Sometimes change arrives before we feel ready for it. Six years ago, after facing my first redundancy, I found myself questioning what I truly wanted from work and life. I had long dreamed of working for myself, but I had no clear plan — only a growing sense that I didn’t want to keep relying on someone else to decide my future.
Around that time, I found Beth Kempton’s book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year, followed her work, and discovered her course, Do What You Love. I completed it during maternity leave, slowly but meaningfully, and it helped me start asking deeper, more honest questions about the life I hoped to build.
I no longer wanted to believe that being busy meant being successful. I wanted to slow down, make each moment matter, and build work that felt meaningful — something I genuinely loved.
Since childhood, I have always loved animals. I watched every animal programme I could find and devoured the Animal Ark books. At high school, I thought I might become a vet because I wanted to help animals heal. But I didn’t feel I had the guidance I needed, and didn’t believe I was academic enough for that path. For many years, my career choices were shaped more by other people’s advice than by my own inner knowing.
When I moved into learning and development, I finally felt closer to home. I loved helping people learn, grow and build confidence. Harley, my loyal protector, who I wrote about in my first blog, Finding The Story Dog. Harley travelled with me to training sessions across the UK, and the effect he had on people was extraordinary. People relaxed in his presence. They opened up more, contributed more, and left feeling lighter and more positive. They could not always explain it, but they felt it.
Then came a second redundancy within the same organisation, after 14 years of being part of it. Harley had only recently passed away, and it felt like another huge shift at a time when I was already carrying so much change. Yet somewhere in the middle of that uncertainty, I found a confidence I hadn’t realised was there. Choosing voluntary redundancy was not an easy decision, but it was a clear one. It felt like a quiet turning point, one that asked me to trust myself and begin moving towards something new.
Between the lessons Harley had quietly taught me and Beth Kempton’s course, my thoughts began turning towards becoming a dog therapy team. Dylan and I are now training for. After being made redundant in March 2026, I knew it was time to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start shaping what The Story Dog could become. Since September 2025, Dylan and I have been part of the PAWS Therapy Dog Training team. Since May, we have also been gaining the practical experience we need to grow with confidence.
How’s It Going So Far?
Honestly, my emotions are a whirlwind. I need to make a living and support my family, so I want to build something that is both meaningful and sustainable. Having the support and encouragement of my family means the world to me.
So far, we have worked with forest schools, nature play sessions, a children’s play café, a nursery and one-to-one sessions. Every experience has taught us something. I used to believe that being professional meant knowing everything. Now I believe professionalism also means being willing to learn, reflect and improve. Every day gives me another opportunity to shape kinder, more thoughtful experiences for the people and children we work with.
Dylan has always taken well to training. He loves to work, to have a purpose and to keep his mind active. He loves to learn, although like any dog, learning something new takes time, especially when his natural instincts kick in. That is where our relationship matters most. He knows he is safe with me, and he knows I will only ever ask of him what feels right for us both.
Before joining PAWS and beginning our practical sessions, I had no idea whether Dylan would take to therapy work. I could only find out by giving him the chance. What I have discovered is that he loves people and is wonderfully gentle around children. He enjoys choosing a book for story time, and performing little tricks is fun for him too. Then, once the story begins, he settles quietly in his bed while I read, use puppets and interact with the children. In those moments, he seems to understand what is needed.
Of course, he is not 100% perfect all the time — just as I am not. But that is where our bond comes into play. He trusts me, I trust him, and we are learning as a partnership. We adapt, we play, and we enjoy the moment together. That, more than anything, feels like the heart of what The Story Dog is becoming.
The Story Dog has two clear strands: to connect people and dogs through kindness and understanding, and to support children as they learn to read with the gentle presence of a therapy dog beside them.
The support I have received has been overwhelming in the best possible way. Many of the people who have encouraged me were strangers at the beginning, yet now feel like friends. Starting a business is daunting, but when you surround yourself with like-minded people, a community begins to form around you — sometimes before you even realise it is happening. That sense of connection has been incredibly powerful, and I am genuinely grateful for every conversation, recommendation, opportunity and kind word so far.
Encouraging children to listen to stories and engage with books supports brain development, expands vocabulary and helps build empathy. Stories can strengthen memory, lengthen attention span and improve language comprehension. They also introduce children to richer vocabulary than they may hear in everyday conversation. Since my boys were born, I have read to them every night. I believe it has helped us build a strong emotional bond, while giving them the comfort of a predictable routine that supports sleep and emotional security.
I value every conversation I have with parents and caregivers. Their curiosity about therapy dogs, and about what Dylan and I are working towards, helps me understand what people want to know and where more support may be needed. Every child, family and dog is different, which is why I take a people-and-dog-centred approach. I welcome questions, so if you ever come across one of our storytelling sessions or educational workshops, please do ask. Those conversations help me learn, connect and shape The Story Dog in a way that supports both people and dogs with care and understanding.
At the end of each day, when I pause and reflect, I often look across at Dylan — content, sleepy and completely himself — and think about the small moments that stay with me. The comments from children are some of the most precious: “Dylan was amazing,” “I’m going to give my dog a dog hug rather than a human hug, because I know they will like that,” and “I love story time with Dylan.” Those words remind me that this work is not just about reading stories or spending time with a dog. It is about helping children notice, connect, understand and feel safe enough to share what they are thinking.
The Story Dog is just starting out, and so am I. But for the first time in a long time, I feel as though I am following the right thread. It began with redundancy, uncertainty and a quiet longing for something different. Now it is becoming a way to bring together everything I care about: children, stories, animals, learning, kindness and connection. And that feels like doing what I love.
If The Story Dog’s journey resonates with you, I’d love you to follow along as Dylan and I continue learning, growing and sharing stories together.
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