From Trauma to Triumph: Our Journey Together

Ten Years Ago, My Life Changed Forever… A decade ago, during a shift as a veterinary nurse in a busy emergency clinic, a young English Bull Terrier was rushed in with seven stab wounds. She had clearly just had a litter and was completely shut down. That morning, I had no idea that I was about to fall in love.

Her name is Prea.

The emergency clinic was no place for a dog in her condition, so I brought her home with me to give her a quieter space to begin to heal. But as time went on, it became clear that Prea was traumatised and had become increasingly reactive. I felt out of my depth, and that’s when I reached out to Eryn.

Eryn, a behaviourist and trainer, was nothing short of incredible. She didn’t just guide me on what to do – she supported us through it all. I learned so much from her and I am eternally grateful for the compassion and wisdom she shared with us.

At the time, I was living above the vet practice – a noisy, overstimulating environment – and it wasn’t right for Prea. Eryn gently suggested we take her away for some respite. So we packed up and headed to Worthing to stay with my mum. I’ll never forget that moment – Prea seemed to exhale deeply for the first time. It was as if she finally felt safe.

Seeing her relax so completely changed everything. We realised we needed that peace too – and within months, we made the move to Worthing permanently. It was a fresh start for all of us, and it transformed our lives.

That experience, and Eryn’s gentle guidance, sparked something in me – a deep passion for canine behaviour and a desire to understand dogs on a whole new level. Over the years, with continued support, including from another wonderful behaviourist Eryn connected me with locally, Prea blossomed into a confident, social butterfly. She’s still by my side today – wiser, softer, and so full of love.

And now, ten years later, I’ve qualified as a dog trainer and behaviourist myself. I owe so much of that journey to Prea, and to the incredible people who helped us along the way.

Last year, my partner and I travelled to Wales to get married. We couldn’t imagine doing it without Prea. She stood proudly by our side on the most important day of our lives – the dog who changed everything.

Thank you, Eryn.

You not only helped Prea – you helped shape who I am today.