Walk with Cody — our Fear of Dogs & Dog Phobia Programme
If you or your child is scared of dogs, frightened of dogs, or living with a dog phobia, our one-to-one sessions can help. Based near Bristol, we work with adults and children from across the UK — clients have travelled to us from London, Birmingham, Devon and beyond. We work gently, at your own pace, to build confidence around dogs — understanding their body language and learning how to feel safe and calm in their company. Suitable for adults and children aged 10 and over.
If you would like to find out more or book a session please contact us.
If you would like to find out more or book a session please contact us.
Walk with Cody Fund
For those who may find the cost of taking part in the programme a barrier you are able to make an application to the Walk with Cody Fund who can contribute to the fee. Please contact us for more details.
Testimonials
'I can’t thank the team at South West Dog Skills enough and I highly recommend their dog fear programme. We have booked onto their dog fear programme twice for my eldest son who was terrified of dogs. Both Matt and Cody were amazing with my son. At the start of his first session, my son could not go near Cody, Matt worked with my son and by the end of the session he was able to walk next to Matt holding Cody’s lead . It was truly amazing to watch. After that my son was able to be around dogs without getting scared which was something he could never do before.
For our second session Matt and Cody again were amazing and my son remembered everything Matt had taught him from the first session and they worked on ways to build my son's confidence even more.
Now my son is confident around both dogs he knows and dogs he doesn’t. He has spent a weekend at his Aunts house with their family dog and can acknowledge other dogs but also has the knowledge of how to give other dogs the signal of no. I am so proud of my son and how he can be around dogs which is all thanks to Matt and Cody. Thank you again.'
Jacob
'We can thoroughly recommend Matt and Tam. Our 10 year old son is scared of dogs, so we contacted them to see if they could help. They have both been so friendly, understanding, patient and willing to help, nothing was too much trouble for them. They knew exactly how to help him, and they were happy to adapt their course to suit his needs, going above and beyond to help. After only 2 sessions we can see a huge improvement. Would have no hesitation in recommending them, thank you very much Matt and Tam'
Piers
Following a bad experience with a dog in the park last year, my five-year-old became extremely frightened of dogs, anxious at the thought of going to parks in case we saw a dog, and visibly distressed whenever we actually saw one - especially if it was off the lead. We decided we needed to try and address the situation, so contacted Tam and Matt at South West Dog Skills as there’s no one we would trust more to advise us. We arranged a home visit and, from the moment he arrived, Matt worked to build rapport with our daughter and put her at ease. He worked at her pace and focused on giving her tools to safely manage encounters with dogs when out and about, using age-appropriate language and one of her dog teddies as a visual aid.
Our daughter seemed to respond well to the ‘theory’ session, so we all went outside to meet Matt’s dog, Cody. Although very nervous at first, our daughter progressed to hiding treats for Cody in the garden and using a cue to ask him to sit. When it became obvious that she’d had enough, Matt read her cues and ended the session. Since then we have been putting Matt’s advice into practice. Although she is still anxious around unknown dogs, Matt has provided us with a toolbox for coping with dog encounters. Our daughter will now calmly walk past a dog on a lead and, amazingly, mustered enough courage to stroke a friend’s dog when we visited them - something I never thought would happen! I didn’t expect overnight changes but I’m really pleased with the progress we’ve made, given how frightened our daughter had become of dogs. I’d fully recommend South West Dog Skills and will be booking some more sessions in the near future.
Maia
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you help people who are afraid of dogs?
Yes. We offer one-to-one sessions to help both children and adults who have a fear of dogs, working at a pace that feels safe and comfortable.
Who are the fear of dogs sessions for?
They're for anyone, children or adults, who feels anxious or frightened around dogs and would like some support to feel more confident. For children, we work with those over 10 years old.
Can you help an adult who is scared of dogs?
Yes. We work with adults as well as children — and many of the people who come to us are adults who have lived with a fear of dogs for years. The one-to-one format means sessions are shaped around you, with no pressure and no judgement, working entirely at your pace.
What happens in a dog fear session?
Sessions are gentle and led entirely by you. There's no dog present in the first session, so we can cover body language and start to build a rapport. After that, a dog is matched to the person and their needs. We never rush or force contact. The aim is to build confidence gradually in a calm, supportive setting.
Are the sessions one-to-one or in a group?
Dog fear support is offered as one-to-one sessions, so everything can be tailored to the individual and go at the right pace.
How far do clients travel to attend?
Although we're based near Bristol, people travel to us from across the UK. Clients have attended the programme from London, Birmingham, Devon, Wiltshire and Somerset, as well as more locally. Because the programme is unique in the UK, distance often isn't the obstacle people expect.
How do I book a dog fear session?
Get in touch through our contact page and we'll arrange an initial conversation to understand your needs.
Clients travel to us from across the UK
Although we’re based near Bristol, families and individuals have travelled to attend the programme from London, Birmingham, Devon, Wiltshire, Somerset and beyond. Because the programme is unique in the UK, distance often isn’t the obstacle people expect.
Find Us Near Bristol and Bath
We run sessions and workshops at two venues, close to Bristol and Bath, our centre is based in Hunstrete and Tilley Farm is in Farmborough, near Bath and North East Somerset, within easy reach of most Somerset and South West towns including Bristol, Bath, Keynsham, Longwell Green, Bradford-on-Avon, Shepton Mallet, Pensford, Chew Magna, Paulton, Radstock, Clutton, Midsomer Norton.
Our centre address is: Common Wood, Hunstrete Lane, Hunstrete, BS39 4NT
Tilley Farm address is: Timsbury Road, Farmborough, BA2 0AB
Our centre address is: Common Wood, Hunstrete Lane, Hunstrete, BS39 4NT
Tilley Farm address is: Timsbury Road, Farmborough, BA2 0AB
