Meet the pack at Jurassic Bark

Sophie Hunter

Ever since I was 8 years old I have had dogs, and growing up around them has really made me appreciate what wonderful animals they are. I worked in an office for a few years before a light bulb went off and I started volunteering at a gun dog training centre at weekends. Before long I realised that working with dogs was the dream, and got a part time job working at a kennels. After a few months there I found Dog Trouble, where I was employed after volunteering for a few weeks, first as a centre assistant, then after completing an apprenticeship in Dog Training, I was promoted to Boarding Manager. The centre is a behaviour centre rather than your standard doggy day care so the opportunity to learn was fantastic. Most recently I have been volunteering at Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary in Bristol, who we are also raising money for with our pack walks.

I opened Jurassic Bark in December 2016, and then in March 2020 moved to Withywood in Bristol to start up our Bristol branch!

Holly Gabriel

Holly is a dog lover through and through. After leaving her job in the charity sector, she made the decision to spend her days outside with four-legged friends. She’s the proud owner of Rocky, a 3-year-old rescue Boston Terrier cross, who keeps her busy! Rocky is a sensitive thing but is growing in confidence all the time and she's so proud of how he's settling in.

Holly has completed diplomas in both canine communication, and dog walking, as well as plenty of hands on experience with our dogosaurs before going solo out with her new canine friends, in December 2024!

Patch is my gorgeous 15 year old Jack Russell terrier who came to me after I began working at Dog Trouble, where he had been taken in after his first owners wanted to put him down due to behavioural issues. They were able to rehabilitate from a frightened shivering wreck to the happy, healthy dog who stole my heart. He's still a bit scared of some strangers but he gets more confidence every day. He spends most of his time attempting  to catch flies and staring intently at me until I take him out for a walk. 

Aslan - This bundle of fluff is one of the noisiest dogs I have ever met and has a personality bigger than a T-Rex. He loves everyone and is overjoyed at every visitor we have to the house. I often look at him and wonder how he can be THAT cute, but he just is. He’s such a friendly little boy and will lick you to death if you let him!

Sabre - This handsome boy flew over from Cyprus in June 2018 from a wonderful charity called SOS 'Save Oroklini's Stray Dogs' (look them up if you’re ever looking for a rescue dog!). He loves his new brothers, and has really lucked out with his new home of long walks and delicious treats! He is totally obsessed with squirrels, and loves nothing more than a run in the woods. He also gives the best cuddles a girl could ask for (once you have earned his trust)!

These beautiful dogosaurs are where it all started for me. Left to right - Cole, Rascal, Piper, and Phoebe. Rascal was our first dog - he would stop to sniff every single blade of grass on a walk, and was an excellent ratter. He would've caught more if it weren't for Cole, who used to run around after him thinking it was a game. Cole was the softest dog I have ever met, and he loved everything about life. Him and Aslan would have got along famously. Piper was a very loving girl, she would always be there if you were sad, to lick your tears clean. Phoebe sadly passed away on New Years Eve 2017. She came along on all our pack walks up until that point and trotted along at the back (or got carried!) She was one of the sweetest dogs I have ever had the pleasure of spending time with. They meant the absolute world to me and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Artwork credit to Tara Jessi Photography.