Hounds Connect

06/02/2026

I gave a workshop at the 6th PCE-Europe Symposium which took place at University of Strathclyde at the end of last year entitled "Person-Centred Counselling for Dog Owners" Totally free of charge😉I have reproduced most of the content here. It pulls together research and ideas from a range of sources to stimulate a discussion on why person-centred counselling can help people struggling with their relationship with their dogs. I am interested in any views you might have 🙂

The evidence that suggests counselling for people when they are having difficulties with their dogs may offer offer a good solution

31/01/2026

I was really thrilled with the engagement and interest I got from my recent workshop at the PCE-Europe 2025 Symposium. The title of my workshop was "Person-Centred Counselling for Dog Owners". Over the next few days and weeks I will publish parts of the presentation more widely (on social media and my website - if I can master the technology). If there's anything specific that you are curious about please let me know. Right now I have to do it!

19/11/2025

Not long now. On Friday I will be hosting a workshop at the PCE-Europe 2025 Symposium. We will be exploring how the work of Carl Rogers and Person-Centred Counselling relates to canine behaviour and the ideas of Kevin Behan (Natural Dog Training). I look forward to sharing with other counsellors how our dogs can help us navigate our emotional world.

30/06/2025

05/05/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FXe9AiF67/

The Shepherds Hideaway - VERY, VERY, VERY dog friendly Shepherds Hut accommodation near St Asaph, North Wales and close to Snowdonia and the North Wales coast.

15/03/2025

Why counselling for dog owners? A quote from Kevin Behan in his book "Your Dog Is Your Mirror" helps to explain. Our dogs can help us get a better connection with ourselves ❤

03/02/2025

Are your emotions and feelings affecting your dogs' behaviour? How would you know? I offer details of the approach I have taken over the years, if you want to give it a try. Happy hunting!

Self-Help Are your emotions affecting your dogs? This section is for those of you who are interested in exploring how your emotions and feelings might be affecting your dogs. I have listed the steps that I take, which might be helpful. I have found it amazing to discover what our dogs are picking up...

17/03/2024

Why does your dog hump you? I have just read a question posted on a dog training group asking for advice to address this behaviour. People have lots of advice about how to stop it, but sometimes the causes are closer to home. This is a blog post I wrote about my own experience with this behaviour.

why does your dog hump you - An account of how a dog owner got in touch with her own stuck emotion when her dog started to hump her

11/02/2024

This petition is about a drug that is being given to dogs to treat pain from osteoarthritis. Unfortunately there are side effects being experienced by a number of dogs that are not being fully disclosed. This petition has been started by a vet. If your dog has been negatively affected by librela (or Berensa in Australia/New Zealand) please consider signing.

Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?

09/02/2024

Shamelessly nicked from another Facebook friend! Hope this makes you smile😊

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble... At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.
When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?'

'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.. 'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.

Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up. 'The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveler asked.

'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'

'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.'

'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog.

'There should be a bowl by the pump.'

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree..

'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked.

'This is Heaven,' he answered.

'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'

'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell.'

'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'

'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.

09/02/2024

I've been a bit quiet on my social media accounts lately. I've been dealing with more endings. I lost Archie last Hallowe'en, unexpectedly. He has left a big hole. He was my 'second in command' at Hounds Connect. He was my top model on my website - not because he was prettier than the others, but because he was a total poser! He is the subject of many of the stories on my blog, about our emotional connection with our dogs and what they can teach us. I will write more about him soon. Here's a couple of photos - from mad puppy (with Jack) to wise friend 🥰

27/01/2024

Something for the diary

We are delighted to announce that as part of our 10 year celebrations, veterinary surgeon Wendy McGrandles BVMS VetMFHom MRCVS will be our guest speaker at our very first Raw Feeding Seminar!

Wendy qualified from Glasgow Vet School in 1983 and worked in mixed practice until she set up her own practice, Glenbrae Vet Clinic, in 1990. Originally a small animal and equine clinic it eventually became 100% small animal along with 2 further clinics. Wendy obtained her VetMFHom specialist qualification on 2006 from The Faculty of Homeopathy. As more evidence is emerging for the role of microbiome in health and behavior, Wendy has also focused on species appropriate nutrition.

Wendy will discuss the difference between raw and different forms of processed food, and will discuss the safety aspects of these different formulations. She will discuss the roles of pre and pro biotics and how to enable your pet to live as healthy a life as possible.

As this event is part of our 10 year celebrations, Merumhor are hosting it as a thank you to our customers, and so the event will be at a discounted price of £10 per person. Numbers are however limited, so please book your space via the website www.merumhor.co.uk

Tickets will be listed under the drop down menu section titled "Raw Seminar"

Please share this exciting news with your raw feeding friends!