From Nervous Beginners to Passionate Trainers: Our Rockwood Journey

Our story with Rockwood Dog Training began in May 2013, when we welcomed our first furry family member, Poppy—a sweet little Jug adopted from a local rescue. She quickly became a central part of our lives, joining us wherever we went. Wanting to give her the best start, I spoke to a colleague who recommended Rockwood Dog Training. We enrolled in the adult beginners class, just as Poppy was turning six months old.

Both Mark and I were nervous on that first day, unsure of what to expect. But from the moment we stepped into the centre, Ellen Ball made us feel completely at ease. With a warm welcome and a touch of humour, she explained what the course would cover and reassured us that we were in the right place. The focus was on essential obedience—and, more importantly, learning how to communicate effectively with our dog.

The classes were fun, supportive, and never judgmental. Any feedback was given discreetly, and everyone was encouraged to learn at their own pace. We enjoyed it so much that we moved on to the intermediate classes, where Poppy discovered her love for agility!

In 2014, we began fostering dogs for the rescue we got Poppy from. Our first foster was a young Jack Russell puppy we named Mysha. Although she started as a foster, Mysha quickly found a permanent place in our home. We enrolled her in Rockwood’s classes to help set her up for success—a practice we continued with all our fosters. Each dog we fostered benefited from the foundational training, and it made a huge difference in their confidence and behaviour.

Later that year, Ellen invited us to watch a local show featuring the Rockwood Display Team. We were amazed by the dogs’ skills and the team’s friendliness. By early 2015, we were part of the team, heading off to our very first show in Kelmarsh, Northampton. The experience was incredible—the team was so welcoming and supportive, helping us every step of the way.

Our furry family continued to grow. In October 2015, we welcomed Dexter, our Pomsky, who joined Poppy in classes at just 12 weeks old. Thanks to what we had learned with Ellen, we were able to build his training from day one. We applied the same training principles to all our fosters with great success.

In 2016, we took in Sorsha, another Pomsky who had been rescued from a puppy farm. She was six months old and terrified of everything. Ellen recommended that, despite her age, we start her in the puppy classes to help rebuild her confidence. The results were amazing, and she quickly became part of our permanent pack.

By 2018, Ellen asked us to officially join her team to help support other clients. It was incredibly rewarding to assist people who felt unsure or overwhelmed—just like we had once been—and show them small, practical ways to achieve better results with their dogs.

In 2021, we added Willow—our fifth dog and third Pomsky—to our family. She attended Rockwood classes like the others, and we continued travelling the UK with the display team and assisting at the school. We believe that group training is invaluable: the real-life distractions are perfect for developing focus and engagement.

In 2023, Willow had her first litter. All the years of experience and training came together as we worked with her puppies, preparing them for their new homes. Three of her pups went on to join Rockwood classes and are thriving.

Today, we continue to train all five of our dogs at Rockwood. Training never really ends—it evolves—and we’re proud to now help support and guide Ellen’s clients, just as she once guided us. Our journey with Rockwood has been life-changing, and we’re grateful every day for the skills, friendships, and furry companions it’s brought into our lives.