A Sanctuary in the Woods: How Off Lead Agility Helped Me Breathe Again

It’s hard to put into words just how much a place can mean to you—how it can slowly stitch together parts of you that you thought would never feel safe again. 

But I’ll try. Because Off Lead Agility isn't just a private dog park to me. It’s a sanctuary. A slice of peace carved out of a world that hasn't always been kind.

I’m 45 now. For years, I’ve lived with anxiety. Flashbacks, fear, the kind of hypervigilance that makes even everyday things feel like walking a tightrope. Being out in public, even doing something as simple and supposedly joyful as walking my dog, always carried an undertone of tension. I'd keep my eyes darting to every passerby, feel my chest tighten at the sound of footsteps behind me. It was exhausting.

I was invited by Doggy’s Day Out to come up to Off Lead Agility for a Spaniel meet-up, where Woody could run wild with his fellow spaniels. We loved it so much—he was charging around with all the other good boys and girls, tails wagging, ears flying, pure joy on four legs. Watching him run free in such a safe, open space was the first time in a long while I felt something other than fear. That’s when I thought—maybe, just maybe—I could find the courage to come back on my own, just Woody and me.

Tucked away in Donemana, Off Lead Agility offers privately booked outdoor and indoor agility and training arenas, along with the incredible Woodland Wander—a secluded two-acre trail through established woodland, filled with character and soul. And best of all, it’s just you and your dog. No interruptions. No surprises. No pressure. For someone like me, this isn’t just convenient—it’s a lifeline.

My dog Woody, a six-year-old springer spaniel with the soul of a clown and the heart of a best friend, has become my anchor in recent years. Especially since we lost his brother, Buzz, to lymphoma when he was just two. That grief never really leaves. It lives quietly in the background and amplifies the anxiety I already carry—what if something happens to Woody too? What if we’re out somewhere and he gets hurt, or worse? These thoughts aren’t always rational, but trauma rarely is. It latches onto what you love most and covers it in fear.

That’s why our visits to Off Lead Agility are sacred.

The Woodland Wander is like something from a dream. A winding trail through beautiful woodland, little streams trickling alongside, views of rolling countryside in every direction. I couldn’t believe how beautiful and fantastic it was. Every inch of the space felt like it had been created with intention—not just for dogs to play, but for humans to exhale.

The trail leads uphill to a large, sandy arena with quirky little Instagram spots—cheeky signs and setups where you can pose with your dog if you fancy a photo. Woody humours me there, mostly. But his real joy is further on: a shaded glade with a huge log he loves to launch himself over, and a peaceful bench where I sit, let go of the day, and just exist in nature.

The quiet is soothing in the deepest way. You still hear the world—the rumble of a distant tractor, crows chattering above, lambs in a nearby field bleating softly—but it’s all distant. Gentle. Grounding. The kind of background noise that feels like a hug from the land itself.

Woody’s absolute favourite part, though, is the water tub and tap. Every time we go, he makes a “holy show” of himself—diving in, splashing around like a lunatic, coming out soaked and proud. His joy is infectious. 

There’s something incredibly powerful about being in a space that doesn’t require you to explain yourself. This place doesn't judge. It doesn’t ask anything of me. It simply offers a safe, private corner of the world where I can let my guard down. In today’s climate, especially for women, that is so hard to find. But Off Lead Agility gives me that rare thing: 100% safety. Total peace of mind.

I know some might wonder if keeping Woody out of public parks is fair. Let me reassure you—he’s one of the most social dogs around. He goes on pack walks three times a week with Doggy’s Day Out, running wild with his pals, being a proper dog. He loves it. My anxiety? That’s mine, not his. And thanks to spaces like this, I’m managing it—one peaceful walk at a time.

I don’t know if I’ll ever fully stop feeling afraid. Healing doesn’t work like that. But I do know I’ve found a space that makes it easier. Where I don’t have to brace myself. Where Woody and I can just be—two living things moving through a beautiful woodland, free of fear.

Off Lead Agility didn’t just give me a dog park. It gave me freedom. And in doing so, it gave me a little piece of myself back.

To anyone reading this who carries fear, who walks with anxiety in their shadow—I see you. You’re not alone. And there are places in the world where you can feel safe again. This place in Donemana is one of them.

To the team at Off Lead Agility: thank you. For the space. For the calm. For giving Woody and me a place to reconnect—with nature, with each other, and with a version of myself I thought I’d lost.

We’ll keep coming back. Rain or shine.

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Gratefully yours,

FiFi G x

Rest in peace Buzz ❤️