Pawtastic Dog Services- dog walking & training

Home
United Kingdom
Bristol
Pawtastic Dog Services- dog walking & training

Pawtastic Dog Services- dog walking & training Pawtastic Dog Services offers dog walking, canine training, addressing some behavioural issues

19/03/2025

Puppy socialisation session today was not only fun but showed some good progress in various skills we have worked on so far with both Remi and Reggie.

Some of our training content:

✅️ Long line handling safety
✅️ Recall round distractions
✅️ Pollite approaches
✅️ Redirections
✅️ Rewarding calmness
✅️ Monitored playtime

The main aim was to gradually develop dog neutrality to ensure safety, enjoyable walks, and reliable behaviours based on a strong bond.

15/03/2025

Decompression Walks: Why, Where & How Often?

A decompression walk is an unstructured, low-pressure outing where your dog can sniff, explore, and move freely at their own pace. These walks aren’t about obedience, they’re about letting dogs be dogs.

Why are they significant?
🐾 Lowers stress and promotes relaxation
🐾 Provides vital mental enrichment
🐾 Allows dogs to express natural behaviours
🐾 Helps prevent frustration and reactivity

Where should you go?
Look for quiet, low-traffic areas where your dog can relax and explore without constant distractions. Great options include:
🌳 Woodlands & nature trails
🏞️ Open fields & countryside paths
🏖️ Quiet beaches
🐕 Secure off-lead areas or long-line-friendly spaces

How Often?
Ideally, aim for a few times a week, daily if possible. Even 15 minutes of decompression can make a huge difference. Adjust based on your dog’s needs, lifestyle, and access to suitable locations.

Letting your dog enjoy sniffing and wandering isn’t just a treat, it’s a necessity for their well-being. How often do you include decompression walks in your routine?

Drop a comment if your pup loves their sniffari and your fave locations for it.

14/03/2025

Great progress for Marshall.

Being a member of his new family for only over a month, having previously lived on the streets, he fell in love with training and doing various tasks with his caregivers.

Marshall is a living proof that providing security, positive reinforcement, and training consistency can do wonders in dog's behaviour.

We're still working on general obedience and stimulus control, but it's a joy to receive updates from my clients and see their progress.

Marshal loves his food but is able to engage despite distractions.

You are amazing!

12/03/2025

Start Your Puppy’s Journey the Right Way

Did you know that 5-12 weeks is the most powerful learning window in your puppy’s life? This is the time to shape confidence, good habits and essential life skills.

That’s why I offer one-to-one puppy training to beging the training journey before being fully vaccinated and optimise the effects. A personalised 6-session program, plus optional puppy socialisation, is designed to:

✅ Build solid foundations skills
✅ Support toilet & crate training
✅ Develop social confidence
✅ Prevent unwanted habits before they start
✅ Strengthen your bond in a healthy, secure way

🐕 Using fun, engaging games, I tailor training to your puppy’s breed, temperament and your family's lifestyle. This is because no two puppies are the same.

Set your pup up for success. DM me to book your spot.

In the picture, adorable Remi is resting after our 4th session today.

❤️

11/03/2025

Building Solid Foundations with Betsy.

Today's session was all about setting Betsy up for success by strengthening her foundational skills. We focused on:

✅ Eye contact for engagement
✅ Redirection techniques for focus
✅ Calmness for reliable behaviour

Betsy absolutely nailed it. She had a blast playing the ‘this way’ game and loved practising crate send with settling. She picks up cues like lightning—so eager, so smart.

This girl is on her way to rock-solid, reliable behaviours.

Fantastic job team Betsy 👊

06/03/2025

It's a joy to have your pooches' attention and engagement throughout walks. This not only helps to build a solid connection but ensures safety and cohesive teamwork. So, there is calmness when needed, like when taking group pictures. Also, it's balanced with various games to regularly redirect attention from distractions and reward responding to cues and following the game rules while being a respectful team member. There is equally time to sniff and run freely to make own choices and just be dogs.

The solid bond doesn't happen in a day but over months of practice and reinforcing the desired behaviors. Remembering that every dog is different and attaches different value to the rewards we offer is relevant. We can charge the value of some rewards but our dogs often show us what motivates them most effectively.

Did you know that the rewards you choose can significantly impact your dog's learning and enthusiasm for training?

Rewards activate your dog's brain, releasing dopamine, the "feel-good" chemical that reinforces behaviours we want to see more of.

🍖 Food: High-value treats (liver, peanut butter, fish paste) are powerful motivators, especially for teaching new skills. They provide an instant dopamine boost, making learning more enjoyable. They're great to use when starting our training in a quiet environment. Make sure you check for allergies and your dog's preference.

👏 Praise & affection: For many dogs, your voice and touch can be rewarding, especially when paired with treats initially. Over time, a simple “Good boy!” or gentle bum scratch can hold its own.

🎾 Toys & games: Fetch, tug, or breed-specific games tap into natural instincts like chasing or herding, offering both physical and mental stimulation. Perfect for high-drive or 'working' breeds.

🏞 Life rewards: Allowing a sniff break, swimming or the chance to greet a friend can teach dogs that good manners pay off in everyday life.

⚠️The most important: your attention.

What’s your dog’s favourite reward?

01/03/2025

Training session with Watson and his pawrents focused on incrementally narrowing the distance to triggers like people and dogs, while keeping him reassured and calm every step of the way.

We worked on pairing approaching triggers with calmness or redirecting to games, making sure to stay below his threshold. Plenty of free sniffing and chill time helped release any frustration and boosted Watson's confidence.

It was a session we all enjoyed, especially with the sun keeping our spirits high.

Amazing job team Watson!

27/02/2025

Ares, in the picture, decided to hop into my car after our training session, probably hoping for a lift.

Today was our fourth session, and we focused on gradually decreasing the distance to other dogs while reinforcing calmness through games and redirection. We also incorporated regular breaks to settle and observe triggers from a distance, rewarding Ares for staying relaxed.

For most of the session, he worked muzzle-free, which noticeably reduced his frustration and allowed him to engage more fully in the games. It was clear that a lot of prior training had gone into his progress—his responsiveness to cues and impulse control have significantly improved since our last session.

Amazing work, Team Ares! 👏

24/02/2025

Brilliant Marshal and his pawrents did some amazing job tonight. His temperament is ideal for training as he has shown high drive and being able to calm down quickly.

Building foundation skills in dog training may seem easy or even pointless to some, but it is crucial to progress reliably in various behaviours.

Marshall received a variety of rewards as motivators. These included food, praise, games, toys, attention, and affection.

Super job team Marshall!

22/02/2025

Whether your pup needs an adventure, structured exercise, or a confidence boost, I provide expert-led walks that prioritise their needs and well-being.

Areas covered: Stapleton, Eastville, Frenchay, UWE, Fishponds, Downend

📍 Local & Flexible | 📅 Book Now | Happy Dogs, Happy Owners!

📩 DM me to schedule your pup’s perfect walk.

https://pawtasticdogservices.co.uk/

21/02/2025

We had a fantastic session with Lola and her dedicated pawrents today as we began her journey toward dog and people neutrality.

Lola is incredibly food-driven and eager to please, which is a great advantage. However, recognising her threshold of tolerance is fundamental. If we work too close to her triggers too soon, she may become too aroused not only to accept food but also turning what should be a positive learning experience into something overwhelming.

When a dog is over-threshold, counterconditioning, changing their emotional response, becomes counterproductive.

Keys to success:

🌟 Confidence first – before facing triggers, we focus on skills that build self-assurance.
🌟 Impulse control – teaching Lola to regulate her excitement helps her stay engaged.
🌟 Gradual exposure – increasing difficulty only when she’s truly ready.

By taking a patient, structured approach, we set Lola up for long-term success in handling real-world challenges.

Reactivity training is all about progress, not perfection, one step at a time.

21/02/2025

Here are some snapshots of my latest Pawtastic Dog Services reviews. Not only I'm grateful beyond words, but I also delighted to see my clients growing in confidence with their training.

Your kind words, honest feedback, and shared success stories help other dog guardians find the support they need. Also, they remind me why I love what I do.

Seeing your dogs grow in confidence, focus, and joy is the greatest reward. Thank you for trusting me with your pups and for taking the time to share your journey.

If my training has helped you and your dog, I’d love to hear your experience! Your review makes a huge difference.

17/02/2025

Our outdoor session with Norman and Lola was all about practising in real-life scenarios with multiple distractions. And they absolutely smashed it.

✅ Recall Games – We started at a distance, building strong responses even with distractions around.

✅ Redirection & Neutrality – Worked on smoothly disengaging from distractions and reinforcing calm responses.

✅ Calmness & Loose Lead Walking – Practiced staying relaxed near other dogs while keeping engagement and communication strong.

Super proud of these two.
Keep up the great work, Lola & Norman 🥳

14/02/2025

Suki aced her training session today.

Our aum was to help her stay calm around triggers while keeping training fun for the whole family. And wow, did she deliver.

From locking in eye contact to happily going into her bed and stay on cue, Suki tackled every game with enthusiasm. The dopamine-boosting mouse game, she loved it.

Training through games isn’t just fun for dogs, it keeps the whole family engaged, especially the little ones. And with everyone on board, consistency should get easier.

Who else loves using games to teach their pups? Drop your favourite in the comments.

10/02/2025

We had some productive sessions with Reggie & Remi today. Both different breeds and temperaments but starting with the same learning opportunities. The engagement, zest and will to pick up new skills were 100% there. What a pleasure!

Start early, succeed for life.

Puppy brain is like a sponge. This is because 5-12 weeks of age is the most powerful learning time in your dogs' life. The earlier you start training, the easier it is to prevent bad habits and build confidence, trust, and communication.

✅ Socislisation matter – Early exposure to different people, dogs, and environments helps prevent fear and reactivity later.
✅ Good habits from day one– It’s much easier to teach a puppy what to do than to fix problem behaviours later.
✅ Bonding & Trusting – Training builds a strong relationship, making you your puppy’s safe place in any situation.
✅ Brain Development– Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise for a growing pup.

Start training now, and you’ll set your puppy up for a lifetime of success.

Need help? Let’s chat.

10/02/2025

How do dogs boost our mental health?

It’s no secret that dogs make us happier, but did you know there’s solid science behind their impact on mental well-being?

Stress reduction– Interacting with dogs increases oxytosin, the love hormone, while lowering cortisol, the stress hormone. Just petting a dog can bring a sense of calm and connection.

Improved mood – Dogs help stimulate dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters linked to happiness. Their companionship can ease symptoms of anxiety and depression.

More movement– Daily walks with a dog encourage exercise, which releases endorphins, improving mood, and reducing stress.

Social connection – Dogs help people connect. Whether it’s meeting other dog owners or having a furry friend to confide in, social bonds strengthen mental health.

Routine and purpose– Taking care of a dog provides structure and responsibility, which can help combat feelings of loneliness and provide a sense of purpose.

Science agrees—dogs truly are therapy on four paws.

What’s something your dog does that lifts your mood instantly?

09/02/2025

🎉 Limited spaces available in Pawtastic Training Classes 🎉

Looking to energise the bond with your dog, create reliable skills, or dazzle with performance moves?

✨ Our training classes have something for every dog and caregiver.🐾

🥉Bronze - Energise Your Obedience:
Master the effective communication with your dog. Build focus, fundamental cues, and reliable responses while having fun.

🥈Silver - Socialisation, Neutrality, & Engagement:
Take your training to the next level with socialization skills, calm neutrality, and engagement games that strengthen connection and confidence.

🥇Gold - Heelwork to Music:
Unleash your inner performer. Learn creative heelwork routines that showcase precision and style.🎶

Whether you're just starting out or aiming for gold, we’ve got a class for you🌟

📆 Limited spots available. Book now to join the fun and help your dog shine 👊

More details:
https://pawtasticdogservices.co.uk/training-classes/

Send me a message, and I will contact you with many more details.

07/02/2025

🏆 Bramble Smashing Goals! 🏆

Another fantastic session with the wonderful Bramble and his dedicated pawrents today. He almost made it to bed at the end—progress in action.

We focused on stimulus control around food and movemen, both triggers for Bramble. As a lighthouse, he needs structured skills to build confidence and calmness. That means breaking things down, reinforcing the right moments, and making success inevitable.

Exercises we covered today:

🔹 Impulse control—gradual movement introduction
🔹 Intro to focused heel—building engagement & precision
🔹 Flirt pole activity—wait ➡️ move ➡️ release ➡️ chase ➡️ grab ➡️ parade
🔹 Mouse game—dopamine boost while watching slow movement, release & grab

Team Bramble, you’re smashing it with your commitment & consistency. Keep up the amazing work!

Address

2 Princess Gardens
Bristol
BS161EY

Website

http://pawtasticdogservices.co.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Pawtastic Dog Services- dog walking & training posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Pawtastic Dog Services- dog walking & training:

Videos

Whether your pup needs an adventure, structured exercise, or a confidence boost, I provide expert-led walks that prioritise their needs and well-being. Areas covered: Stapleton, Eastville, Frenchay, UWE, Fishponds, Downend 📍 Local & Flexible | 📅 Book Now | Happy Dogs, Happy Owners! 📩 DM me to schedule your pup’s perfect walk. https://pawtasticdogservices.co.uk/ #dogwalkerbristol #dogwalkingbristol #funwithdogs

Loose Lead Walking with Max Teaching your dog to walk calmly on a lead can be frustrating and time-consuming, as success depends on many factors. Some breeds, like draught dogs, may take longer to master the skill since they were bred to pull carts or sledges. Even when we teach loose lead walking, dogs may still pull due to frustration, fear, or difficulty managing their emotions around distractions and triggers. Clear communication, rewarding calm behaviour, and providing healthy outlets for both mental and physical stimulation all contribute to a more balanced and focused dog. In addition, working on stimulus control, encouraging regular eye contact, and offering reassurance can make the process smoother. By taking a holistic approach tailored to each individual dog, we can build a reliable and enjoyable loose lead walking experience. Let me know if you have any questions regarding your dog training. To watch a full video, go to my You Tube channel: https://youtu.be/Y8lJ12MGc1c?si=sjG4bhyURh-w9vep #dogtraining #looseleadwalking #effectiveskils #happydog #puppytraining #dogtrainer #effectivedogtraining #effectivecommunication #positivereinforcement #confidentdog #masteryourdogtraining #doglovers #bordercollie #calmness #consistency #preventingfrustration #healthyoutlets #reassurance #benevolentleader #dogsarelife

🎉 Level Up Your Dog Training! 🎉 Looking to energise the bond with your dog, create reliable skills, or dazzle with performance moves? ✨ Our training classes have something for every dog and caregiver.🐾 🥉Bronze - Energise Your Obedience: Master the effective communication with your dog. Build focus, fundamental cues, and reliable responses while having fun. 🥈Silver - Socialisation, Neutrality, & Engagement: Take your training to the next level with socialization skills, calm neutrality, and engagement games that strengthen connection and confidence. 🥇Gold - Heelwork to Music: Unleash your inner performer. Learn creative heelwork routines that showcase precision and style.🎶 Whether you're just starting out or aiming for gold, we’ve got a class for you🌟 📆 Limited spots available. Book now to join the fun and help your dog shine 👊 More details: https://pawtasticdogservices.co.uk/training-classes/ Send me a message, and I will contact you with many more details. #dogtrainingbristol #dogtrainingclasses #dogtrainer #Obediencetraining #dogneutrality #heelworktomusic #bs16dogtraining #masteryourdogtraining #happydog #welltraineddog #trainingclasses

Many Border Collies naturally offer herding behaviours instinctively. Still, it is necessary to work on the reliability of herding behaviours and putting them on cues. Here is some practice of come-bye and away in our herding games. Come-bye means move round the herding object clockwise, whereas away is anti-clockwise. We started with short distance and slow movement. When Max built his confidence, we worked on building distance, speed and stay and slow at distance. He clearly loves his herding games and progresses quickly. #bordercollie #herding #herdingbreed #happydog #dogengagement #dogtraining #positivereinforcement #funwithdogs #bordercolliesofinstagram #bordercollies #bordercolliesdoingthings #doglearning #dogsarelife #dogs #caninetraining

The timing of rewarding your dog for desired behaviour is crucial to see the results in training. When training our dogs, it’s essential to be mindful of when we mark or reward behaviors—both wanted and unwanted. By slowing down and focusing on our body language, clear communication, marking the desired behaviour, and then rewarding, we help our dogs develop the habits we expect of them. As caregivers or trainers, it’s our responsibility to provide this guidance through consistent, patient, and compassionate practice. Frustration can creep in, but sometimes, simply pausing to create and reward calmness can be a transformative moment—for both us and our dogs. To see the full video, please visit my You Tube channel: https://youtu.be/FCTkRlgzlOE?si=8UU01CkhQmVL0hxh #dogtraining #effectivedogtraining #happydog #dogtrainer #rewarding #marking #clearcommunication #connectingwithyourdog #happiness #dogmum #caninewellness #dogwalking #dogwalker #reliableskills #dogs #dogsofinstagram #yourdog #doglearning

Choosing a Border Collie as a pet can be a fantastic decision if their unique traits align with your lifestyle and expectations. Here’s why they can be a great choice: 1. Intelligence and Trainability Border Collies are renowned for their intelligence and quick learning ability. They thrive on mental challenges, making them ideal for activities like obedience, agility, and even advanced tricks or sports like Heelwork to Music. They’re perfect for owners who enjoy training and building a strong bond through learning. 2. Energy and Enthusiasm These dogs are highly energetic and love physical activities. They’re well-suited for active individuals or families who enjoy outdoor adventures like hiking, running, or daily training. Their stamina makes them excellent companions for those who love staying active. 3. Loyalty and Bonding Border Collies are incredibly loyal and form strong bonds with their owners. They thrive on companionship and often become deeply attached, offering unconditional love and devotion. 4. Versatility Their natural herding instincts can be channeled into a variety of tasks and games, from herding trials to controlled chasing games. This makes them a good fit for people who want a working partner or an active playmate. 5. Travel-Friendly If you’re someone who loves exploring, Border Collies often adapt well to new environments, provided their physical and mental needs are met. Their intelligence and confidence can make them excellent travel companions, as I've experienced with Max. Things to Consider: While Border Collies offer so much, they aren’t for everyone. Their high energy and need for stimulation can be overwhelming for less active families or first-time dog owners. Without sufficient exercise and mental challenges, they may develop problem behaviors such as destructiveness or reactivity. In short, they’re the perfect pet for someone who has the time, patience, and enthusiasm to meet their needs and enjoy their uniqu

We always implement some engagement activities on our Pawtastic walks to help our pups learn engagement, impulse control, and many other reliable skills. Although I'm not able to offer extensive training during our walks due to safety and the number of dogs, I can see gradual improvement in every dog's behaviour participating in our group or solo walks. It's a process, and we often accept dogs that need to learn dog neutrality, reliable recall or ignoring distractions. They all learn, progress and thrive, showing increasingly reliable skills, engagement and focus. This occurs not only through my guidance but also by observing each other and being regularly rewarded for the tasks we enjoy on our walks. #dogtrainer #dogwalkerbristol #dogwalking #funwithdogs #doglearning #doglovers #dogwalker #reliableskills #dogsocialisation #dogengagement #dogneutrality #happydog #bordercollie #labrador #cockapoo #dogs #dogsofinstagram #happiness

Loose lead walking vs. focused heel walking 👍Why teaching both? 👍When to loose lead walk? 👍When to use focused heel? 👍How to practise effectively? To learn more details, watch the full video on you tube: https://youtu.be/lclAbFoTJYA?si=L4MwzFkZV6M3LkRU #dogtraining #looseleadwalking #focusedheel #funwithdogs #dogwalker #dogwalkerbristol #dogwalking #dogmother #doglearning #doglovers #pupptraining #dogsofinstagram #happydogs #dogengagement #workingwithdogs #ethicaldogtraining #bordercollie #dogtrainer #happiness

The full video can be seen on my you tube: https://youtu.be/Pmm4mtkoioA?si=GvTeHqF6Fv57DYvQ 🎉 New Trick Alert with Max! 🎉 We’re working on a new behaviour with Max, conditioning it to be precise and reliable. Here’s the plan: once he’s got the speed and accuracy, we'll put it on cue for that perfect response every time! 🎯 The trick? Starting from a sit by my side, he’ll make a circular movement in front of me, ending in a confident stance between my legs. This training is all about keeping it rewarding and fun. First, Max's choice of reward. Any guesses what he picked? We'll use high-value food and game with a toy as rewards— 🧩🐾 Remember, training should be an enjoyable journey for both you and your dog. So let’s keep it fun, keep it positive, and enjoy the process! ✨ #dogtraining #positivereinforcement #doglearning #newtricks #funwithdogs #trainingjourney #bordercollie #dogs #happydog

Pawtastic Dog Services- dog walking & training

19/03/2025

15/03/2025

14/03/2025

12/03/2025

11/03/2025

06/03/2025

01/03/2025

27/02/2025

24/02/2025

22/02/2025

21/02/2025

21/02/2025

17/02/2025

14/02/2025

10/02/2025

10/02/2025

09/02/2025

07/02/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Videos

Shortcuts

Share

Category