Sarah Knowles - The Well Rooted Dog

04/06/2026

Socials aren't staged! Not where I'm concerned anyway 😂. Some days it's a case of grabbing your phone and filming something important. PJs or not!

This morning I noticed a reluctance in Badger to jump up on my bed or the sofa. This isn't like him at all. So a quick flexion and extension of the limbs highlighted some resistance in the left hind. You can see him pull back and look round during the exercise.

A quick call to the vets and he's booked in for 10:15 this morning. Let's go see what he's done to himself 🫣.

Yes he is this laid back. He's not sedated 🤪

26/05/2026

I'm Monty and I was reactive. To flat bed trailers, pick up trucks, cars, cyclists and anything else with wheels. The only thing I wasn't to fussed about was buses! Don't ask me why, I just decided I shouldn't mess with them, ok? I also reacted on lead to other dogs but if they sauntered past while I was off lead I didn't seem to mind as much. But, here's what was happening. I was in pain. Lots and lots of pain. I had no idea life could be so overwhelming when you're in pain. It's been a long road communicating my needs but with the help from Sarah and an amazing network of other professions I'm starting to feel better!

I've got Spondylosis in my spine amongst other issues like early onset of arthritis. I'm only 3 😢. These have been an ongoing pain issue for me for about a year. Between physiotherapy, massage, osteopathy and training along with a pain management from my vets we are finally started to see light at the end of the tunnel.

I recently got a new harness upgrade too and WOW I feel so good in it. I think you'll agree I look rather dapper too! I'm calmer, more settled and feel ready to go for my walks. Before I used to hide away under the table. It's taken lots for me to get to this stage.

I cant believe that this silly flatbed trailer used to scare me and make me feel so much pain. I used to hear the noise and associate it with hurting but now I am starting to break that down and not feel so bad about things anymore.

I can't wait to continue my training now. I have regular Reiki sessions, I still see my canine massage therapist and I have daily training with mum under the watchful 👀 of Sarah.

I can't thank Sarah enough for understanding me when my communication was at my worst, my Mum for always sticking by me even though she lost the will to live 10 months ago and for the teams who have been part of my journey. I'm going on to life a long and happy life, I just know it 😃

So no, it wasn't 'fun' to chase flatbed trailers. I'm just relieved I was listened to.

Monty 🐾

Monty has been a real case to crack. But, we're getting there. He's training will remain ongoing, so will his treatments, but we are getting a calm, happy, excited little boy who is loving being out and about. I've been so proud of this case.

Well done Team Monty.

K9 Bodycare - Canine Massage, Osteopathic Techniques & Canine Fitness
Lily Moffatt Veterinary Physiotherapy

25/05/2026

Absolutely love it when my dog sniffs out the only sun patch in the house. Show me your sun babies finding their sunny house spots.

The temperatures have been glorious but remember dogs die from heat stroke. Keep them safe, they won't die from missing a walk but one walk might make them die.

Be safe, always 🐕

22/05/2026

I am so proud to have helped to found Bassetlaw Stoma Social with Susan McManus. Although I personally don't have a stoma, Sue does and I have been very much part of her journey. So, if I'm not in the field training and treating your wonderful pooches I can also be found attending Stoma Open Days and Support groups. Yesterday I was in Nottingham at this incredible event. Wonderful connections made.

20/05/2026

So excited to be booked into this in August. I am already a certified Animal Crystal Healer but I love meeting new people, up skilling and learning different ways to approach my work. This should be awesome!

Bring along your dog 🐕and discover the magic of crystal 💎 healing for animals. This course will give you all the basics you need to carry out crystal healing with your own pets.

You will spend the morning learning about crystals and their properties and how we can harness their energy, before trying out your new found knowledge on your own dog.

Also included in the price is your own crystal pendulum that you will be able to select yourself and take home with you, as well as cake and a hot drink 🧁☕

Crystal healing is for all animals, therefore spectator tickets are also available for people who may not own a dog or whose dog who may find a classroom setting uncomfortable.

Limited spaces available!

Handler and dog: £40

Spectator slots: £20

Eventbrite fees apply.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989168582778?aff=oddtdtcreator

15/05/2026

Loose Lead 💪. This is a dog who couldn't focus away from home. This is a dog who is over stimulated by his environment and who is completely driven by scent and drags him Mum all over, literally 🫣.

I took Denver back to basics. I introduced a little exercise to measure progress. The smile on his Mums face by the end was complete job satisfaction. I drove away with a huge smile on my face too!

Denver has presented with lots of challenges over the last 12 months, at times his Mum's not known what on earth to do with him. I worked alongside the assessments done by the vets and Denvers ongoing medical history to build my training program around what we already knew about him. Denver does everything you can imagine at home, and more! But once off the driveway, near grass and bushes his Mum had completely lost control. By streamlining Denvers training program to small, measurable, achievable targets we began to see a massive increase in his attention, focus and drive for his reward from Mum rather than environment.

I LOVE doing what I do. This is why!

14/05/2026

OMG it's here!!!!! L&O Stitch have done an outstanding job getting the attention to detail absolutely perfect on my new tops. Seeing this next chapter come together is both humbling and overwhelming.

I'm loving working with so many clients doing such a varied role again. It's fantastic!

13/05/2026

My morning dog walk with nature sets me up for the day. Especially when I can appreciate things like this.

12/05/2026

Stepping away from Total Dog has been a big decision but the time feels right. While I'll still be involved as those businesses are a massive part of who I am and what I represent, it's time for my passion to return. I'm excited for this next chapter and hope you'll all come along for the ride!

ANNOUNCEMENT: 😬😬😬 it's a long one!

Over the coming months my training element will migrate to Sarah Knowles - The Well Rooted Dog. I have made a huge decision and wish to now continue progressing with my own personal development and stepping into my own self again with where I want my training direction to go. I had considered employing another dog trainer, but this just doesn't mirror with the work i've been doing now and feel it's time to bring myself back to the forefront of training.

I've been working tirelessly on a three pillar approach to dog training; The Harmonising Bond Method™️ and now I want to bring the last three years of self development and progress back to replicate all I'm passionate about.

Total Dog will remain a huge part of my life but I've been focusing on setting the physical establishment of grooming and daycare up to now run smoothly in my absence (she says!). I will still be in and around the daycare setting so you'll still all see me there (no way could I walk away from all of your babies!) but it's time for my focus to shift to being 'on' daycare and grooming and not 'in' it.

I will be opening my books again for training (they've already been open for a few weeks) but they will continue to open up more and more over the coming months. I'd wanted to remain under the Total Dog branding that I'd created but when you see my new approach it simply didn't align with what I will be offering anymore.

So what will change?
The name of my training element. This will be delivered under The Well Rooted Dog.

New website! You'll now find all my training information and how I'll operate at:

www.thewellrooteddog.co.uk

I will now be offering Reiki & Energy Balancing work to ensure the parasympathetic nervous system is set 'ready to learn' and that when we pick up the training your dog is able to absorbs like a sponge.

I will be changing my approach to consultations. This enables me to get a deeper understanding of what's going on with both owner and dog before choosing the right training package.

I am training to do my Level 5 Clinical Canine Massage and have dedicated the next 2 years to this.

I will now be sharing posts from The Well Rooted Dog about training to this page rather than using Total Dog Training name.

What will stay the same?

Daycare & Grooming will remain under the branding of Total Dog.

I will still be offering positive reinforcement dog training to all you amazing people in and around Worksop. My methods will stay the same, my approach and most of all my ethos and ethics.

My prices. Other than the addition to the 'Behaviour Consultation' my prices will remain competitive for my industry and affordable. Reaching out and helping the majority is something I am passionate about. I want my training to be accessible for all.

One to Ones. I pride myself on my one to one approach where I can focus on you and only you.

Group Classes. I will still be running my group classes which will include socialising and scent work going forward.

My CPD Approved workshop. I worked hard on this and can't wait to see more workshops taking place over the coming year.

Me! I've worked with hundreds of you over the last 5 years and you've all come to want a piece of me when it comes to training. I've been overwhelmed with the recommendations over the years and without you I couldn't be here. So I promise to step back into the 'me' you all love to work with.

I truly hope you love it. Please like my new page, nosy at the website and feel free to give feedback.

Thank you for getting this far.

S x

04/05/2026

Watch how Willow receives Reiki with her Mum.

Case Study 3 - Evie & Willow

Evie and Willow have been working with me for a while doing positive reinforcement training. We introduced touch and have had come incredible results however, as soon as completed my Reiki II I couldn't wait to get started with this duo.

Evie is an anxious owner often feeling like she can't do enough for Willow. She has gone above and beyond as an owner and when I say Willow wants for nothing, I mean it. Evie does realise that some of her anxieties pass down the lead to Willow.

Willow is high energy! She has struggled to rest, decompress and was constantly demanding to do more. This wasn't out of boredom this was out of over stimulation. This was my first session with Evie and Willow and the results were profound. I didn't expect Willow to settle at all during the first session, however as I worked Willow became calmer and was very receptive to hands off treatment while I also worked on Evie.

I can't wait to see how this case study continues. I love my job!