The Dog Witch: Whole Health for Healthy Behaviour

The Dog Witch: Whole Health for Healthy Behaviour Educator of people, Advocate for dogs. supporting healthy, happy, Dog, Human relationships.
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Its been so lovely meeting so many new people and of course the most important part, their dogs ❤🐾I will be in the shop ...
17/08/2025

Its been so lovely meeting so many new people and of course the most important part, their dogs ❤🐾

I will be in the shop on both Monday and Tuesday this week so dont forget to pop by!

17/08/2025

I love this boy so much.
Harry was the dog who made me start being interested in why dogs ate certain things. He has always foraged, sometimes eating plants that google told me were dangerous but after more in depth study Harry was always right. He knows the plants better than I ever will.

He has been taking the blackberries off and then eating them off the ground. A great technique with thorny bushes.

I can't beleive He is now 11. I wish I could just stop the clock ❤️

It may surprise you, but the majority of complex behaviour cases I see, don’t come from rescues. They come from dogs bre...
16/08/2025

It may surprise you, but the majority of complex behaviour cases I see, don’t come from rescues. They come from dogs bred by well-respected breeders. We all moan about unethical breeding practices, and rightly so. But let’s be honest: it’s not just puppy farm dogs and rescue dogs who struggle. Where do we think the rescue dogs often come from?

I work with a lot of rescue dogs. Many of them come with trauma. Their trauma lives in their bodies, in the way they move, react, and hold tension. And when we give them time, space, and safety, they begin to heal.
But here’s the thing, many of the rescue dogs, especially the mixed-breed “Heinz 57s,” are often less complex than the dogs people pay thousands for. The fancy dogs. The ones with paperwork and prestige. Increasingly, I’m seeing chronic health issues in these dogs, hip dysplasia, patellar instability, soft tissue dysfunction, neurological quirks, gut imbalances. And that’s just the start.

So if you’re thinking of getting a dog, and you believe buying a specific breed from a reputable breeder will protect you from problems, please reconsider. You cannot predict how a dog will turn out. Just like with children, some will be robust and confident, others will struggle. Upbringing matters, yes. But it’s not everything.
Many health and behavioural issues are invisible at first. Your vet won’t catch them in a ten-minute consult. Your breeder won’t see them in a litter of eight-week-olds. These are the issues that can go unnoticed for years, until something awful happens. A bite. A breakdown. A decision no one wanted to make.

This isn’t a criticism of breeders, this is the reality that you need to be ready to take on huge responsibilities when you bring a dog into your life.
Whether your dog comes from a rescue or a breeder, you won’t truly know who they are until they’re in your home, responding to your life, your energy, your environment. And even then, they’ll keep unfolding. Because dogs are individuals. We all get dogs because we want a companion, but are we prepared to be their full time carer if they need it? Are we prepared to get a dog like no other we have ever had?

I am thrilled to announce that Marc Bekoff, world-renowned ethologist, author, and one of the most influential voices in...
15/08/2025

I am thrilled to announce that Marc Bekoff, world-renowned ethologist, author, and one of the most influential voices in animal behaviour, is joining us for a special Guest Hour on Friday 29th August at 7pm (BST).

Marc’s work was one of the first I encountered when I began studying dogs. His fresh, compassionate perspective shaped not only my career, but how I understand and relate to animals of all kinds. To have him join us live feels like a full-circle moment, and I’d love for you to be part of it.

Members: You’ll find the link in the Guest Hours section of the Circle. We hope you can join us live, but if not, the recording will be available to watch back.

Not a member yet? You’re warmly invited to jump in with a free month using the code THECIRCLE.
https://www.thedogwitchwholehealthandbehaviour.com/caninewellnesscircle
Marc’s insights are always thought-provoking, deeply humane, and full of heart. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your journey, this is one conversation you won’t want to miss.

Had an awesome day with some awesome colleagues. So lovely to get some professionals together, having fun and learning f...
14/08/2025

Had an awesome day with some awesome colleagues. So lovely to get some professionals together, having fun and learning from the best. Rachel Bean is second to none when it comes to first aid. Her course is fun, interactive and supports all types of learning. We had a great day and it was lovely to get to see Rachel and catch up.

Such a talented group of professionals, hopefully we get to all get together again soon.

There is something so beautiful about knowing what you are eating you have grown yourself. I did a big cut back of my he...
13/08/2025

There is something so beautiful about knowing what you are eating you have grown yourself. I did a big cut back of my herbs and also picked some of my veggies. It managed to not only feed us but make a lovely paste for my dogs, a bowl of herbs for widget and also a little present to my lovely friends Guinea pig, Gerald.

Isn’t it strange how we all seem to prefer photos of dogs sitting obediently, staring up at the camera? That classic hea...
12/08/2025

Isn’t it strange how we all seem to prefer photos of dogs sitting obediently, staring up at the camera? That classic head tilt, the soulful eyes, the perfectly framed face, it’s what fills our feeds and warms our hearts. But what about the photo of a dog with their head buried in a bush, nose deep in the scent of something wild and wonderful? That moment of pure canine joy, sniffing, foraging, maybe even chasing something, is often overlooked. And yet, isn’t that the photo of a truly happy dog?

We’ve come to favour images that appease us. But the dog with their head in the undergrowth isn’t performing. They’re doing what dogs do best, living in the moment, following instinct, exploring the world.

And we do this across society, don’t we?

Children now grow up learning to look into phones and cameras, trying to present themselves in ways that are more appealing to others. We still carry ideals about how we should look in a photo, if we’re a bit overweight, we hide our bellies. If we’re tired, we filter out the shadows. We change ourselves to fit a standard that often feels more like a performance than a true reflection.

But the pressure doesn’t stop with us. We project it onto our dogs too.
We dress them in fancy harnesses, stylish collars, and coordinated leads. We groom them to perfection and pose them for photos that fit our aesthetic. We try to make them look “just right”, as if their worth, like ours, is tied to appearance.

And yet, dogs don’t care about any of that.

They don’t judge us for our spots, our size, our greasy hair, or our awkwardness. They love us as we are.

So maybe it’s time we started looking at the world a little more like dogs do.
It’s hard, of course. We’re wired to appreciate beauty. We like things that look pretty. But perhaps we can begin to shift our gaze toward authenticity, toward joy, toward the messy, muddy, glorious moments that don’t fit the usual narrative.

Let’s celebrate the dog with their head in the bush. The child with a belly laugh and a wild curl. The human who shows up as they are, not as they think they should be.

How Odd We Must Be to Our DogsFrom the moment we’re born, we are shaped by the world around us. We’re fed information th...
10/08/2025

How Odd We Must Be to Our Dogs
From the moment we’re born, we are shaped by the world around us. We’re fed information that alters the way we think, shaping our desires, expectations, and how we see ourselves.
We know the damage airbrushed beauty standards inflict on women’s confidence. We recognise that films and music create unrealistic expectations of love. Yet, what we rarely acknowledge is how this same conditioning affects the way we see dogs.
Media tells us that dogs should behave a certain way. Trainers parade perfectly obedient dogs walking flawlessly by their side. TV personalities promise quick fixes for behaviour challenges, like dogs are malfunctioning machines. Films depict dogs as heroic saviours, and the news only highlights the rare stories of dogs dramatically rescuing humans or the total opposite.
Where does that leave real dogs? The ones who struggle, who feel fear, who have their own personalities, quirks, and instincts?
Dogs are as unique as we are. No two dogs are alike—different genetics, different life experiences, different strengths and weaknesses. Yet, we expect them to meet impossibly high standards. We often expect dogs to be better behaved than human children, even though we have verbal language, advanced cognition, and the ability to rationalise.
For thousands of years, dogs have evolved beside us, adapting to our world, suppressing their natural instincts to fit within human expectations. And yet, instead of respecting their remarkable adaptability, we demand more.
We expect them to be polite.
To understand our words even when we haven’t taught them.
To behave exactly how we want them to, simply because it’s convenient for us.
And all the things that make them dogs—scavenging, barking, digging, rolling in scents, sniffing bums, greeting with excitement—are deemed problems. We want dogs to only have the traits we find cute while rejecting the ones that don’t fit into human sensibilities.
But despite our unrealistic demands, dogs adapt brilliantly to our world. They restrain their instincts, tolerate our quirks, and adjust in ways we rarely appreciate.
Every time we feel frustrated with our dogs, we should remember the sacrifices they make to live with us. We should thank them for being far more tolerant of us than we ever are of them.

Who's coming to see me in the shop on Monday? isn't just a place to buy your dog food but to also learn about it too! D...
09/08/2025

Who's coming to see me in the shop on Monday?
isn't just a place to buy your dog food but to also learn about it too!

Did you know Mars Inc., the global manufacturer behind chocolate favourites like Mars bars, Snickers, and M&M’s, also owns Mars Petcare, one of the largest pet food companies in the world. Their petcare division includes many well-known dog food brands. Mars Petcare also owns veterinary services and pet tech companies, making it a major player in both pet nutrition and healthcare.

Pretty scary really! We are being advised on what food to feed by companies that get us addicted to sugar and dont give a damn about any kind of healthcare, let alone our dogs.

We buy the food we buy because some fat cat has worked out how to part with your pennies and get you feeding your dogs and cats food that will also support them to go to the vet quicker too.

I get no commission from food I sell, have no motives, other than supporting dogs to be healthy. I also do not charge for my advise when I'm in the shop. So if you would like to learn more about what we really feed our dogs and the long term damage it may be causing, pop in and have a chat.

Meet the beautiful Bruce and family. Bruce is an anxious boy, so i am supporting him and his amazing human to find ways ...
08/08/2025

Meet the beautiful Bruce and family. Bruce is an anxious boy, so i am supporting him and his amazing human to find ways to feel safer and more secure. Having a well fitted harness was one of the first things we talked about. You would be amazed at how much a dog pulling on the lead that is around their neck can add to their anxiety and tension.

Of course, I asked them to come in Holsworthy Pets so that Dan could give them a proper fitting. We first found a chew that helped Bruce to relax a little. He spent most of his time rolling on it but was VERY happy. We also made sure he was at the back of the shop so it was less stressful for him. Then Dan took a long long time helping Bruce feel comfortable with him touching him. Consent is so important and getting a harness fitted on a dog who is feeling scared or anxious can be horrific for them. But Bruce was very brave and with the use of a kind hand, a little patience and a lambs trotter, he walked out with a very cool, very well fitted harness.

We also do not just recommend one harness for all dogs. All dogs are very different and what suits one may not suit another. How they walk on lead, their breed, exercise levels, emotional needs and environment all lead up to which harness we would recommend. We may even suggest somewhere else if we do not stock one that feels right to you.

These are photos of our lovely Bruce with his family.

Social groups on a 16 acre farm for anxious, over excited or reactive dogs. All about letting the dogs tell us what they...
06/08/2025

Social groups on a 16 acre farm for anxious, over excited or reactive dogs. All about letting the dogs tell us what they need and learning how to listen. Space enough for them to process, feel safe and for us to learn. Supporting dogs to feel safer, less anxious or less frustrated on lead.

Address

Bradworthy

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447799350300

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