Devon Dogs Avis 41

I was quite nervous about booking a training holiday because my cockapoo isn't the easiest dog to take places, and he really doesn't like other dogs.

What impressed me most about Devon Dogs wasn't just the quality of the training, but how well everything had been thought through from the moment I booked.

Communication before arrival was excellent, with clear information about accommodation, training schedules, local walks and everything else we needed to know. When we arrived, the whole setup felt calm, organised and incredibly dog-friendly.

As someone with a reactive dog, I particularly appreciated how carefully the site is managed. We didn't have to train close to other people and there were no situations where I felt Rupert was being pushed beyond what he could handle. It was obvious that the team genuinely understands reactive and sensitive dogs - and their humans!

The trainers were knowledgeable, supportive and completely non-judgemental. I never felt like I was being criticised or that Rupert's behaviour was "too much". Instead, everything was tailored to us and our individual goals.

Everything about a stay at Bowerland, from the training to the trainers to the accommodation (pillows like clouds - I always want to sneak one home in my suitcase!), is top notch.

From my very first stay I felt at ease and like I had found my people - even though I was overwhelmed by a reactive dog I didn't understand. After many visits it now feels like a second home.

Most importantly, I came home feeling more confident, with a better understanding of my dog and a clear plan for moving forward.

If you've got a dog that's a bit quirky, complicated, reactive, or you just a need some help navigating a dog training struggle, you won't find a better place to go!

When I first visited Devon Dogs at the end of 2022, Maisie was a lunging, barking mess on one end of the lead, and I was an emotional wreck on the other. I was at my wit’s end and did not know where to turn. The trainers supported us through this challenging time and the games and tools they taught us are invaluable. Roll on four years, I still have to manage Maisie, but life is so much calmer. I have the tools and the confidence to help her move through the world. We come back time and time again as there is always something to learn, and now we have two more members to our pack, Roo and Ember. We love our home from home in the Old Dairy with its cosy lounge with the wood burning stove for the winter and the bright and airy conservatory which is lovely, whatever the weather. I am currently writing this review from the conservatory with the girls snoozing before a full day training. Thank you Lauren, Michelle and team, keep doing what you do 🥰

Nice trainers and lovely location, but training was very basic and despite pre course consultation nothing was tailored to my dog.
It is very expensive so a value for money question as well.
The dogs did spend a lot of time in the cars although mine was in a crate with me so that wasn’t so bad for us. I disliked working on the same exercise in a very narrow area for a long period. It wasn’t good for dog either.
My observation was that the training was unsuited to dogs with serious reactivity. There were nervous dogs who could benefit. If you have little knowledge and have done minimal training through play then it’s a helpful immersion course. Otherwise don’t bother and get a behaviourist instead. Likely your pet insurance would pay for that.
The accommodation was nice but overall it was neither holiday nor challenging training. Could be a great concept but needs professionalising.

A great safe space to train with trainers who truly understand and often have first hand experience of the struggles dogs have.

Whatever the struggle there is no judgement only constructive advice and guidance. The whole environment is set up for dogs to succeed and thrive.

If you do a stay and train holiday all of the cottages are truly dog friendly with safe outdoor spaces.

I traveled from Belgium to Devon Dogs and this is a very good center for dog training, especially if you have a reactive dog; you feel so safe training with your dog there. Everything is well organized and they set you up for success. They work in a welfare-oriented way.

Fantastic facilities!
All our training has been very much dog-focused, giving my dog what he needs in that moment - whether it be full on agility training, a calming activity, or even a short break in the car.
We also come for scent training - there is nothing more tiring for my spaniel than using his nose!

We recently enjoyed a Stay and Train holiday with Devon Dogs, staying in Holly Hock Cottage with our naughty-but-nice three-year-old Labrador Seve.

Before we found Devon Dogs, we had reached the point where we genuinely didn't know where to turn. We were overwhelmed by all the different advice out there and weren't sure what the right thing to do was. Devon Dogs popped up on my social feed, and I thought it looked like a good idea, but I had no idea just how good an idea it would turn out to be or the impact it would have on us all.

We knew we wouldn't come home with a magically transformed dog, but what we did come back with was confidence that we're on the right path, with the right tools, and now have hope and positivity for the future. After months of uncertainty, it feels like we finally have a clear way forward.

Holly Hock cottage is beautiful, high spec, quiet location, and the training was excellent. The time we spent with Lesley, Michelle, Lauren and the rest of the team was invaluable. They were welcoming, insightful, genuinely interested in helping us, and made us feel that we and Seve really mattered.

We still have things to put into practice, but we now understand what we need to do and why. We’re already enjoying spending time with our Seve more and he’s calmer and more focused on us.

I can’t recommend Devon Dogs highly enough.

Thank you, Lauren and team.

I can’t recommend Devon Dogs highly enough for dogs with behavioural struggles. Not only have my two NBN dogs improved hugely, but I’ve also had the opportunity to learn and practise new strategies and skills in a safe, supportive, and well-managed environment — and most of all, it’s fun!

I’ve stayed around seven times so far, attending specific NBN retreats as well as courses in fitness, basic agility, scent work, tricks, and many other engaging games and activities. Every visit has strengthened the relationship I have with my dogs and given me the confidence to manage them in different environments.

On a personal level, I genuinely feel like I’ve found “my people,” and I’m already looking forward to many more visits in the future.

Had a great stay at Parsley cottage when i went for a training day. The Agility arean is big and there are so many things that can be put up course wise and combinations. surface is astro and well looked after and the music is an added bonus. Looking forward to going again in November.

I’ve had the absolute pleasure of visiting Devon Dogs a few times now, and honestly… what a magical experience!

The trainers are exceptional — so knowledgeable, supportive, and really flexible to the individual needs of each dog, even if your dog falls into the “naughty but nice” category!

One of the things that stood out most to me was how well the space and group dynamics were managed. I always felt safe, supported, and confident with my dog, and I came away having learned so much that continued helping us long after the holiday ended.

And the cottages are absolutely gorgeous too. I stayed in Holly Hock Cottage, which felt like such a luxury stay while still being incredibly dog-friendly. It was beautifully equipped, super comfortable, and even had its own secure field for safe off-lead playtime.

If you’re looking for a genuinely dog-friendly holiday — especially if your dog isn’t the easiest or most straightforward dog — I honestly can’t recommend Devon Dogs highly enough. It’s one of those experiences that feels worth every penny and then some.

Very experienced trainers who explain things well and helped me understand what my dogs needed and why we doing the different exercises. Great environment putting dogs welfare and their experience first. Highly recommend Devon Dogs for help with any dog training and especially for dogs that have struggles coping with modern lifem

We had a fantastic stay at Devon Dogs! The accommodation was spotless, comfortable, and perfectly set up for a dog-friendly holiday. Our dogs were made to feel just as welcome as we were, with plenty of space and lovely surroundings for walks and relaxation.
Communication from the hosts was excellent from start to finish — friendly, helpful, and always quick to respond. They really went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for our stay.
We would highly recommend Devon Dogs to anyone looking for a relaxing break with their pets and will definitely be returning!

Devon Dogs is set in a lovely location, the cottages have secure gardens and the staff are specialists in helping owners with "naughty but nice" dogs.

I felt confident working my nervous and reactive dog on site and came away with a raft of strategies and training exercises to help build a better and more relaxed future with my dog.

Top notch facility and instructors. No expense spared to ensure dogs and handlers are cared for. The environment is positive and friendly which helps to get the best out in training. Best ever experience. Highly recommend. Hope to come back soon.

Located on the outskirts of Okehampton this is a wonderful setting for a holiday, we found the environment quiet and relaxing with lots to explore within easy reach - there is a mixture of holiday cottages on site and off site (My personal favourite is Holly Hock, which is off site, however that doesn't detract from the other cottages which I have also stayed in).
The training packages were tailored to our needs and the needs of our dogs where we focus on different things for them. The training plan is worked though and adjusted as needed by the knowledgeable trainer team and there is often a mixture of one to one and group sessions, with the focus being on working the dog in front of you and what is right for them - it's not one size fits all and dogs are given time to rest and absorb the learning along with a variety of locations for training to happen - from more sterile car park settings, to fields, closed fields, or indoors either in the holiday cottage or in the training centre.
We keep coming back because it's a great dog friendly holiday and we can top up our dogs skills

I have stayed at Devon Dogs on several occasions in the last 3 years. Sometimes on specific Retreats and sometimes on Stay and Trains.It’s a safe haven for me and my nervous reactive dog. The cottages are lovely and with their secure gardens you can completely relax. The trainers are really friendly, knowledgeable, understanding, non-judgemental and so encouraging. Whether it’s a 1:2:1 session or joining with others the training is planned for you and your dog and set up for success and to achieve positive outcomes. Having trainers seeing me with my dog, observing how I interact with my girl, how I react in different situations and how that in turn affects my dog has been so important in our growth. The improvement in her reactivity has been huge. It can be a bit isolating having a reactive dog but Devon Dogs specialise in helping with Naughty but Nice (NBN) dogs which is why I keep going back. It’s our home from home.

I've trained for nearly five years at Devon dogs and the standard is training is excellent, tailor made for your dogs needs. My dogs confidence and skills have grown enormously since we started to train there.

Went for a week and ended up staying for two! Been going to Bowerland Cottages with my dogs for over 6 years and get something new out of it each time. This time stayed in Hollyhock which was huge and had fantastic kitchen and what a main bathroom with stand alone bath and the biggest shower I’ve ever seen. Although only small patio garden outside property was enough for my 2 beagles to have sniff and toilet space and was secure enough even for an escape artist like mine. The grounds of the cottage complex though has massive green park area and lake to walk round and access to a secure field which you can walk or drive down to. Only 10-20 min easy drive to the training location.
Second week was spent at Dartmoor Inn which is a one bed bedsit type cottage which I preferred to the huge space for my set up. Kitchen was small but had everything we needed, fridge with freezer compartment, good utensils and oven and hob. Wet room set up in bathroom is ideal and there is lot of floor space for a cosy cottage for dogs to relax.
Training was as always top notch and I was taken aback this time how the trainers went above and beyond to accommodate a single guests training needs - this meant changing location of training sessions to allow her to join in, giving her more 1-2-1 time so that the rest of us could continue to train even if she couldn’t join us. The flexibility and kindness of the training staff to allow that to happen just would not occur anywhere else…and it was clearly not easy to make the changes needed to accommodate her and ensure she and her very reactive dogs got the input they needed. My dogs were so tired after their first week of training and beach visits that we focused on more real life in the home skills for our second week and also I got to borrow dogs from the trainers and play with puppies during training sessions which was a challenge when you are so used to your own dogs!
Well worth the drive down from Glasgow again and we will definitely keep visiting

Amazing place to stay and train - I have 3 cocker spaniels and one is a little anxious but that is never and issue at Devon Dogs as the experience and knowledge of the trainers means that even very reactive dogs are moved around the site in a calm and careful way and you have the upmost confidence that your dog will be given the space that it needs.

The combination of group and 1-2-1 learning means that more experience members can demonstrate the changes that have been made to their dogs and the shared experiences makes you feel really understood and able to share the truth about your dogs journey without fear of judgement

Also love the experience of the trainers in a variety of areas - there is also the option to learn scent, fitness, agility, tricks and probably other things

I love it so much I visit as often as funds allow

I found Devon Dogs after seeking help from five different dog trainers. None of them really helped and, if I’m honest, some made things worse. My dog, a young WCS, couldn’t cope with movement or noise and hated being touched. She was exhausting to live with and I was close to breaking point.

Devon Dogs was the first place where nobody made me feel judged or inadequate. They are very used to nervous and reactive dogs and understand how hard life with one can be. The setting is lovely and calm, and the more experienced owners are always willing to help because many of them started in exactly the same place. People now genuinely don’t believe what my dog used to be like.