Shepherd School Experience Days

Curious about Shepherd School?

Now's your chance to step into a day with experienced Shepherds and see how our approach works. This is not a beginner class, a taster or drop-in session. It's an opportunity to observe, ask questions and get hands-on experience in a supportive, real-world setting. You'll be learning alongside those who already live Shepherd School in their everyday lives, seeing how they work together with their dogs. 

You and your dog will love it!

What is Shepherd School?

Shepherd School is a learning environment where handlers (the “shepherds”) develop a clear, coherent relationship with their dogs through self-awareness and refined body communication.

Handlers work with tasks of their own creation, bringing together the non-cognitive elements of body language — posture, movement, and subtle cues — into a unified, observable whole. By mastering this internal and external coherence, handlers become legible to their dogs.

Dogs, who are naturally attuned to reading human cues, respond voluntarily and accurately, joining in the task in a way that is accessible and mutually reinforcing. This approach emphasises shared responsibility and self-regulation, not control or coercion.

Unlike traditional behaviourist methods, where dogs must infer hidden intentions, Shepherd School makes the structure of the task fully visible — like a clear newspaper headline — allowing dogs to engage meaningfully and predictably.

Participation fosters increased cooperation, reduced frustration, and a deeper, more secure relationship between handler and dog. Dogs who may have struggled with emotional or behavioural regulation benefit from a safe, structured environment in which they can exercise choice and control.

Bring your own dog - all breeds, from puppies to seniors are welcome (although no bite history or bite sports dogs please). We have 10 different breed types in Shepherd School and an age range 6 months to 12 years, all breed types and ages welcome.

• Maximum four participants.
• Taking place DT2 Dorset

Find out more about Shepherd School in our BLOG - Blog - DogTaggs

And for more information about our Shepherd School Programme pop back to the Courses and Bookings page.

What to do now

If you would like to join us for an Experience Day, please email us at hello@dogtaggs.co.uk.

In your email, tell us a little about yourself and your dog, what you're hoping to get out of the day, and anything you think would be helpful for us to know. We'll then let you know what dates and spaces we have available.

As part of your enquiry, please take a few minutes to read our Engagement Expectations: https://dogtaggs.co.uk/policies/engagement-expectations-at-dogtaggs/

These form part of our booking conditions. By completing a booking, you confirm that you have read and agree to them.

If, after your Experience Day, you're interested in joining our Shepherd School programme, just get in touch. We'll be happy to talk through the options currently available and help you decide whether Shepherd School is the right fit for you and your dog.