Honest Hounds Doggy Fun Day

In May, we were thrilled to host a Fun Day for dogs and their owners at BrackenXcapes. The event was run by Honest Hounds, who provide in-person training, accredited courses, events and online resources for dog owners. Throughout the day, over 200 dog owners and 30 trainers attended, taking part in everything from live demonstrations to competitions and drop-in behavioural sessions in our nine-acre field.

Grace Macdonald, who is the personal assistant for Honest Hounds founder Jessie Montague says: “Our dog Fun Day was all about bringing the Honest Hounds community together and celebrating the journeys our members have been on. It offered participants a safe, supportive space to try new activities with their dogs without pressure or judgement.”

A wide variety of dogs attended, from tiny dachshunds to great Danes and golden retriever puppies. The group included both young and mature dogs with a mix of temperaments and training histories. “Likewise, the owners varied in experience; some were complete newbies to Honest Hounds while others had been on training journeys for a while and were seeking deeper insight and support,” says Grace.

Honest Hounds Fun Day Activities

The doggy fun day featured seven unique workshops run by affiliate trainers, covering everything from massage and scent work to Gameness, Relationship and Control (GRC) sessions. Dogs competed in the ‘fastest dash’ competition, cooled down with doggy ice cream and snapped pictures with professional photographer Heather Woodward. 

In the main marquee, in-house animal behaviourist Jessica Probst led live demonstrations and insightful discussions throughout the day. Owners could take part in free, drop-in Honest Hounds dog training sessions to explore topics such as lead walking and understanding their dog’s archetype. There was also a dedicated muzzle fitting station where owners received hands-on support. 

While the Fun Day wasn’t a formal behaviour course, many of the dogs who attended were working through behavioural challenges like reactivity, over-excitement, nervousness and handling sensitivities. Grace says: “It was amazing to see owners who would normally avoid social events like this coming along. Everyone took the space they needed and managed to have so much fun with their dogs while building confidence – wins all round!”

Dog Training at BrackenXcapes 

“We love BrackenXcapes,” says Grace, “we’ve also run residential courses, training weekends and professional development days here and each time the site delivers. The training spaces are secure, versatile and give us plenty of options to adapt sessions based on the groups’ needs. We also love the range of accommodation and the sheer amount of space that we can use. The fact that Nigel and the team are so friendly is the icing on the cake.” 

Many of the attendees stayed at BrackenXcapes’s on-site glamping accommodation, including our luxury pods, bell tents, lodge and cottage. Grace says: “Our attendees had nothing but great things to say about the accommodation, it was clean, comfortable and ideally located. Everyone was really impressed with the site and facilities – it created the perfect setting for both the dogs and their people to feel at ease.”

Grace adds: “This is a truly dog-friendly site in a stunning setting and I love sitting out with the fairy lights at the end of the evening. The venue really added to the success of the event and we can’t wait to come back; we’re already planning what we can do next!”

About Honest Hounds

Honest hounds are striving for big change in the dog world by building a global community of dog guardians, trainers and experts. Grace explains: “We believe that dogs and their families deserve to feel confident and live their happiest lives. We take a holistic approach to every dog we work with and have built a thriving community of over 1,700 members across the UK and beyond.”

Find out more about upcoming Honest Hounds events here. Looking to host your own dog training event? Contact us to find out about hiring BrackenXcapes or read more on our whole site hire page.