The 2025 Merry Pack Walk for Charity was a festive, fun-filled day for dogs, owners, and the ASCENDK9 team! Held at Panshanger Park in Hertford, this annual event brought together our local dog community for a joyful walk while supporting a great cause: Mind, the mental health charity.

The Lea Valley offers some of the best dog walks in Essex - but it’s also a powerful training environment filled with real-world distractions. From busy paths and wildlife to dog-friendly cafes, it’s the perfect place to practice recall, calm behaviour, and responsible dog ownership. In this blog, I share my favourite Lea Valley training spots, why bullet-proof recall is essential before allowing off-lead freedom, and how to use these environments to build confident, reliable dogs.

If you’ve ever wished your dog could spend the day with a professional trainer, working on real-life skills in real-world environments, ASCENDK9 is excited to announce the launch of our new Day Training service in Harlow, Essex.

As the colder months arrive and the days shorten, many owners ask: “Can I still take my dog out on walks in snow and icy weather?” or “How do I keep my dog warm on walks when it’s freezing?” Whether you’re heading out for dog walks in Essex, or the neighbouring areas of Harlow, Epping, Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford, it’s absolutely possible to enjoy winter walks - with the right preparation, safety awareness and training mindset!