The Dog Witch: Whole Health for Healthy Behaviour

23/03/2026

We’ve been absolutely blown away by the response to the conference.

Dan West Country Pets and I have spent time at The Falcon Hotel making sure everything is perfect for you, checking the layout, the food (hard job, but someone has to do it), confirming the bar is close enough 😉, and of course making sure the goodie bags are bursting.

Our ridiculously low Early Bird price genuinely doesn’t reflect the quality of this event.

We have 11 incredible speakers, a beautiful venue, a stunning location, and even entertainment. We simply believe that education should be accessible , and that’s why we’ve kept the cost so low.

Early Bird tickets end on 1st May, so don’t miss out.

And don’t forget: you can always pop in to see me and Dan in the shop on Mondays for harness fittings, behaviour support, and nutrition guidance. We love seeing you and your dogs in person.

https://www.thedogwitchwholehealthandbehaviour.com/the-canine-wellness-conference

20/03/2026

If you havnt joined me at the new academy yet please do 😊 launch date is very soon ❤️

Atticus was named after Atticus Finch. Yes, he’s a fictional character, but sometimes fiction shows us the kind of people we could be. Atticus stood for fairness, compassion, and doing what’s right even when it’s uncomfortable. He reminded us that money isn’t what makes a life meaningful. Community does. Family does. Integrity does.

There’s a line in To Kill a Mockingbird that captures this perfectly:
“The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”

That’s the heart of Atticus Academy of Animals.

We’re not here to follow trends or repeat the same old ideas just because “that’s how it’s always been done.” We’re here to do what’s right, for animals, for humans, and for the world we all share.

We care deeply about truth, welfare, and accessibility.
We want education that belongs to everyone, not just those who can afford it, not just those who learn in one particular way.

We want to open doors, not gatekeep them.

Atticus exists because we can feel the tide turning. People are questioning old beliefs. They’re hungry for real knowledge, real compassion, real change. And we want to be part of that shift, gently, honestly, and with our feet firmly on the ground.

We’re here to help people reconnect with animals, with nature, and with themselves.

To make good care common sense.
To build a community that lifts each other up.
To choose conscience over convenience.
That’s what makes Atticus different.
And that’s why we’re here.

17/03/2026

My wonderful friend and collegue is coming to Devon.Victoria from Happy Henry’s Grooming and Training

Every groomer should be doing these courses. From every groomer I meet they all say the same thing, understanding canine communication, consent and behaviour is just not part of their education and its letting them down massively.

People like Victoria are leading the way in supporting groomers with the gaps that need filling. Her way of teaching is fun, kind and deeply affective.

Victoria is also a collaborater for Atticus academy of animals and speaking at 2 conferences here this year.

Happy Handling System Workshop! Is for groomers, guardians and pet professionals who are wanting to learn a little behaviour and find out more about the fun way she works with dogs, especially those who struggle with grooming and handling.

A big thank you to Jordan, New Leash of Life - Dog Grooming for hosting Victoria ❤️

Who’s in?? Are you already booked on? If not, why not?

Happy Henry’s!, where happy dogs are made 🐾🛁

⭐️Games⭐️Grooming⭐️Growth⭐️

16/03/2026

We are so close I can taste it, and we can finally start sharing what we’ve been building, and what’s still to come.

When I started working in the pet shop, it pulled me right back to where I’ve always loved to be: the grassroots. The beginning. The places that actually need to be reached but are so often dismissed.
And standing there, it hit me hard:
All the incredible work happening in our field, the academic rigour, the push for regulation, the people going to parliament, the research, the conferences, the echo‑chamber breakthroughs, so much of it still isn’t reaching the people who matter most.
The general public.
The people who make daily decisions that shape animals’ lives.
The people who want to do better but aren’t being given accessible, trustworthy knowledge.

This doesn’t mean the high‑level work isn’t essential, it absolutely is. But it also means something else is missing.
✨ We need high‑quality education at low prices, accessible to all types of learners.
✨ We need to make fundamental welfare knowledge feel like common sense.
✨ We need everyday people to feel empowered, not overwhelmed.

And we have some beautiful ideas brewing about how you, our community, will be able to help us do that.

But for now, we’re starting with something simple and powerful:
short, affordable courses designed for everyone.
Courses you can take yourself, or, if you’re a professional, ones you can confidently send clients to.
So here it is, the part I’ve been waiting to say:

I am now the co‑founder, alongside Dan Baseley, of Atticus Academy of Animals,
a grassroots project with one clear goal:
to make life better for humans and the animals they share it with.

We’re building something that feels necessary, hopeful, and long overdue.
And I cannot wait to show you what’s next.

Please support us by joining our social groups. Facebook and Instagram. There, you will learn more about the website launch that is just around the corner.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582203540930

16/03/2026

There’s a lot of pressure around fresh food diets at the moment, and I completely understand why people feel confused. Not all fresh, cooked, or raw diets are created equal. It’s a bit like saying our own diet is healthy just because we eat fresh food… but if we lived on salad leaves every day, we’d end up pretty unwell. Dogs are no different.

When we choose fresh feeding, it really does matter that the diet is as balanced as possible. And I say as balanced as possible because there’s no such thing as perfectly balanced — every dog is an individual, and we’d have to test constantly to hit exact numbers. Balance is a direction, not a destination.
And let’s also remember that a pretty bag or a “vet approved” stamp doesn’t guarantee balance either. Many commercial diets don’t sit within guidelines and rely heavily on supplements that dogs may not absorb well.
If we’re going to feed fresh, we want to get it right.
An 80/10/10 raw mix isn’t complete.
A bowl of meat with a bit of rice isn’t complete.
Incomplete diets can lead to health issues and make the effort of fresh feeding feel pointless.

But here’s the good news: it’s not difficult, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. A few simple principles can make a huge difference.
So come and have a chat with me. I’m in Holsworthy Pets every Monday, and I’m always happy to help you make sure your dog is getting the best you can offer — without the overwhelm.


Pets and The Dog Witch

15/03/2026

I am with my family, my plants and just the world in general

13/03/2026

I’ve been a carer in one form or another for my entire adult life, and I genuinely love it. I love easing someone’s discomfort, making their day a little lighter, helping them feel held when life feels heavy. It’s something I’ve always been good at.
But the hardest people to care for are the ones closest to you.

When it isn’t your job, you have to carve out the time, and in this busy world, time is the one thing we never seem to have enough of. And when it is someone you love, everything becomes more intense. Every emotion is sharper. Every moment feels heavier.

When I supported my mother‑in‑law through her final years, even with all my experience, it was different. I felt frustration. Sometimes even anger. I felt helpless. I worried constantly that I wasn’t doing enough. I worried that others thought I was doing it for the wrong reasons, and that loneliness cut deeper than I expected. There was sadness, overwhelming sadness, watching someone I cared for fade, and watching my husband carry his own grief.

Caring is always hard.
Caring for someone you love is harder still.

And this is something every guardian will face with their dogs at some point. We hope we never outlive our children, but our dogs… we almost always do. When we bring a dog home, we’re swept up in the excitement of new life, new routines, new joy. We rarely stop to ask:
What if they become sick?
What will their final years look like?
How long will they need us?
Can I carry that weight?
They deserve the same level of care we give our human family, but the reality is that vet bills, medication, good food, supplements, and supportive therapies take a huge financial and emotional toll. And these challenges don’t only arrive in old age. In my work, I see dogs as young as six months already struggling with health issues.

This is the part of guardianship no one advertises.
The heartbreak.
The sleepless nights.
The guilt.
The responsibility.
The fear of getting it wrong.

We talk endlessly about “good dogs” and “good behaviour,” but where does that narrative sit when a dog is in pain, frightened, or unwell? How many dogs suffer quietly because their discomfort is mistaken for naughtiness, or their illness becomes an inconvenience someone can’t cope with?

As I sit here in the early hours of the morning, having just settled Harry after another flare‑up of pain, I don’t regret a single moment of having him in my life. The joy he brings me will always outweigh the stress that caring brings. But that doesn’t make it easy.

So to all the dog carers out there, the ones going the extra mile, the ones who stay up through the night, the ones who rearrange their lives because they know their dogs deserve it, I send you all my love.

We often talk about dogs having unconditional love for us.
It fills me with joy to see humans offering that same unconditional love back.

And when we are bringing more dogs into the world or into our families, take a moment to remember it's not about sits down stays or running through grass happily. Its about being there for ALL of it. Being their family, and taking on all that that means.

12/03/2026

We’re honoured to welcome Maya Badham to our next Guest Hour in the Canine Wellness Circle.

Maya is a trusted expert in domestic abuse, sexual violence, and trauma‑informed practice, and a pioneering authority on the link between animal cruelty and interpersonal abuse. With over a decade of frontline experience across support, advocacy, and education, she brings a depth of knowledge that is rare and deeply needed. She holds a Master’s in Human Rights Law and is a qualified Independent Sexual Violence Advisor, with extensive experience supporting female, male, and LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.

This is an incredible opportunity to learn from someone who not only understands the complexities of human trauma, but also the vital role animals play within those dynamics.

As always, our guest hours are part of the Canine Wellness Circle membership — a space where conversations are real, compassionate, and grounded. You’ll be able to ask questions, explore ideas, and connect directly with Maya in a supportive environment.

I’m so grateful we get to host voices like hers. This is going to be a powerful and important conversation.

09/03/2026

Well… Dan and I from Holsworthy Pets have some very exciting news coming at the beginning of April. It’s taken everything in me to keep quiet, because honestly, I’m buzzing.
Dan and I became mates pretty much the day we met — one of those rare, instant connections built on shared passion and a stubborn determination to make the world better for animals. We come from different sides of the industry: Dan with his deep, hands‑on knowledge of the pet shop world and its grassroots realities, and me with the academic, scientific, and welfare‑first side of the animal community.
And now we’re bringing those worlds together.
We’re creating something that blends real‑world experience with scientific rigour — something elite in its quality but accessible to absolutely everyone. April will reveal the first piece of the puzzle… and then at the conference in November, we’ll be unveiling something even bigger.
So keep an eye on our pages, keep popping into the shops, and stay close. We cannot wait to share what we’ve been building.

08/03/2026

Simple Sundays.

Every Sunday, my husband and I will be turning our phones off for the entire day and evening. No scrolling, no notifications, no “just quickly checking”… nothing. We’ll be spending the day connecting with each other, our doggies, our rat, our garden, and the world right in front of us. We might wander into the community, support a local business, or curl up with a film — but there will be no laptops and no phones switched on.

It’s time I started practising what I preach.
We keep wondering why chronic health issues, mental health struggles, and burnout are everywhere. Yet we’re on call 24/7, constantly reachable, constantly stimulated. And when people say, “But what if there’s an emergency?” — isn’t it telling how deeply this has taken hold of us? We survived long before mobile phones and laptops. And if there is an emergency, you call an ambulance.
Our nervous systems need rest. Our families need our full, undivided attention. Our lives need space to breathe.

So every Sunday, I’ll be switching off — fully and intentionally.
Why not join me?

06/03/2026

The Canine Triage Practitioner course is coming in 2027, and I’m so excited to finally share what we’ve been building. This will be a six‑month, fully tutored online programme designed for people who want to understand the whole dog and become confident first‑line practitioners who can triage, guide, and support guardians with clarity and compassion to where they need to be.

You’ll get regular input from me throughout the course, and the curriculum is already shaping into something really special. Modules may adapt slightly as we refine things, but here’s the current structure:

Course Modules
1. What is a Canine Behaviour Practitioner?
2. Advanced Canine Communication and behavioural indicators
3. Canine Lifestyle and Its Effects on Wellbeing
4. Health Indicators in Coat, Gait, and Posture
5. Physical Comfort and Early Indicators of Pain
6. Canine Nutrition and Stool Analysis
7. Sleep, Stress, and the Canine Nervous System
8. Understanding Multidisciplinary Modalities (mainstream and complementary)
9. Building a Professional Support System and MDT (Multi-disciplinary team).
10. How to Take a Triage Consult
11. Guardian Support and Mediation

This course doesn’t just teach you how to triage. It teaches you how to see the dog in front of you — their body, their behaviour, their environment, their stress load, their comfort, their nutrition, and the many professionals who may need to be part of their support network.

You’ll learn from a range of contributors across the field, from veterinary professionals to botanical self‑healing specialists and everything in between. It’s a truly integrative approach designed to empower you, support guardians, and ultimately make dogs’ lives better.

If you’ve been waiting for a course that blends welfare‑first practice, practical skills, and a deep understanding of the whole dog, this is the one to watch. If you would like to be put into the WhatsApp group to be on the waiting list just message on 07799350300

05/03/2026

Well this is a little exciting… and I think many of you will feel the same. We’re absolutely thrilled to be welcoming Rita Hogan into the Canine Wellness Circle for our next guest hour.

Rita is a clinical canine herbalist with over 20 years of experience, an educator, speaker, and the author of the brilliant book The Herbal Dog. My own copy lives permanently by my bed, covered in stickies and notes because it’s one of those rare books you keep returning to again and again.
What I love about our guest hours is that they’re not formal interviews — they’re genuine conversations. You get to ask questions, explore ideas, and chat with incredible professionals in a relaxed, supportive space. And starting the month with Rita feels absolutely perfect.

All of this is part of the Canine Wellness Circle membership:
£10 a month for regular guest sessions, our Sage Gatherings, and a growing library filled with resources from some truly wonderful people across the field.
This month is packed with brilliant professionals, and I can’t wait for you all to meet Rita and dive into her world of herbal wisdom.