Welcome to Mellow Dog Mumma.

This blog is not a self-help guide. It contains no strategies, tools, or how to’s, or advice, because the average person who reads ‘how to information’ gets little to no results. You must take action. It doesn’t have a neat and tidy structure either – no beginning, middle or end. It is simply a collection of musings, ramblings, and blurtings posted on Social Media, across a couple of years, from a woman in mid-life, who loves dogs and competitive dog obedience, and sharing knowledge to help people achieve their dreams.

That’s me, Angela, a self-confessed dog-mad woman, living in England in the 21st century. The ideas and insights I’ll be writing about here, have been transformational for me and hundreds of clients around the world.

And did I mention that my world revolves around the dogs – training them, walking with them, caring for them, showing them, and mellowing out with them at my paddock – hence the name for this blog.

Because we’re not having face to face conversations here, I don’t know what will work best for you. Remember these blog posts were originally posted across Social Media. So see it as a smorgasbord. I’m curating them into this blog so that they are all in one place for me and you to read and share with your family, friends, and colleagues. In time I might turn them into a podcast, and maybe a book.

This post is an introduction. But the real story started over 15 years ago, aboard the overnight train from somewhere to somewhere else in Thailand. That night I read a book that turned out to be the catalyst for me to wake up, take my life in my own hands, and stop seeking, striving, working, trying hard and sleep-walking through life. That book was The Alchemist by Paulo Coellho.

The rest as they say is history.

And it turns out life is so much easier and more fun than we’re often led to believe. I sincerely hope you find something valuable here.

Love Life,

Angela x

After spending all this time at home, I’ve discovered I’m really suited to it. I’ve moved all my training courses online and finally, after fifteen years of living here without an office, I worked out I don’t actually need one. I just need a space for a desk and a chair. And with a bit of jiggery-pokery I’ve created that space in the living room…next to the dog food freezer! (Living in a wonky cottage, you get used to things ending up in wonky places).

And so began the search for a chair and a desk.

I didn’t want a traditional bulky office chair, I wanted something comfortable and stylish that would store away easily under the desk, and fit in with my preferred modern rustic/industrial style. And thanks to fellow interiors bloggers, I sourced this dining room chair from Barker and Stonehouse, a company who, amongst other initiatives, are putting the planet first through their Trees4Trees project, supporting forestry restoration, (a cause close to my own heart).

Sourcing a custom made desk was surprisingly easy. During the pandemic, one of my friend’s sons and his wife started their own Rustic Desk Company, and I’m now the proud owner of a lovingly made desk, using reclaimed scaffolding planks, and hairpin legs, which fits perfectly into the space.

Add in an old brick mould for storing essential items like post it notes, pens and a note book, a small vintage flower pot, and throw a bright orange cloth over the freezer, and the space is instantly more personal.

I spend more and more time at my desk these days, doing everything from running my coaching and listening workshops via Zoom, to working on this blog. Because of this, my workspace is constantly changing. Holding the clutter at bay is challenging, so I prefer to keep nearby only a few quality items that serve multiple purposes over a stockpile of things I might never need.

A house is not a home until it has a dog

Gerald Durrell

A year after I turned my back on my old life and bought my cottage, I also fulfilled another dream, which was to share my life with Golden Retrievers.

My home currently has two chalk and cheese golden retrievers. Jasper is a 30kg half show/half working 5 year old, who loves sleeping, food, and going for walks (in that order), and Berty is an 11 month old who loves everything, in any order. They are both clicker trained competitive obedience dogs, and much loved members of our family.

The first 2 dogs in our family were Lucy and Harry. Over the years, Harry accompanied me to networking and speaking events, and they were the stars of a corporate team-building event they inspired me to create. Because of my connections in the dog world, I’m often asked for advice by people who are thinking about getting a Golden Retriever. I know a few reputable breeders.

Working from home, I spend more and more time with the dogs these days, doing everything from going on walks with them, to training with them at the paddock, or hanging out with them at home and taking photos of them for this blog. For me, it’s not only about getting a great picture, it’s more about capturing the warmth of the mood I experience when I’m with them.

Their health is important and they see Dr Nick Thompson, the Holistic Vet, as well as thier regular vet. Giving them a nutritious diet is important, so I prefer to feed them a holistic raw diet from Bella and Duke, (that now comes in environmentally friendlier packaging), over a processed diet of grain, rusk, and kibble.

Big love, Angela x