Halcyon Hounds

21/11/2025

Providing toys and other safe items in a variety of shape, size and texture help give puppies opportunities to explore, play and use their mouths and teeth on items that aren’t us!

Rotate which items you use to help create novelty and interest.

20/11/2025

I will share some of the things we are doing with our new puppy Roly in case it helps those of you with puppies, or are planning on having a puppy in the future.

At night Roly sleeps in a crate next to our bed. Being close to us helps him feel safe and secure and we can hear him if he needs to go out to the toilet.

So far he has needed to go out around 4am but otherwise has slept soundly all night.

19/11/2025

Introducing Roly.

A new addition to the Gowler family ❤️

18/11/2025

Great advice from Emmaline regarding dogs and coats.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Rugs, Coats & Petticoats!

It’s ridiculously cold and so we bring out the coats and rugs to keep our horses and dogs toasty, rightly so. I can’t help but notice as I watch some dogs being walked in their coats, they look like they’re wearing heels for the first time as they totter along as the coat is restricting their movement, particularly the extension through the shoulders. So I thought I’d pop some helpful tips to help owners select their rugs and coats.

In most cases (unless the dog is only wearing it at rest) the fit of the rug or coat is equally as important as the fit of a harness or tack you choose. Dogs seem to wear them for the time they’re exercising and the only time horses don’t wear rugs is when they’re being exercised. Either long durations or crucial times.

Same principles apply to fitting a coat or rug to tack or a harness;

✅Check for even contact and no pressure points. There’s no tightness when stood still.
✅Watch them move with and without the rug or coat, there shouldn’t be a difference particularly in leg extension or flexion.
✅Ask them to flex to the sides up and down, check they can freely and there are no restrictions or increased pressure points.
✅Observe as they sniff or eat grass to again check there’s no increase in pressure points, particularly across the shoulders or withers.
✅If you’re using with a harness then ensure you check the above with the combination.
✅Time. Check again after a few minutes of movement to check the coat or rug hasn’t slipped or moved out of position you initially checked.
✅Monitor. Keep checking as your horse and dog changes shape, not hugely, but it happens and so we need to make sure the coat or rug doesn’t need adjusting to suit.
✅Do ask yourself whether your dog does need to continue to wear a coat once warm and moving.

I cannot advise you dress your animal in a petticoat, it was merely an attempt to ensure you read the important parts! Though if you do opt for the petticoat, it’s essential you share photo evidence!

I hope you find the above tips useful 👍🏻

17/11/2025

Ali is brilliant, is based near Worcester and has a hoopers class space available.

17/11/2025

These slots don’t become available at such short notice very often.

Now taken

16/11/2025

Congratulations to Helen and Glen and David and Ted for passing their Level 6 Training Club award today.

Just brilliant!!!

Level 7 here we come!!!

🌟🌟🌟🌟

16/11/2025

I absolutely love beach walks with my dogs.

Its even better if I can park on the beach, or in a nice car park overlooking the beach, so I can take refreshments, a good book and make a day of it.

Where are your favourite places to walk? 🐾🐾

14/11/2025

Oh my goodness!!

What an awful day!! ☔️

We got soaked this morning, so it’s indoor training this afternoon 😬.

11/11/2025

Brilliant workshops!!

I would most definitely be there myself if I wasn’t working.

Hoopers Course Running

Sunday 7th December 2025
Holme Lacy College (HR2 6LL) - indoor venue.

Get in touch to book a place x

11/11/2025

** Tuesday 30th December **

I have The Dog Field from 9am until 1pm and can offer some ‘between Christmas and New Year’ training sessions.

Hoopers, Outdoor Training or something else?

Is anyone up for this and if so what do you fancy?

Thank you 🐾🐾