About Us
Barkingham Palace & Spa provides 1st class luxury dog care. We offer a wide range of services specifically catered to suit your dogs individual needs. Situated in rural Somerset we are surrounded by miles of countryside and the stunning beaches on the Dorset coastline are only a short drive away. Run by an Ex Military dog training instructor, highly qualified with years of experience, you can rest assure your dog will receive the best care possible.
South Somerset District Council Licence Number 36253
Our Team
Hayley McConnachie (Manager)
BACKGROUND
My love for animals especially dogs goes way back to my childhood, growing up in a home where we had a variety of different dogs from Dobermans, Shetland Sheepdogs and Springer Spaniels. Once leaving school i spent 3 years studying a National Diploma In Animal Care at Kingston Maurward college in Dorset. After college i was offered a job to work for the Donkey Sanctuary as a groom. I spent over 3 years working with the charity, caring for over 300 donkeys on a daily basis and helping with their re-homing process within the UK. In October 2003 i made a life changing decision and left my home town of Dorset to join the British Army as a dog handler. I moved to Melton Mowbray in Leicester where i became part of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps and this is where my career in dog training started. I served 12 years in the military as a sergeant and qualified as a dog training instructor specialising in detection and protection dogs. I have worked all over the world handling and training dogs or instructing dog teams in high pressure and arduous situations, which has led to me being deployed on several Operational tours to Afghanistan and Iraq. I have worked with dogs that have behavioural problems and used adaptive and positive methods of training to correct these issues. Since leaving the Army in March 2016 i have moved with my dog Domino to Somerset where i have established and built up a luxury dog care business called Barkingham Palace & Spa. The aim of my business is to provide a first class service to all dogs making sure that they get the best care possible.
QUALIFICATIONS
National Diploma + C&G Advanced Level Apprenticeship In Animal Care
NPCC - ACPO Police Dog Trainer
NPTC Veterinary Medicines Certificate
BTEC Level 4 Professional Certificate In Teaching
Diploma Level 3 In Line Management
Dog Grooming Certificate (Distinction)
Military Dog Trainer Class 1, 2 & 3
GP Security Dog Handler/Trainer (NASDU)
Vehicle Search Dog Handler/Trainer
Explosive Detection Dog Handler/Trainer (NASDU)
Proactive/ Passive Drug Detection Dog Handler/Trainer (NASDU)
Practical Training Assistant
All Arms Counter Improvised Explosive Device Coordinator
Canine First Aid Instructor
