Common Scents canine enrichment practice is run by Lisa Edwards who has studied at Brinsbury College (Canine Care and Management) as well as completing various companion animal training programmes whilst working for the RSPCA.
Our aim is to provide top quality, and currently unique, positive experiences for the canine residents in the Arun area. We strive to increase our knowledge and stay up-to-date by continued professional development. In the past 4 years Lisa has undergone further training taking part in various enrichment webinars and visiting a canine enrichment centre run by established professionals.
In February 2020 Lisa achieved the ‘Scent Work Enrichment’ accredited diploma with Canine Principles and tutor Paul Bunker, and in April 2020 was awarded the ‘Canine Communication’ accredited diploma with Canine Principles and tutor Fiona Gemmell. Prior to setting up The Secret Dog Garden Lisa took part in ‘Enriched environments for professionals’ with Kirsty Grant from The Dog Nose.
In September 2021 Lisa completed ‘Introduction to dog language, behaviour and problem solving’ with Lisbeth Borg de Waard, which also included lectures from world renowned specialists including trainer and author Turid Rugaas, veterinary behaviourist Dr Amber Batson, trainer and nose work specialist Anne Lill Kvam, and nutritionist Jenny Golsby.
During October and November 2021 Lisa studied ‘Cavorting canines: effects of exercise on the dog’ with Dr Amber Batson, which covered physical and mental exercises, physiology and ethogram of the dog, stress factors, sleep, medical conditions, anxiety, obesity, arthrosis etc. This science-based course gave Lisa a deeper understanding of dogs physical abilities and how their bodies work, and therefore better knowledge on how to exercise to keep them fit and healthy within their natural ethogram.
Throughout December 2021 and January 2022 Lisa took part in an ‘Introductory workshop for applied zoopharmacognosy’ with Karen Webb at Let Your Animal Lead, to help improve your dog’s experience at The Secret Dog Garden.
In 2022 Lisa studied Olfactory Intelligence: A Rehabilitation Tool for Fear, Stress and Aggression with Anne Lill Kvam and hosted by Canidogs Centre. This course covered how it is possible to help dogs that suffer from stress, fear and/or aggressive behaviour, to cope better with their life, by offering them selected activities of search and mental stimulation, learning how to choose them and how to use them for each type of problem.
During 2023 Lisa completed Canine Essential 101 full course with Sindhoor Pangal at BHARCS learning more about canine communication, the effects of stress and how to rebalance, ethology, and how we communicate with our dogs to better understand one another and improve our relationships.
At the beginning of 2024 Lisa qualified as a Certified Sensory Enrichment Coach with Nordic Education Centre for Ethical Dog Training. This included the science of enrichment with Dr Amber Batson, the physical benefits with Galen Myotherapy founder Julia Robertson, and a lecture from internationally renowned behaviourist Turid Rugaas.
In March 2025 Lisa completed another course with Canine Principles, Canine Reactive Behaviour Accredited Advance Certificate, to help better understand the science behind reactivity and to help her new rescue dog Baldrick.
In the Summer of 2024 we were delighted to receive the Pet Remedy Summer of Love Best Trainer Award for The Secret Dog Garden. Thank you to everyone who nominated us!
Other CPD accredited short courses and webinars include; ‘A pain in the neck? Links between behaviour and pain in the dog’ with Dr Amber Batson, ‘Speak Dog’ with Turid Rugaas, ‘Therapeutic Scentwork for Every Dog’ with Luna’s Lake, ‘It’s okay! They’re only playing!’ with The Mutty Professor, ‘Interactive play guide’ with Craig Ogilvie, ‘Canine calmness’ with Emma Goulding Bosworth, ‘Settling through scent work for highly aroused dogs’, with Paul Bunker, ‘Canine enrichment’ with Shay Kelly, Tellington Touch’ with Toni Shelbourne, ‘Canine functional characters’ with Dr Isla Fishburn, ‘Pain and the influence on behaviour’ with Dr Amber Batson, as well as ‘Canine bonding and play’, ‘Care & Coaching of Sensory Impaired Dogs’, ‘Good guardianship’, ‘Loose lead walking’, ‘Dogs and children’, ‘Senior dog care’, and ‘Easy walks with your reactive dog’ with Sally Gutteridge at Canine Principles.
We are also proud to be a Kindness Ambassador with the Nordic Education Centre for Ethical Dog Training global community. As part of this kindness initiative we will be sharing lots of free workshops on our social media pages that you will be able to take part in, based on the philosophy, and teaching, of Turid Rugaas, so we can all better understand and improve our relationships with our dog’s, and each other.
We are also extremely proud to be an Affiliate with Pet Remedy, a Certified Sensory Enrichment Coach and Affiliate with Nordic Education Centre for Ethical Dog Training, and certified with Canine Principles.
For a 25% discount on Pet Remedy products use our affiliate code on our link here:
The Secret Dog Garden Pet Remedy discount code use THESECRET25 at the checkout!
Certificates of insurance, qualifications, first aid, DBS and references can be provided.
To find out more about Lisa and her own rescued dog’s and cat you can view the video below produced by The Orphan Pet which tells the story of Ouzo, Lisa’s three-legged dog, rescued from the streets of Greece and Rustington’s very own published author.
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© Lisa Edwards 2019 – 2025. All rights reserved.
Common Scents 