Our story and what we stand for.
Adventure. Together.
We believe that all dogs deserve to be Dogwood dogs. We believe in freedom, play and off-lead adventure. We believe in a strong community of likeminded people who want the absolute best for their dogs. We are a safe space, an enriching environment. Together, we are Dogwood.
Giving back is at the heart of Dogwood. We know that not all dogs are as fortunate as Dogwood dogs, that’s why we help those in rescue centres. We volunteer at Dogs Trust, collecting dogs from the centre to bring them to Dogwood where they have chance to explore and feel the wind in their hair, before returning them to the centre, fulfilled and happy. We donate sessions to Dogs Trust and Maxi’s Mates so that dogs can enjoy time with their own amazing Canine Carers and prepare for their forever homes. You can donate a session to the charity of your choice, please get in touch.
As part of our dedication to rescue dogs we offer the families of newly adopted dogs 50% off the price of an Introduction Session so that they can enjoy some off-lead playtime with their new addition. Our purpose-built fields provide the ideal environment for bonding with new companions and testing them off-lead for the first time! Find out if your rescue takes part in Dogwood Forever Families.
Are you feeling ready to give up on ever having a relaxed walk? Fed up of looking over your shoulder, scouring the horizon for dogs or other distractions? Do you have a dog who is reactive to other dogs, one that runs away from you on walks or a dog that is fine but just seems under-challenged, under-stimulated, a dog that would love to have more fun?
I know that feeling.
I’m Katie and I created Dogwood because sharing your heart and home with a dog is not always easy.
Back in Italy I began a journey with one of my own dogs, Lao. After being rescued from abusive hunters he was very frightened, he would bark and lunge at people and dogs to scare them away, even biting them.
I had experience of working with reactive dogs at Dogs Trust but still, I felt isolated and frustrated. Walks were becoming increasingly difficult, and it just broke my heart to see Lao struggle.
I invested in more advanced reactivity and aggression courses, began to consider the whole lifestyle of a dog, and when I got back to the UK I began putting together ideas so that I could not only help Lao but other dogs too.
I knew there were others out there who were going through the same heartbreak and loneliness as me. I wanted to create a safe haven for them.
And so Dogwood Adventure Play was born!
What I learned was that yes, a safe enclosed space is ideal for reactive dogs but the Scentventure activities we did there were beneficial for all dogs. They’re a great way to lower arousal levels in overexcitable dogs, good for working on recall or other training issues and just great all-round mental engagement for any dog whose owners want something new and interesting for them to do.
This turned into something incredibly powerful and I welcomed the opportunity to help more dog owners find the same joy on their walks as I did.
Where I was once lonely and isolated, I now receive daily messages from people telling me how Dogwood has changed not only their dogs’ lives, but theirs too.
I love how we’ve created a community of people that came together to share their experiences of strength and hope.
I opened Dogwood to you because I know how it feels when your dog reacts, lunges, barks and bites. I know how it feels when walks in public places are something to dread, the anger you feel whenever someone shouts from the other side of the park, ‘It’s ok, he’s friendly!’, to think that you will never be able to let your dog off the lead, to be embarrassed by his behaviour, overwhelmed and confused by the conflicting training advice available. To feel that everyone is judging you.
But I also know how it feels to watch your dog running, sniffing, playing, exploring off-lead, knowing that he is safe. And I know how it feels to look on happily as your dog sleeps, finally tired and fulfilled. I know how it feels to know that I am doing the best that I can for my dog because he deserves it.
At Dogwood we do not judge you. We support you, we understand. We’ve been there.
Love, Katie x
Katie at Dogs Trust
Qualified Dog Trainer, Scentwork Instructor and Canine Enrichment Specialist, Katie created Dogwood Adventure Play because she believes that all dogs deserve to be Dogwood dogs. In her previous role as Campaigns Officer at Dogs Trust she travelled across the North of England delivering training, behaviour, enrichment, health and legal advice to hundreds of dog owners every week and developing new campaigns for responsible dog ownership.
A strong advocate of rescue dogs, Katie joined the Dogs Trust Head Office team where she helped deliver the campaign to parliament for compulsory microchipping. At Dogwood she organises charity events to support rescue dogs.
Katie specialises in helping reactive and distracted dogs via her signature training system, Scentventure® and works hard to improve the lives of the dogs and people in her community. She believes that reward-based training and enrichment are key to a strong and long-lasting relationship.
Katie is qualified with the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (high distinction), an associate member of Pet Dog Trainers of Europe and a qualified Scentwork Instructor with the UK College of Scent Dogs and WSDA The Man Hunt instructor and judge. She has launched a consultancy service to help other people open their own Dogwoods around the country.
