A Cold Wednesday, a Warm Welcome & A Whole Lot of Hoops
There are some cold Wednesday afternoons where the sofa, a cup of tea and a dog snoring gently beside you feels like the only sensible plan.
And then there are Wednesdays where you find yourself loading the car, grabbing the treats and heading off to try something completely new.
This was very much the second kind.
Harvey and I were kindly invited by Joe Nutkins to visit her training facility on the Essex & Suffolk border for a trial session of Canine Hoopers and despite the grey skies and grim paddock weather outside, what waited for us inside was anything but dull.
First impressions of Joe’s training facility
Joe has created a genuinely brilliant space. Warm, welcoming and packed full of training opportunities, her barn-style indoor facility is a playground for dogs who love to learn. Before we even got started, Harvey was busy doing a full inspection of the props laid out for her trick training classes.
Think trampolines, circus-style tents, tunnels… basically heaven if you’re a working breed with a curious mind and a nose that must investigate everything.
Joe offers a wide range of services, including:
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Dog training classes and puppy training
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Online training (perfect for fun at home)
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Canine conditioning, fitness and strengthening
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Trick dog training
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Workshops, blogs and published articles
But today was all about Hoopers.
So… what is Canine Hoopers?
Canine Hoopers is still relatively new in the UK, officially running for around 4–5 years. It originated from agility but evolved into its own sport, and it’s grown hugely in popularity with dogs of all ages and abilities.
The equipment is intentionally low-impact, making it accessible and inclusive:
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Hoops – dogs run through upright hoops in smooth lines and arcs
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Tunnels – straight tunnels (no tight turns)
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Barrels – dogs move around them in either direction
Because there’s no jumping, no sharp turns and no high impact, Hoopers is suitable for:
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Puppies
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Adult dogs
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Senior dogs
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Dogs retiring from agility, flyball or heelwork to music
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Dogs starting training later in life
In short: it’s fun, freeing and brilliant for building confidence, focus and teamwork.
Harvey’s first go at Hoopers
Joe started us off gently, bringing one hoop into the space. With a treat in my hand, I encouraged Harvey to run through it.
Now, Harvey being Harvey (and very much a working breed), anything involving movement and food is what I imagine he’d describe as “best day ever.”
Once he was comfortable, Joe upped the challenge and took us over to a circular set-up of hoops. My task? Guide Harvey through three consecutive hoops.
He nailed it.
Before I’d even finished feeling proud, he was confidently running through the entire hoop circle like he’d been doing it for years.
When it didn’t quite go to plan (and why that mattered)
At the other end of Joe’s fabulous barn, things got more interesting. The hoops were spaced further apart, and before he even went through a hoop he had a tunnel to run though. This set up also featured a
barrel positioned before a second row of hoops.
I’d mentioned to Joe that Harvey and I have been playing plenty of “around” games at home going around side tables, furniture and various indoor obstacles – so I was quietly confident.
“Through” for hoops and tunnels.
“Around” for the barrel.
Simple, right?
Well… mostly.
What became clear (and this is not the first time on my journey with Harvey) was that when things didn’t quite work, it wasn’t because he didn’t understand, it was because my body language, timing or hand signals were off !
With Joe’s guidance, a few more repetitions and, to Harvey’s absolute delight, a few more treats… it clicked. (On the treat front we didn’t take enough, thank you Joe for letting us dip into your treat box)
And honestly, those moments are gold. I got very excited, so did Harvey with Joe commenting on how much he likes to ‘work’ for me
Top Tip - Take plenty of treats. There are SO many opportunities to reward your dog during sessions like this.
A perfect winter activity (and we’ll be back)
By the end of the session, one thing was very clear: Hoopers is a fantastic indoor activity for cold, wet days when outdoor training just isn’t appealing.
That said, I can absolutely see how much fun this would be outdoors in the warmer months too. Joe’s set-up gives her endless options to create engaging, varied sessions that keep dogs thinking, moving and enjoying themselves. Did I mention she has a large outdoor space to match the barn
Harvey loved it. I loved it.
And yes – we will be back.
A huge thank you to Joe for inviting us, for her patience, her expertise and for creating such a welcoming training environment. If you’re looking for something fun, accessible and genuinely rewarding to do with your dog, Hoopers is well worth exploring.
Cold Wednesday afternoons may never look quite the same again. 🐕💙
If you want to find out more about Hoopers or connect with Joe you can find her here.
Dog Training for Essex & Suffolk - Harwich Rd, Ardleigh, Colchester CO7 7LS
https://dogtrainingessex-suffolk.co.uk/
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