ABOUT US
We are Nathan and Charlotte, a dog loving couple who started doing training together many years ago now under a different business. We are both passionate about all things dog and had a dream to create a business that was able to help dog owners navigate all aspects of dog care.
OUR STORY
We have always been passionate about helping people and their dogs to achieve their goals, no matter the issues they're facing. Our dream was to create a business where other dog professionals could come together to have a place where dog owners could get advice and support each other on a wide variety of dog related topics.
So, in January 2021, we launched Holistic Hounds! In 2020, we met Tony Nevin from Zoo Ost Ltd when it was recommended by our vet to take our eldest dog (Kalle) to have Osteopathy treatment. While building a professional relationship through working with Kalle, we all realised how much of an impact it made on his behavioural issues when we were working on his pain related issues.
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Seeing how much progress Kalle made receiving Osteopathic treatment, alongside training, we began working with Tony to offer regular Osteopathy clinics for our clients too, with great success!
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After talking more about our dream, Tony fell in love with the dream too, and has since been supporting the business from the side lines since it launched, until officially joining the business and bringing a wealth of knowledge and professional expertise at the beginning of 2023!
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So we are working hard together, partnering with other professionals within the industry to bring you a place where you can come to get advice, support, and help in any aspect of dog care and wellness.
Award Winning Dog Training and Therapy
Proud to be:
Winners of the Thames Valley Business and Community Awards New Start-up of the Year 2022
Finalist of the Great British Business and Community Awards New Start-up of the Year 2023
Shortlisted at the Great British Business and Community Awards Employer of the Year 2023
Three Best Rated Top Three Dog Trainers in Reading 2023
MEET THE TEAM
We are a team of professionals with over 20 years combined years of experience so there isn't much in the canine world that we haven't seen.
Nathan has a passion for helping people and their dogs find harmony and enjoyment in their relationship. He is also passionate at making sure we look at every aspect of your dog in a holistic way to see what may be affecting their behaviour like; nutrition, boundaries, exercise and the overall relationships. He is a naturally confident person who is comfortable dealing with aggression cases and has specialised in people aggression cases for years.
Qualifications:
10 years of experience
Extended Diploma in Animal Management
Level 3 Diploma in Canine Behaviour Training
Nathan Ledbrook
Director
Charlotte has a heart for helping those who struggle with dog behavioural problems and don't know what else to do. She loves to be able to help people and their dogs to live the life they want to without fear of something going wrong. Charlotte has a very calm personality, making nervous dogs feel more comfortable around her and is experienced in working with dog reactivity cases.
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Qualifications:
7 years of experience
Level 3 Diploma in Canine Holistic Health and Therapies
Level 3 Diploma in Canine First aid and CPR
Diploma in Animal Behaviour and Psychology
Get trained with Dorwest Herbs
Level 3 Diploma in Canine Behaviour Training
September 2022 - 4 day workshop with Cheri Lucas, Wellness Unleashed
Charlotte Ledbrook
Director
Tony specialises in treating dogs with complicated compensatory movement patterns. These can be the result of a previous injury, abuse, or of developmental/congenital origin.
Working through these patterns using gentle techniques that engage with each patient, Tony helps to reset the resting state of the musculoskeletal system. By rebalancing the whole-body framework patients usually move with greater freedom and fluidity.
During his career, he has pioneered successful applications of osteopathic treatment to many species of animals, including birds, reptiles, and exotics.
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Qualifications:
Over 30 years experience
BSc (Hons) Ost, D.O.
Tony Nevin BSc (Hons) Ost, D.O.
Animal Osteopath
Sally McCabe
Admin Manager
Sally started with us as a client in 2020. She loved our business concept and was keen to help us grow and develop. In June 2021, Sally started her new position running our admin - playing to her strengths of keeping us all organised and in line! With superb attention to detail, organisational skills and 20+ years admin experience, we can rest assured that things are run as smoothly as possible.
Sally is a friendly mum-of-three and also a dog lover. Training her dog Lottie with us, has given her an excellent insight into how the company functions and what we strive to achieve.
Qualifications:
Level 3 Diploma in Understanding Canine Anxiety
Level 3 Diploma in Dog Training
Level 3 Pet First Aid
Professional Dog Training Business CPD
Jess Young
Newly Qualified Dog Trainer
Jess started with us as a client in 2021 after reaching out for help with her nervous Romanian Rescue Dog Lila. She has a natural affinity for training and reached out to us at the end of 2023 to get some advice as she was interested in becoming a dog trainer and so we organised her spending some days shadowing the team and supporting her on her journey. An opening became available in May 2024 and so we reached out to Jess and she joined the team shorty after! After spending the last 5 months shadowing, learning and growing her skills, Jess has now been signed off as a Newly Qualified Trainer and is now beginning to take clients of her own independently as she continues to further her training.
Qualifications:
Level 3 Diploma in Dog Behavior
Lily Hearmon-Cush
Trainee Dog Trainer and Training Walker
We met Lily in 2023 when she joined our Professional Handling Workshop as she's been running her own company doing dog walking and pet care for a while now. After adopting Logan earlier on this year, she expressed that she wanted to move more into a training role and so we snapped her up in June 2024! Lily will be heading up our NEW training walks services as she has experience as a dog walker and will also be learning with our team as a Trainee Dog Trainer. We're so excited to see her learn and grow and also to take on a lead role in our new training walks and seeing them grow.
Qualifications:
Level 3 Diploma in Dog Behavior
MEET THE PACK
The Brook Pack
The pack owned by our Directors
India
Birthday: 25th April 2014 (approx)
Breed: Pointer cross
Coat pattern/colour: Smooth. white, black and brown patches with light brown speckles
Personality: Energetic, independent and playful
Likes: The beach or anywhere she can run around and do her own thing
Dislikes: Having to walk slowly
Training level: 90% perfect but sometimes forgets what she's doing
Lottie
Birthday: 20th June 2017
Breed: Spaniel mix
Coat pattern/colour: Longhaired. Red and white
Personality: Ultimate princess, eager to please, loyal, loving and always showing off
Likes: Working, playing, going to see the horse and tricks training
Dislikes: Having anything stuck to her fur
Training level: Ultimate teachers pet
Birthday: 1st September 2015 (approx)
Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Coat pattern/colour: Smooth. Red with black and white patches
Personality: Very loving and loyal, can be opinionated and vocal
Likes: Sunbathing, sleeping and playing with a ball
Dislikes: Being cold, wet or ignored
Training level: C grade, will do as she's told but may complain and take her time!
Peanut
Nova
Birthday: 13th February 2018
Breed: German Shepherd
Coat pattern/colour: Shorthaired, black
Personality: Hyper, loyal, always eager to work, play and go out
Likes: Playing in water (clean or dirty!), running and playing
Dislikes: Not being able to go everywhere with Nathan!
Training level: Generally perfect, unless it's having to sit still or stay too far away from Nathan
Birthday: 28th June 2018 (approx)
Breed: Standard Dachshund
Coat pattern/colour: Smooth. Black and tan
Personality: Either lazy or spicy! Opinionated, doesn't like being left out, and very loving
Likes: Cuddling under a blanket, sunbathing, and treats
Dislikes: Being cold, wet or left out!
Training level: Always tries his best, isn't always perfect but always puts a lot of effort in
Odin
Birthday: 2012 (approx)
Breed: Jack Russel Terrier
Coat pattern/colour: Shorthaired, tri-coloured
Personality: Very excited about life, thinks he's still a 2 year old!
Likes: Everyone!
Dislikes: Going out when it's cold or wet
Training level: Beginner but a fast learner
Mario
Birthday: 29th March 2021
Breed: French Bulldog
Coat pattern/colour: Shorthaired, black and tan
Personality: Cuddly, happy boy always enjoys being involved
Likes: Playing, snuggling on your lap and sunbathing
Dislikes: Not being involved especially when it's sunny
Training level: Knows his basics and is learning fast
Pablo
Our Team Dogs
Birthday: 27th June 2020
Breed: Border Collie X Cocker Spaniel
Coat pattern/colour: Shorthaired. Black with white patches
Personality: Bit of a live wire, but soppy, loving and loyal deep down
Likes: Running around off lead and playing in the garden
Dislikes: Most things
Training level: Slow progress but despite her anxiety, shes made amazing progress
Owned by: Sally
Lottie
Birthday: 17th October 2020
Breed: Stafforshire Bull Terrier
Coat pattern/colour: Shorthaired. Blue with white chest
Personality: The most loving, smart and gentle boy!
Likes: Having cuddles, playing ball, doing training and snacks!
Dislikes: Being cold and/or wet
Training level: Smarty pants
Owned by: Lily
Logan
Birthday: 29th November 2021
Breed: Mastiff mix
Coat pattern/colour: Shorthaired. Light brown with white patches and black around the eyes.
Personality: The most gentle and loving girl you'll ever meet!
Likes: Cuddles, playing and more cuddles!
Dislikes: Being cold
Training level: Pretty good! She's a smart cookie who always try's her best
Owned by: Sally
Luna
Birthday: 1st March 2020
Breed: Romanian mixed breed
Coat pattern/colour: Shorthaired. Black and tan with white chest
Personality: Can be shy but when she knows you, the most sweet and loving girl!
Likes: FOOD, Tricks training, going on long walks and exploring
Dislikes: Being left out!
Training level: Super smart cookie always willing to show off
Owned by: Jess
Lila
Age: 5 years old
Breed: Border Terrier
Coat pattern/colour: Longhaired. Tan and black.
Personality: The kindest, calmest and most friendly boy!
Likes: Meeting new people, cuddles on the sofa and going for walks.
Dislikes: Not being involved!
Training level: Very clever and chilled boy
Owned by: Tony