Welcome to The Paddock

A walk round in circles at the Paddock with me and Berty, and an invitation to check out my Big 5 Realisations from doing what I do with dogs. If you love dogs and being outdoors, and have had some kind of amazing outdoor experience that stopped you in your tracks, and you’ve been trying to figure it out ever since, then Mellow Dog Mumma is all about that.

My Big 5 Realisations

I’m a self confessed dog sport junky. I love it. For me it’s a way of life. A way of expressing myself. Where I feel most alive. Where I thrive. What I feel called to do. I can’t not do it. For me it’s much more than just a weird hobby that I do with dogs. For me it’s about the joy of being outdoors. The joy of working in harmony with living beings who look different to me on the outside. Seeing the world with not-so-serious eyes, and experiencing all that nature has to offer, whilst competing to win . Today I’m writing about the Big 5 Realisations I’ve had from doing what I do with dogs. I’m sure there are more to come but this is where I’m at with it all right now.

  1. When we approach things too seriously, life seems way harder and goes way worse.
  2. Take your sport/project/goals/work seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously. Going with the flow, showing up in the moment, with a light approach is way more FUN and way more EFFECTIVE.
  3. Self-management. The only way to be more productive and get results is to declutter your mind.
  4. We are all inter-connected. The idea that we are separate to nature is an illusion. When outdoors we literally come to our senses, feel closer to nature, and feel more in tune with ourselves – our true nature, our fellow humans, and non-humans.
  5. Love of life and all living things is innate. It’s in our nature. Loving nature allows us all to survive.
  6. Commitment transforms dreams into reality, and taking action is a no-brainer.

Hi, I’m Angela. Welcome to my paddock!

Thank you for being here. For being open to seeing the world through not-so-serious eyes, and going outdoors to experience connection with yourself, with your fellow humans, non-humans, and the rest of nature. I’m looking forward to chatting with you!

MORE ABOUT MELLOW DOG MUMMA >

More and more people these days are just not interested in traditional forms of life coaching or therapy, and I believe that there’s a lot of help that’s not happening for people who could use it because of the format that it’s in.

When I started in the coaching industry 15 years ago, I quickly came to realise that there are completely different ways of helping people without sitting in an office or on Zoom, and if more people knew about some of these ways they’d have more options that could work for them that feel genuinely good and more natural to all involved.

My work includes and goes beyond traditional coaching in my aim to support us all to take a lighter, not so serious approach to life in this chaotic, turbulent world. Life can be so much easier and richer than most of us make it. Simply all we have to do is learn how to lighten up and not take ourselves so seriously. What I address is how…

So here’s my blend of coaching meets humour meets dogs and dog sports, to bring you transformative experiences that are served in a light hearted way that will leave you with a smile on your face. And the way I’m delivering that is in 2 ways currently:

  1. One on one in my paddock where you can join me and the dogs, or on the phone whilst I’m pottering around the paddock with the dogs.
  2. The Lighter Life Online Programme

News

My new Designing A Lighter Life Programme is happening now at The Paddock on Zoom. I’m taking applications for this one on one, 12 week programme which I designed originally as an in person small group programme called The Frazzled Mind Detox back in 2020 to help people out during the Pandemic. It has been described as a ‘detox for the mind’ and ‘like yoga without the moves’. We’ll meet on Zoom from the comfort of our own pyjamas, where we’ll be creating a space for you to pause for breath, and feel good about yourself as we explore the Principles behind Designing A Lighter Life. To get an idea whether this programme is a good fit for you read Sarah’s Case Study. And if you want more info drop me a line .

The Tree Shirt Project

Check out my Tree Shirt Shop. Get your LOVE LIFE Tree Shirt (designed by yours truly) Join hundreds of others who are planting trees by wearing a message of love on their chests. Made with love for humans, non-humans, and the planet.

As a child, I was taught that success comes from working really hard. Yet my experience of training dogs for competition was that when me and my dog were working well together, I was usually not trying very hard at all, and working the round felt easy. Unrushed. Effortless.

A bit about me

After a 17 year career as Nurse, I started a business as an executive coach and trainer. Around the same time I got my first dog, a Golden Retriever called Lucy. And that changed everything.

Dogs are a way of life, and they are my way of life. The lessons I’ve learned from training high performance sports dogs has influenced my work as a coach specifically in terms of presence, connection, resilience, and showing up fully.

When working our best rounds, I had a sense that something was different. I experienced a more neutral state of mind and a sense of experiencing each moment as it unfolded before me – one step at a time. Your state of mind matters when it comes to performance. And I made it my quest to find out what it takes for us all to unleash our potential (starting with me).

I realised that many organisations and people with quirky passions, who care for the world, and have ambitions in life, have been treating performance as a skills based problem. But it isn’t. And this misunderstanding has been keeping many of us stuck for years.

My approach blows mainstream approaches to performance out of the water. Forget your 6 Step formulas, your state management techniques, your ‘think positive’ mantras, and superstitious rituals – which don’t really work for most of us anyway…and can keep us struggling, striving, and searching for years.

This is about understanding how the human experience actually works. This comes from an unorthodox means of creating transformational change in all aspects of life and work -health, wealth, relationships, hobbies, teamwork, leadership – because all boats rise with the tide.

I have since been teaching classes online and working with clients, and sometimes travelling around the UK, often accompanied by the dogs, in our canine camper – teaching workshops – taking the best of what I’ve learned doing what I do with dogs – using real life examples from my unconventional passion – to highlight the teamwork, resilience, wellbeing, and greatness in each of us – to folks who always KNEW they had the potential in them. But just couldn’t figure out how to unleash it.

Due to growing up in the black country and then living most of my adult life down south, I’ve got:

  • a weird accent (I still say bath, not baarth)
  • an irreverent sense of humour
  • a love for Golden Retrievers (and all creatures, but especially the golden ones)
  • a light touch (or so I’m told)
  • a calming nature – most of the time, but I’ve got a feisty edge, especially when I see injustice.
  • and when I can…I tend to be really good at creating experiences that help mavericks figure out how to live, love, lead, play, parent and work – like a dog I.E from a place of peak performance and personal joy, doing what they’re born to do with purpose and total jolly abandon. Life is so much easier than most of us make it. Simply all we need to do is love life and not overthink it! Because life doesn’t have to feel like hard work.
  • and when I can…I tend to be really good at creating experiences that help mavericks figure out how to live, love, lead, play, parent and work – like a dog I.E from a place of peak performance and personal joy, doing what they’re born to do with purpose and total jolly abandon. Life is so much easier than most of us make it. Simply all we need to do is love life and not overthink it! Because life doesn’t have to feel like hard work.

Case Study

Sarah J (sports dog competitor & former medical professional.)

Within 3 months Sarah went from being a struggling, overwhelmed, wife, mother, dog trainer, to increasing her confidence, took charge of her finances, took care of her health, has become happy and strong, and now has a life with her dogs and her family that she loves.

Before: Sarah was struggling, overwhelmed, and exhausted after two difficult years. As a wife, mother, and dog mum to 3 collies, she had to constantly handle demands from her family, was always putting other people before herself, and didn’t have time for her own self-care so felt tired, resentful, and neglected.

Also, if she had a problem she wouldn’t ask for help. She would just work harder at trying to solve it, and she had very little energy.

After: Sarah now has lots more energy and is about to invest in an equestrian property where she can live and train her dogs with freedom and peace of mind. With more energy she is enjoying life, and has more free time to take care of her health, is more confident in her relationships, and has a lifestyle she loves as it keeps her fit, healthy and feeling joyful.

Timeframe: 3 months

Quote from Sarah: “Angela’s coaching programme came at exactly the right time for me. I had had a difficult 2 years with concerns about the pandemic, together with bereavement, relationship problems, and illnesses. I was sad and felt as if I had lost my anchor.

Having completed coaching with Angela it has been very successful. Each session was enjoyable, useful, but oddly, not hard work.

It’s changed how I view problems, guided me to be aware of my thoughts, and to look after myself. In the past I have just been busy and only thought of others. It was so helpful to learn to check in on myself too.

So without much effort, I feel happier, stronger, and more confident. I also now have lots more energy and things are just seeming to fall into place. I can now look forward to my new doggy adventures with excitement.”

Examples from past clients who’ve worked with me either 121 or in groups

“Angela’s coaching programme came at exactly the right time for me. I had had a difficult 2 years with concerns about the pandemic, together with bereavement, relationship problems, and illnesses. I was sad and felt as if I had lost my anchor. Having completed coaching with Angela it has been very successful. Each session was enjoyable, useful, but oddly, not hard work. It changed how I view problems, guided me to be aware of my thoughts, and to look after myself. In the past I had just been busy and only thought of others. It was so helpful to learn to check in on myself too. So, without much effort, I feel happier, stronger, and more confident. I also now have lots more energy and things are just seeming to fall into place. I can now look forward to my new doggy adventures with excitement.

SJ
MELLOW LIVING COURSE PARTICIPANT

“Hello wonderful Angela! It’s taken me three days to get off the sea bed – thus my delay in getting in touch to thank you for a truly lovely and inspirational session on Friday!! I LOVED it. Super to meet with lovely people and so refreshing to re-visit the whole subject of being grounded in our true selves. You were made to do this work, you really were. it’s so intangible that it’s hard to put my finger on it, but I think it’s that you make me feel at peace (which if you remember is a pretty rare commodity in my crazy, noisy, head). So in short, thank you :-)”

CR
BUSINESS OWNER.

“Angela has the powerful and rare talent of humour. Her ability to move from serious, profound insight to a place of lightness and fun to really land a message is quite brilliant. Angela brings an energy that truly engages everyone. An immensely impactful coach and coach trainer.”

WIL
COURSE PARTICIPANT

Angela, you are a model of excellence for commitment and learning.

Sue Knight
AUTHOR OF NLP AT WORK

“Angela is one of the most talented trainers I’ve ever worked alongside. She has an instinct for what is needed and will use a stunning imagination & well-honed knowledge to create the opportunity for it. Intuitive, caring, considerate, flexible & fun. In her work & in her life she dreams, envisions & then makes it happen.”

Sue White
FOUNDER, ENIGMA COACHING

“I came to Angela post Covid wondering which direction to take my business and questioning my own ability due to imposter syndrome. Through our sessions she helped the real me re-surface and my confidence grow. We also laughed a lot. She was the perfect thinking partner, and I am now happy with the direction I want to take my business and with who I am.

K. Harris
BUSINESS OWNER, UK

“I started my coaching programme with Angela about a year back. I was cautious of the challenges ahead of me as a young professional in a leadership position, needed guidance on how to approach things and how to achieve satisfaction and peace with all the changes I was going through. Angela’s coaching helped me to value my capabilities even more, reduce mental and emotional attachment to situations, and to be more decisive. Now I no longer fear the challenges ahead. I just deal with them as they come, and I’m capable of making decisions, that are well thought through, in a timely manner.”

TR
BUSINESS LEADER, SAUDI ARABIA