Paws ‘n’ Claws Training

15/12/2025

Does your dog like to play keep-away? It’s such a common pain point and one we can easily make worse if we don’t know what to do when they’re puppies.

It often starts when they’re young: they steal something out of boredom, you chase them to get it back, and suddenly it becomes a fun game. In the long run, this teaches them that you’re going to take fun things away, something we really want to avoid!
These videos were taken a week apart. I’m working on teaching Moss, a young puppy, to bring the toy back, play, and share. Notice how I’m:

* Letting him win
* Running away
* Keeping his lead on so he can’t dash off
* Getting down to his level

Over time, he’ll learn that the toy is most fun when I activate it and that the best game is with me. But first, we teach him that I’m not just going to take it away. He gets time to parade it around (a super important part of the prey cycle!).
I keep these sessions short and sweet, ending the game while he’s still excited so he always leaves wanting more.

10/12/2025

Kenna got her photos with Santa at the weekend, she assured him she’s on the nice list 🎅🏻

But she wasn’t always, it’s no secret I found her a difficult puppy. I had to learn a lot and grow my own skillset to be enough for her, I had to change how my other dogs lived for a while, I had to give up all my already very limited free time, I cried a lot!

I truly believe the ‘difficult’ puppies can turn into the most wonderful companions with time, effort and consistency. Kenna is now my best friend, my stooge dog, I don’t think I’ll ever have another quite like her again.

If you’re feeling similar with your puppy, check out the blog on ‘puppy blues’ and know you are not alone. There’s a community here that can help 🫶🏼

https://www.pawsnclawsdogtraining.com/post/puppy-blues

09/12/2025

Meet the dogs ✨

Meet Henry, a 1 year old Westie. He’s a super fun little guy with loads to give.

He’s joined me on weekly day training to improve his lead manners and recall. And no, that doesn’t mean strict heelwork or stiff obedience drills!
We start with play, motivation, and socialising with my dogs, and let the training fall naturally into place.
Dogs that train with me WANT to learn, and that’s exactly what I aim for.

08/12/2025

Pack roles are so interesting to me, do you know your dogs rank if you live in a multi dog household?

⚠️10 Things you must know about your dog’s Pack Rank (that nobody else will tell you!) ⚠️

1) Everydog is born with a pack rank with a pre determined role! It’s innate ( from birth)
2) You don’t decide which rank your dog is!
3) Their pack rank determines their character as much as breed does!! 😳
4) Decision makers are the highest rank and they’re here to run the pack - they’re very difficult to live with!
5) Protector enforcers are the second in command - the “fun police” they keep everything under control and need a strong leader! (Which should be You! 😂)
6) Mansells - Are low ranking and lots of fun - they’re just here to make up the numbers!
7) If you have multiple dogs you must understand the rank of each for the dogs to live in harmony
8 ) Dogs will see any human/canine/feline/equine members of the household as their pack - same as we see dogs as family.
9) 2 Dogs of same rank and gender will NOT get on and will NOT live together unless there are several other differing factors like age, size, breed!
10) A pack is a hierarchy and honestly most of the issues we see in dog behaviour today comes from people not accepting how a pack structure works!!!

If you have any questions about your dog’s pack rank, or pack issues I will answer them below in return for a donation to Daphne’s fundraiser for The Oldies Club and The Sussex Dogs Home - we have reached over £1100 so far which is fantastic!!!! Thank you all so much ❤️❤️
If you have found this information useful or interesting here’s the link to donate 😍

https://gofund.me/89562639a

07/12/2025

Updates on the laws UK wide regarding dogs and livestock worrying, glad to see the dog merely being ‘on a lead’ doesn’t count as under control across the board. Bombproof recall and a well behaved dog, with or without tools, should be the goal.

Worth a read to remind ourselves as we are obviously rural with lots of livestock around us, if you have any concerns regarding your own dogs recall or behaviour towards other animals please do get in touch.

Taking names for next years 1-1 training now!

07/12/2025

Stanley is a nervous boy, he can be insecure with dogs he doesn’t know walking by on lead. The person and dog walking behind us are complete strangers. If we had been standing still, he might have been really uncomfortable, so instead I used:

- Movement
- Play
- Engagement
- Drive

These tools give him a healthy outlet for his arousal and help him work through the situation. By keeping him active and engaged, we redirect that energy into something productive.
This kind of structured, positive exposure helps him build confident, calm associations around unfamiliar dogs. I’m showing him what to do and helping him succeed through supported, well-planned experiences.

Would you like to know how to build play drive like this to help you work through reactivity?

06/12/2025

05/12/2025

03/12/2025

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03/12/2025

Golden oldies looking for their forever homes 🥺