In a forest setting in the depth of the woods near São Bartolomeu de Messines is a safe little doggy heaven run by an enthusiastic doggy lover. In the caring and experienced hands of Dorine Rijnhart, a qualified dog behaviourist, your four-legged best friend and yourself can experience the very best of training in a group or a one-to-one environment by signing up with team TerVida DogXperience, and learn how to experience both physical and mental stimulation in training, bonding or just enjoying nature together.

In a stunning location, many exercises are hidden to keep dogs busy with a technique she has built up and developed during 12 years of running her own dog training school in the Netherlands. Dorine has coached over 400 dogs and owners already in Portugal on top of the 2500 she has steered in the past, and is hopeful of extending and increasing the range of facilities, with ideas overflowing for the future - special ideas for both dogs and their owners.

Having dogs and training them is no easy matter, and is like teaching a new language to someone with no verbal skills! Just because a dog retrieves a ball and gets a ‘good dog’ response doesn’t mean he or she knows what you wanted in the first place; the tone of voice and body language are important and we don’t always realise that these go together hand in hand for efficient training.

This is a fledgling business, having only been in operation since February of this year. Dorine has found by experience that by developing natural behaviour in dogs, they become very obedient in a free way.

DogXperience

Dorine is the proud co-founder of the DogXperience concept in partnership with entrepreneur Michel Groothuis, who were visionaries in setting up the DogXperience park. In a secure and secluded area of 1600sqm, the park is inside a totally safe and fenced area of 1 hectare, where group lessons and workshops take place. Hidden away in the middle of nowhere, Dorine has planned a virtual playpark, where every dog – no matter the age, breed or background – can learn, play, relax, socialise or recover, where physical and mental stimulation go hand in hand in training, bonding or socialising.

A neat and tidy rustic pathway running through dappled shade leads dogs and owners through every environment possible - little areas created for sniffing out treats, digging in the sand, or having to use their balancing skills, together with areas where higher levels of activity might lead to agility training.

Dorine is an exceptional teacher, and having had the chance to train with some amazing professionals in everything from physiotherapy to clicker training, she teaches in a relaxed but informative matter. Her ‘classes’ are small, no more than 7 owners and their dogs at a time, and a basic BET course (Body Language, Energy and Timing) runs for 8 weeks, with other experiences available - varying from one-to-one training, workshops, to assessments both on-site or at your own home if necessary.

Her next basic course starts on 9 January 2026 and if you would like more information, she would be more than happy to meet up, sign you and your fur-baby up or to chat with you to explain further.

I for one, would recommend her if you are interested in giving both you and your dog the best in understanding one another, and I would certainly be interested in getting her help in controlling my unruly mob!

More information can be found at www.tervida.com/dogx , or call Dorine direct on 965 020 011.