Experience Days with Dogs - Sheepdog experience days, husky sledding, pet grooming & pet photoshoot

Sheepdog Training Day
£102.00
West Yorkshire

Spend up to five hours on a farm and go back to basics, working with nature.  You can really tap into the bond between man (or woman) and dog, as you find out about the special skills developed by shepherds over the centuries.  Expert tuition is provided by talented Barbara Sykes, a shepherdess, farmer and dog trainer.  Lunch is not included, but there is a pub nearby.  The experience content may vary, but this is surely a great gift for any country lover who wants to try their hand at working with dogs. Find out more from Virgin Experience Days

Meet the Huskies and Entry to Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation for Two, Kent
£51.00

Head to Kent, where you'll go into the Husky Enclosure with an experienced keeper.  Here you'll be able to get close to and interact with these stunning dogs!  This is a great chance to take photos and discover more about the breed and meet over 30 huskies - they've all got their own personality! All the huskies at Eagle Heights are rescue.  And as part of the experience, you can enjoy entry to Eagle Heights, which is home to many rescued animals and birds. Find out more from Virgin Experience Days

Take your dog on a dog-friendly break!
£99.99

Red Letter Days have a number of dog-friendly breaks so that you can take your dog with you and explore new places together!  You can choose from a selection of one or two night stays, and there's a variety of places to stay from glamping sites to hotels and countryside inns. Some locations include breakfast. Vouchers are valid for two people. Owners and dogs should be well-behaved!  Get 10% off with Red Letter Days until 31 December 2024 with the code AHW2024RLD - it's site wide, though some products are excluded.

Hike with Huskies and Entry to Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation for Two, Kent
£51.00

There are miles of footpaths and private trails here in Kent, and accompanied by a group of gorgeous huskies, you'll hike for about 2 miles across the North Downs.  Get your camera ready to take lots of photos as you gaze across the Derwent Valley!  The keepers will share their knowledge with you, and you can enjoy entry to Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation where there are a range of rescued animals including meerkats, servals and reptiles. Find out more from Virgin Experience Days

Introduction to Dog Grooming in West Sussex
£101.00

Get a taste of life as a dog groomer, or learn how to treat your woof to some TLC or just have a day with a woof with this Introduction to Dog Grooming experience. You can discover how to prepare, style and finish a breed of dog - you can either bring your own from home, or choose one from the academy.   The day starts at 11am and finishes at 2pm.   This is available from Virgin Experience Days.

Border Collie Experience
From £99.00 
Leicestershire

Learn to work livestock with a whistle on this fabulous Border Collie experience day!  Collies make the perfect sheepdog and this session in the Leicestershire countryside gives you a great insight into how man and dog work together.  By the end of the day, you'll be calling commands and maybe even getting the sheep dog to do basic moves!   Courses run from 10am - 2.30pm with a break for lunch (not included).  Go to Into the Blue to find out more and to buy this experience  

Cake, Coffee and Cuddles for Two at the Edinburgh Chihuahua Cafe
£41.00

Sit back and relax while the eight resident Chihuahuas wander amongst guests, greeting you with licks and snuggles.  Order a loose leaf tea, or unique hot chocolate or creative coffee and tuck into a decadent slice of cake!   The Chihuahuas may choose a lap to lie on, or you may get involved in a game of fetch or tug of war.    Find out more from Virgin Experience Days. 

Pet Photoshoots available from Virgin Experience Days

Gift experience company Virgin Experience Days have a Pet Photoshoot experience which give you the chance to have a professionally taken photo of your pet.  There's also a Bespoke Outdoor Photoshoot for Dogs which takes place at a pre-arranged location within 50 miles of Brighton, Exeter, and Oxford. (Within a 10 to 50 mile radius of each city there is a £0.45 per mile charge.) 

Dog Photoshoot with Image, Wiltshire

Head to Imagine Photography's wonderful photography studio and take advance of their enclosed garden studio, featuring floral walkways, various wooden backdrops, infamous peek-through rustic windows, ivy walls, rose arches, and various seating areas.   Available for up to three well-behaved dogs, your pooch not only gets to show off their photoshoot skills, but they can also run about in the large studio.   At a later date, head back for a private cinema viewing at the studio where you can choose an image for your included 10x8” print portrait worth £105.  Currently £35 instead of £75.00 and it's available from Virgin Experience Days. 

Personalised Pet Magazine Front Cover with Frame

Now, this isn't an experience as such - but it could make a lovely gift for a dog owner or lover!  Receipients will choose their pet's picture and put them on the front cover of your chosen magazine - there are options such as Dogmopolitan, Rolling Bone, Furbes and Catographic.  They're printed on high quality gloss photo paper in A4 size and you can receive a frame too to hang it on the wall!  For £30 from Virgin Experience Days.

The National Trust has many dog friendly places to visit

Did you know that the National Trust cares for 700 miles of stunning coastline and 600,000 acres of beautiful countryside?  And that many of the places they care for are dog friendly?  Not all of them, obviously,  but nonetheless that gives you plenty of scope for new walkies with your woof. Some National Trust places may mean your dog can have a really nice walk instead of having to endure motorway stops so you can all enjoy greater calm and beauty on your journey when you paws for a rest.  Take a look anyway at the National Trust's Dog Friendly pages - there's lots of info, so if you think this would be for you or a gift for someone, you could become a member of the National Trust.

How about the experience of knitting a dog a sweater?

Okay, so this isn't an experience day as such, but Hive has a book called  Knits for Dogs : Sweaters, Toys and Blankets for Your Furry Friend.  Created to suit your dog's individual needs, the 16 knitted patterns which include jumpers, neckerchiefs and snoods can be sized up or down to suit a range of small to medium sized breeds.  For £11.19.  Find more information from Hive.co.uk here.

Not a dog experience as such, but you can plan 2025 with an Emma Bridgewater, Dates Dinners & Dog Walks Family Organiser 2025!

This is available from Emma Bridgewater for £12.99.  It's a week to view, starting on Mondays, and has six columns for each member of the family.  If you don't need six columns, you could always use one for noting down dog events such as Crufts (even if you watch it on the TV), local dog shows, favourite dog television programmes you want to see, and so on.  This planner is available from the Calendar Club (who have a huge range of dog calendars, by the way!).  

Give your dog a treat with an Advent Calendar for Dogs! 

Introducing the Santa's Helpers Dog Treat Advent Calendar from the National Trust Shop for £7.00.  Your dog can join in the festive fun, as there's a lovely treat behind each of the 24 doors.  You need to store it in a cool, dry place.  There's no added artificial colours and preservatives and ingredients are turkey, sweet potato and cranberry.  Yummy!  Race off to the National Trust shop here.

Take a look at advice and tips from vet Rory at Lily's Kitchen here
They make delicious, natural recipes, nutritionally made to help keep your dog in great condition!  

Do have a look at their Game Time for dogs and owners, as well!  
Playing games with your dog is a great way to build the bond between you.

PS Check out their Woofbrush range, too - dental chews for dogs.  Woof, woof!