Animal Centred Education 

Animal Centred Education (ACE) is an integrated approach to animal wellbeing and education. It incorporates methods that were developed by Sarah Fisher at Tilley Farm such as ACE Free Work, Sarah’s passion for detailed observations and building calm foundations on which further learning can be established. ACE also includes techniques inspired by animals and other professionals working in the world of animal education and welfare.

ACE Free Work

Allowing a dog to engage with a variety of different surfaces and other sensory items was inspired by the dogs at Battersea almost two decades ago, as many did not enjoy body contact. Enabling dogs to engage with a variety of textures has been life enhancing, and life-saving, for dogs that were concerned by contact from the human hand.

We are always looking for ways to simplify every learning opportunity here at Tilley Farm. Thanks to two young Bull Breed blends, Cookie Dough Dynamo and Henry, ACE Free Work has now become a structured method of educating and supporting dogs (and other animals) of all ages providing a safe and rewarding foundation on which further learning can be built.

ACE Free Work is a simple low impact activity that can be rewarding for both you and your dog; it can be set up in any environment and adapted and evolved to meet the needs of the individual animal. ACE Free Work enables you to gather more data from your companion as your companion gathers data from the Free Work set up, and can highlight the smaller threads that weave together to create the more obvious picture.

As well as being an enriching experience on its own (and physical well-being is an important part of any enriching experience), ACE Free Work helps to reduce stress, improve posture and balance, and increase the range of natural movement patterns. Free Work also helps to engage the seeking system, meet a dog's natural desire to be curious, and supports the dog's internal environment by helping them to release body tension, reset, and relax.

Although it can vary from dog to dog, the majority of dogs enjoy exploring and engaging for between fourteen and seventeen minutes, including those in rescue.

There is something significant about learning/processing sensory information in approx. seventeen minutes time budgets. This is well documented when supporting humans, and we see a similar pattern when connecting with dogs in ACE Free Work.

Whilst Free Work can be a very calming activity for the majority of dogs, and many settle down to snooze after a session, the length of time a dog engages with the items can give you important information about your canine friend. If your dog seems to get 'bored' with Free Work after a short amount of time, it is well worth considering that physical discomfort might be the cause. Consulting your vet and modifying the height and position of the Free Work stations for subsequent sessions will ensure Free Work is a rewarding experience for you both.

ACE Free Work is also of great value for cats, horses and other animals.