ACE Free Work

ACE Free Work is a calming and rewarding activity that encourages exploration, choice, and observation, helping us build a deeper understanding of the individual dog.

ACE Free Work: Helping Dogs Feel Safe, Seen, and Understood

A calm, sensory-based experience that supports your dog’s wellbeing and education, created by Sarah Fisher as part of Animal Centred Education (ACE).

ACE Free Work is part of Animal Centred Education (ACE), created by Sarah Fisher.

ACE Free Work provides opportunities for dogs to sniff, forage, lick, chew, and explore a range of enriching stations. It is a simple, low impact activity that supports exploration, curiosity, and choice. It can be easily adapted to suit dogs of all ages, breeds, and backgrounds.

Observations are at the heart of ACE. As dogs move through a Free Work setup, we can observe their behaviour, posture, movement, preferences, and interactions with the environment. Over time, these observations help us build a clearer picture of the individual dog and their needs.

How ACE Free Work can help your dog

Supporting dogs through everyday challenges

Many people discover ACE Free Work when they are looking for ways to support a dog who is finding aspects of everyday life challenging.

Some dogs struggle with busy environments, new situations, vehicle travel, noises, visitors, encounters with other dogs, or walks. Others may be recovering from illness or injury, adjusting to change, or simply finding the world overwhelming.

Supporting everyday learning

ACE Free Work can help increase awareness of what an individual dog enjoys, what they find challenging, and where they may benefit from additional support.

These observations can help inform future learning and support.

More than an activity

For many people, ACE Free Work extends far beyond the session itself. The observations made often lead to a deeper understanding of the individual dog and influence how guardians support them in everyday life.

At it's core, ACE Free work is about awareness, undestanding and support.

“ACE techniques improve awareness of an animal’s needs, and highlight areas where an animal may require additional support.”  
Sarah Fisher

Choose the right ACE Free Work option for you

Whether you are a dog guardian looking to better understand your dog through ACE Free Work, or a canine professional wanting to learn how ACE observations and Free Work can support behaviour and training, there is an option to suit you.

How ACE Free Work became part of my life

ACE Free Work has been part of my life for many years, both personally and professionally. It continues to surprise and inspire me. Every session provides opportunities to learn more about the individual dog and reminds me how much there is to learn through observation.

Free Work has been an invaluable part of our lives. It has helped Harry navigate many of the challenges he has faced. Along the way, it has given us many opportunities to learn, explore, and enjoy enriching experiences together.

My interest in ACE Free Work continued to grow and eventually led me to become an ACE Advanced Tutor, a member of the ACE teaching team, and a committee member. Today, I combine ACE Free Work with my work as a Clinical Animal Behaviourist.

ACE Free Work and ongoing observations remain an important part of my work with dogs and their guardians. The insights gained through observation help me build a deeper understanding of each individual dog and inform the support, learning, and management strategies we put in place together.

Find the right ACE Free Work option for you

Whether you are new to ACE or ready to explore it in more depth, there’s a place to begin that feels right for you and your dog. Each course and workshop offers new ways to deepen your understanding, exploring the layers that reveal how your dog experiences and responds to the world around them.

ACE Free Work Mentorship & Case Support

A collaborative mentoring space for ACE professionals seeking support with behaviour cases, professional development, and applying ACE in practice.

Finding clarity in complex cases

A supportive one to one mentoring space for professionals who would like greater confidence, clarity, and support when navigating behaviour cases and professional challenges.

Many of us have experienced those moments where a case feels more complex than it first appeared. The behaviour doesn't quite make sense, progress has stalled, or you know there is more information to uncover but you're not sure where to look next.

Professional mentorship provides a dedicated space to explore cases, questions, and ideas together.

How I use ACE in practice

As a Clinical Animal Behaviourist and ACE Advanced Tutor, ACE observations and Free Work form an integral part of my behaviour work. They help me build a clearer picture of the individual dog, contribute to case formulation, and inform the behaviour support plans I develop with guardians.

Mentoring provides an opportunity to explore how these same principles can be applied within your own work, supporting case discussions, support planning, and professional decision making.

Behaviour case support

Mentorship can support you to:

Professional development

Mentorship can also support you to:

Designed around your needs

Every session is tailored to you, your work, and the challenges you are currently facing.

Whether you are looking for support with a specific case, guidance on integrating ACE into your practice, support with professional development, or simply a space to think things through with another professional, mentoring provides a collaborative environment to explore ideas, gain clarity, and develop confidence in your work.

Interested in mentorship?

Ready to Explore ACE Free Work?

Whether you are taking your first steps into ACE Free Work or looking to build on existing experience, there are a range of ways to continue learning and exploring.