About Us

Hi, I’m Fiona — the founder of Mersea Mutts and a welfare-led dog trainer based in Essex.

All training at Mersea Mutts is fear, pain and force free, with a focus on clear communication, strong relationships and helping dogs feel safe, confident and understood.

My aim is to offer practical, real-life training that supports everyday dogs and their humans — building confidence, improving wellbeing, and helping with challenges such as dog-to-dog and dog-to-human interactions.

I’ve been running scent detection for several years and have seen first-hand the huge benefits it brings to the dogs I work with, from improved focus to increased confidence and emotional regulation. Building on this, I also offer mantrailing sessions, allowing dogs to use their natural abilities in a calm, enriching way while strengthening the bond between dog and handler. I’m a qualified instructor with Mantrailing Global and love seeing the positive impact this work has on both dogs and their people.

I live with my husband and our three dogs, so I understand that training isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress. My sessions are warm, supportive and judgement-free, and designed to fit into real life.

I regularly invest in continued professional development to ensure the training I offer is ethical, up to date and evidence-led.

If you have any questions at all, I’d love to hear from you.