Handling With Confidence: The Vet & Handling Weekend
A weekend to reduce the stress of handling and vet visits, and build real, lasting confidence, for you and your dog.
📅 Friday 28th – Sunday 30th August
📍 Honest Hounds HQ, DD3, Dundee
Want to spectate instead? Email admin@honesthounds.co.uk to book your place.
Every Dog Deserves to Feel Safe at the Vet
With all the retreats, workshops and webinars we run here at Honest Hounds, one theme comes through louder than almost anything else: handling, restraint and vet visits are some of the most stressful moments our dogs and owners face together.
A great proportion of the dogs who join us have real difficulty around vet handling. Many need to sedate their dogs just to be examined, and some simply aren't able to get their dog through the door.
Phrases we hear all the time: “We try to avoid vet visits unless absolutely critical.” “He needs to take sedatives, and even then he can't really be handled.” “We haven't been to the vet since she was a puppy.”
We are passionate about one simple thing: every pet dog should be able to access vital healthcare and regular checkups without fear, force, or a fight.
Handling With Confidence is built to change that story, not by masking the problem, but by reducing stress and building real, lasting confidence. For your dog, so that being touched, examined and handled starts to feel safe rather than frightening. For you, so you can walk into a vet visit or grooming appointment feeling calm and capable, rather than braced for the worst.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
Owners who want their dog to feel optimistic about being handled, inside and outside the vet, because good welfare means being able to be handled in a range of different settings
Owners who want to walk into a vet or grooming appointment with confidence instead of dread
Dogs who currently need a muzzle, sedation, or several people to be safely handled
Dog professionals, trainers, walkers, vets, who want to build their own handling skills
Previous event attendees wanting to build further confidence, or newer Honest Hounds members looking for an achievable, supportive first step with us
WHAT WE’LL COVER
Handling fundamentals: touch, restraint holds and body positioning that keep both dog and handler safe and calm, working with your own dog and a range of others to build real confidence
Vet-specific cooperative care: muzzle conditioning, consent-based exam positions, and desensitising to tools like thermometers, otoscopes, nail clippers and needles
The impact of stress: including the Honest Hounds pyramid, and how stress affects your dog's body and biological baseline
Real-world scenario practice: mock vet visit, mock groomer session, car travel and waiting-room simulation
Understanding body language: reading the nuance of these interactions so you can set your dog up for success in the quiet moments
Teaching regulation: settle, disengagement and calming protocols your dog can fall back on under stress
Handler regulation: breathing, body language and decision-making under pressure, and recognising your own stress response before it transfers down the lead
A take-home plan: a written handling and vet-visit protocol specific to your dog, plus a follow-up check-in
BOOKING YOUR SPOT
There are two ways to be part of this weekend - choose the one that's right for you and your dog.
Working Spot — £750 (£699 for Coaching members)
Hands-on, all three days, with your own dog. You'll work directly with Jess, Jessie and the team, building real handling and vet-visit skills and leaving with a tailored plan.
Working Spots include, before you even arrive:
A 1:1 pre-Zoom with Rachel, our counsellor, to talk through how handling and vet visits feel for you, not just your dog
A small group Zoom with Jess & Jessie to walk through key focus areas, our restraint and handling procedures, and what to expect
To secure a Working Spot, your dog must be fully muzzle-trained and able to settle in your car or a crate at the venue during downtime. This isn't a magic fix, you'll need to be willing to continue the work once you leave.
Once you’ve applied, a member of our team will follow up to confirm it's the right fit before booking opens.
Spectator Spot — £299 (£250 for Coaching members)
Prefer to watch and learn without your own dog involved? Spectator spots let you observe all three days of theory and live handling work, and come away with a genuinely deeper understanding of how to reduce stress and build confidence around handling.
KEY DETAILS
Format: 3 full days combining theory and practical handling skills
Dates: Friday 28th – Sunday 30th August
Location: Honest Hounds HQ, Dundee, DD3
Working Spot: £750 (£699 for Coaching members)
Spectator Spot: £299 (£250 for Coaching members)
Frequently Asked Questions
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Your dog does need to be fully muzzle trained and able to settle in your car or a crate at the venue during downtime, but this weekend is specifically designed for dogs who still find handling, restraint or vet visits genuinely difficult. You don't need this fixed already, that's what we're here for.
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It will depend on if we still have working spots. Email admin@honesthounds.co.uk and our team will let you know what's possible based on availability.
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Complete the interest form and our team will follow up with you directly to talk it through before anything is booked. Or drop us an email with any questions you have.
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No. Spectator Spots are designed for anyone who wants to observe and learn and we find people take so much away when they come without their dogs. There will be plenty of dogs for you to work with across the weekend.
Ready To Set Your Dog Up For Success?
Every dog deserves to access the healthcare they need without fear.
Let's build that confidence together, one weekend at a time.
Want to spectate instead? Email admin@honesthounds.co.ukto book your place.