My Botanical Self Selection Journey so far...

My journey with botanical self-selection started a few years ago. I was working with a local dog training school teaching and assisting with kennel club puppy and good citizen classes, as well as observing some behaviour 121s and training with my own dogs in everything from free shaping behaviours, to agility to rally and anything else we could have fun with. One of the other trainers asked if I'd heard of Zoopharmacognosy and wondered if I'd be interested in joining her on some training. At the time this was a completely new subject but after a quick google search I was hooked! I spent a lot of time looking for information, watching YouTube videos and generally just absorbing as much as I could but I wasn't feeling as connected to the process as I'd hoped. Then I spotted another local trainer was hosting a one day workshop for botanical self-selection. I booked myself a spectator place and headed off for a day trip. This was the turning point for me. Part of the workshop involved observing three dogs being offered botanicals and I will never forget the impact that the whole process had on one particular dog and their guardian. To say it was special is an understatement and still makes me feel emotional thinking back to it. The workshop was delivered by the amazing Rachel Windsor-Knott who at the time was in the beginning stages of writing her practitioner training course and I wanted in! I immediately signed myself up for more details and kept a very impatient eye out for any updates! As soon as details were release I signed up to be part of the first training class starting in September 2018. I was still working in the training classes but was beginning to feel more and more like this wasn't where I was meant to be so a couple of months before the course was due to start I stepped away and focussed all of my energy on the new adventure about to begin. 

Shortly before the course was due to start I also had the amazing opportunity to take one of my own dogs to a zoopharmacognosy session with Caroline Ingraham, the founder of applied zoopharmacognosy. Again this was an emotional experience for me and further cemented that I was on the right path. 

Training began with Rachel in September 2018 and I haven't looked back since. The whole process of getting to know the botanicals, working with them in a holistic way and seeing first-hand the benefits of the process has been not only eye opening but has also opened me up to so much more and I can honestly say I have never felt so right about anything else. 

My passion and mission is now to share the beauty of botanicals, of working from our hearts and opening ourselves to truly listen to the animals we share our lives with. I can't wait to bring you along for the journey!