Dorset Paws

Force-free dog training and behavioural modification in BCP, Dorset. IMDT, MRes & BSci qualified.

Dorset Paws officially started in 2019 and is run by Faye Barker MRes, BSc (hons). Running both private and group training, any dog can be helped with professional and passionate advice and training. Covering all of Poole, Bournemouth and into Christchurch, Faye can come to you in order to train your dog most effectively. With experience training many dogs, including Military and Guide Dogs, Faye

uses positive training methods to teach you and your dog. There is no requirement to add conflict to your relationship when a dog can learn anything through the right management and training modification.

14/07/2025

☀️ How was your hot weekend with your dog? 🥵

When the weather's hot, there becomes a lot of debate over when dogs should be walked, or even if they should be taken out at all.

If you felt stressed and worried, then you're probably going to be very careful and do the best for your dog 🐶

Most people know their own dog well, so they're going to do what's best for their dog.

Some dogs cope incredibly well with the heat. For example, Aloy enjoys the hot weather and loves sunbathing. Plus she's walked in all weathers ☀️🌧️ Consequently, she adapts well to the weather.

If your dog copes well with the heat, and you're a sensible, observant owner, then personally I find gentle walks in shaded spaces are okay 🤷🏼‍♀️ The key comes down to understanding and consideration of what a dog needs in the hot weather.

🌟 If you're ensuring your dog is taking it easy, regularly getting shade and cooling opportunity (e.g. paddles in cool water), gets offered water repeatedly and the floor temperature is considered, then a dog who is adapted to being out in the hotter weather is okay🌡️

I don't agree with proper exercise for dogs in the hot weather, so no running around or ball chasing ⚽ anything that can cause rapid body temperature increase is extremely dangerous. Because even when moved to shade and given water, the temperature will continue rising and cannot be managed 🥵

Hopefully those of you with dogs who cope well with the temperature aren't feeling too guilty because others who don't know their dog are worrying for them. Everyone only wants what's best, but not everyone has the same understanding!

16/06/2025

Meet this handsome little man 😍 15 weeks old and already walking beautifully to heel and recalls amazingly, without distractions of course at this stage.

His owner's doing a fantastic job at starting habits early, so you can already see patterns forming. Such as when he sees other dogs, despite his high interest in them, he checks back with his owner regularly 🐾

Start the training early and they don't know any different - it's just the way life is!

17/09/2024

Gorgeous young dog looking for a new home 🥰 Please share his original post to help him find somewhere asap!

15/09/2024

I'm going to say something controversial - I like those people who tell me their dog is friendly when I'm out on walks with my dog 🤷‍♀️

I'm not saying it's an excuse for lack of control of a dog, but it makes me more comfortable when a dog comes running up. Only yesterday in the forest did this woman immediately upon seeing us grabbed her lead and "tried" to recall her dog, telling us he's normally good at waiting as her dog stalked up to us. Aloy was an angel and waited by my side as we waited for the owner to get control of her dog. She unsurprisingly failed, and the dog bolted up to us, leaving myself and my husband very stressed because of both the owners immediate reaction and her dogs stalking. If she had told us her dog is fine with other dogs, we could have released Aloy to say hello and it would have been much less stressful for us 🙄

Many dogs will, at some point in their life, usually when young, decide to ignore their recall to go up to another dog. Nobody's perfect at managing their dog all the time, and no dog is perfect 100% of the time. In which case, if the owner knows their dog means no ill intent, then why shouldn't they tell the other owner? 🤔

We recall Aloy for 95% of the dogs we meet at the moment, only because she's an over friendly giant 😂 To anyone else, it probably looks like we're recalling her because she's unfriendly, so we do say to people "she's friendly, but too bouncy for your dog / we're working on ignoring dogs today / I wanted to check it was okay for her to say hello first" 👋 It works brilliantly because for whatever reason we say, it means everyone knows the situation BUT I do have full control of her first - its not an excuse for bad management 😊

26/08/2024

Happy International Dog Day! 🐶

Do you know which country your dog's breed originates? It can be fascinating to see where your dog's ancestor's were from and what job they were bred to do.

For example, the Beauceron comes from France 🇫🇷 They're still to this day used to look after sheep and cattle, for both guarding and herding 🐑🐄 The extra dew claws are helpful in this job for when they have to herd up steep hills 🐾

If you're not sure about your dog, let me know their breed below and I'll tell you 👇

19/08/2024

Did you know dogs can get phantom pregnancies (also known as false pregnancies) where their hormones tell them that they're pregnant 😯 It can cause their bodies to change and behavioural changes too.

Aloy recently has been going through it, unfortunately it took us a little bit of time to notice it but she's much better now. We first noticed the nesting attempts, digging at her bed and struggling to get comfortable, then she began losing fur around her ni***es and then they began to swell up. Behaviourally she became very needy, getting very attached to me and distressed if she couldn't access me 😔

Fortunately we discovered Rasperry Leaf supplements (thank you for the recommendation ) and within just two days she made a dramatic improvement. I definitely recommend it if anyone else notices any symptoms in their girls 🐕

13/08/2024

Heads up - I'm on holiday for the rest of this week in Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 I'll get back to any messages next week when I'm home!

12/08/2024

🏆 Two shows in one (long) weekend! 🥇

Aloy's been a star 🌟 and officially qualified for Crufts 2025 too!

👉 1st (Best of Breed) at Bournemouth Open Show

👉 1st (Postgraduate Dog or Bittch) and Reserve Best Bitch at Bournemouth Championship Show

On the whole she's done really well, especially today with the heat and the fact we're 90% sure she's having a phantom pregnancy 😅

Time for a week off ☀️🌊😴

05/08/2024

Clarity in Communication workshop with Corinne Wrend 🤓🐕

Yesterday Aloy and I did some training at Eye2Eye, focusing on the use of markers to build her motivation and make training clearer for her. It was good to work somewhere different with her and was good to get thinking about what everything really means to the dog 🤔

I recommend workshops to anyone thinking about it, it's fun to meet other dog owners and spend the day having fun with your dog!

23/07/2024

Looking for a safe way to exercise your dog off lead? If your dog struggles with recall, reactivity, your dog's in season or you just want to give your dog some mental enrichment exploring somewhere new, look at hiring a private field!🌲

I've put a list together to make it easier for you 👇

⭐️ Free ones - Slades Farm Bournemouth, Canford Park Sang Bournemouth and Upton Country Park.

⭐️ Hounds & Hooves, The Gallops. Whitcombe, Dorchester - https://houndshooves.com/field-hire/

⭐️ K9 Woods Dog Park. Heathfield Farm, Parley Cross -
https://www.k9woodsdogpark.com/

⭐️ Dandelion Dogs. Hordle, Lymington -
https://www.dandeliondogs.co.uk/

⭐️ Wild and Free Dog Meadows. Fordingbridge, Hampshire -
https://www.wildandfreedogmeadows.co.uk/

⭐️ Hayters Field. Holt, Wimborne -
http://www.haytersfeeds.co.uk/

⭐️ Woodland Dog Park. Bransgore, Christchurch -
https://woodlanddogpark.com/

⭐️ Pet Plan Adventure Park. Wimborne -
https://www.petplan.co.uk/pet-information/dog/advice/dog-behaviour-training/adventure-park/

⭐️ Oak Paddock. Upton, Poole -
https://www.oakpaddock.co.uk/

⭐️ The Dog Park. Three Legged Cross, Ashley Heath -
https://thedogpark-threeleggedcross.co.uk/

17/07/2024

Another course completed ✅️

Although I must confess that I wouldn't recommend the course to others and didn't feel it expanded (or tested) my knowledge whatsoever 🙈

Just because a dog trainer has lots of certificates doesn't mean they're any good. The best dog trainers I've met are the ones who have the most broad experience, learning from lots of different sources - mainly in person. They also haven't stuck to one 'label', because there's so much to learn from everyone! 📚🤓

12/07/2024

Did you know if your get bitten by a dog, you may need to check your tetanus is up to date and antibiotics to prevent infection? 💉

Unfortunately today whilst doing a hydro session with the MWDs, one of the dogs accidentally caught my finger whilst leaping in the water to grab the toy 🙈 Ouch!🩸

After getting checked by a nurse at work I fortunately didn't need to go to A&E (you wouldnt stitch or glue a dog bite due to trapping the bacteria inside) - but did have to get to the doctors for an updated tetanus jab and 5 days of antibiotics.

I've worked with the bitey dogs for 3 years now and I'm very lucky this is the worst that's happened 🦁 👉🪵 Accidents happen and it could have been much worse, so not complaining here!

Address

Talbot And Branksome Woods
BH121PH

Telephone

+447543048494

Website

https://www.dorsetpaws.com/

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My Story

Over the last 10+ years I have gained a wide variety of dog experience.

I graduated from an MRes in Anthrozoology (the human-animal relationship) in 2018. This investigated the impact we have on our pets lives and the benefits they provide to us.

Prior to this, I graduated from Hartpury University, in 2017 with a 2:1 BSc (hons) in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. The topics studied included animal welfare, training and psychology. The three years allowed me to gain a full understanding of our pets physical and psychological needs.

During my time at university I also volunteered at a dog and cat hydrotherapy and physiotherapy centre, whilst also spending three days a week assisting at dog training classes in Gloucester. Furthermore, I was a leading member of 'High Flyers' dog agility club.