Service Description

Who is this workshop for? This full-day ACE Free Work Workshop is for anyone who wants to better understand their dog as an individual and learn how to support emotional, physical, and behavioural wellbeing through observation-led enrichment. What you will learn: Many people find Free Work changes how they see their dog, revealing subtle patterns and preferences often missed day to day. ACE Free Work is a simple, low-impact activity that combines sensory and enriching experiences, allowing dogs to explore at their own pace while we observe posture, movement, behaviour, and nervous system responses. • Gain insight into unmet needs and how these appear in behaviour • Learn what their dog finds calming, comforting, or uncomfortable • Observe food preferences, eating styles, and posture • Improve connection and communication • Support confidence through choice-led exploration • Understand how Free Work supports calm behaviour and a nervous system reset • Learn how to use Free Work in everyday life Structure of the day: The workshop provides the opportunity to watch multiple dogs working in different Free Work set-ups, develop observation skills, and understand how small, thoughtful changes in our interactions can lead to meaningful improvements in wellbeing and behaviour. Provisional schedule: • 09:00 – Arrival, toilet dogs, and settle dogs in vehicles (parked directly beside the hall) • 09:15 – Tea and coffee • 09:30 – Welcome, introductions, and aims for the day • 10:15 – Build our first Free Work set-up o Each dog will have their first individual Free Work session o Group observation and discussion • Lunch break – taken at a suitable natural pause in the day • Afternoon session o Discussion of aims for the afternoon o Build a new Free Work set-up o Each dog will have a second session o Continued observation and learning as a group • End-of-day summary and reflections Approximate finish: 4:30pm (may run slightly later). The schedule remains flexible to allow the dogs’ needs to guide the pace. Important Information: • Tickets are for one person • Attend with or without a dog • We can only accommodate a maximum of 5 handlers with dogs - observers are permitted • Dogs must rest securely in vehicles between sessions • This is an observational, dog-led workshop with no pressure for outcomes Credit to Sarah Fisher - delivered in line with ACE principles of choice, observation, respect, and individual need.