Around Dogs approved trainer, I love involving children in the training process. Watching families learn together is one of my favourite parts of being a dog trainer. It’s been a real pleasure working with Flora and her lovely family so far.

They now have a much clearer understanding of where Flora’s little quirks come from and how to support her emotionally. They’ve already made brilliant progress with the training plan we put in place - focusing on trust, confidence-building, and giving Flora meaningful outlets for the instincts she was bred for, so her walks feel calmer and more enjoyable for everyone.

I’m so excited to see Flora’s personality continue to unfold as she finds her feet and grows in confidence in her new home. She’s already come so far - and this is just the beginning. 💛🐾

If you’d like support helping your own dog feel calmer, more confident, and understood, send me a message - I’d love to help.

Address

Merrist Wood Arena

Website

http://www.ActiveInstincts.dog/

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