Poppy’s Paws Dog Training

14/10/2024

Meet Milo. I started working with Milo a few months ago. His new owners got him as an out of control adolescent who, sadly, hadn’t had a very good start in life. He was a big bouncing ball of energy that found everything super exciting. We looked at changing his diet and introducing lots of enrichment to help calm him down. We also started work on basic training to use his fabulous brain. His owners have worked really hard and have seen great improvements. His loose lead has improved dramatically and, as you can see from the video, his recall is coming on nicely. He is still a work in progress but he has found a great home with committed owners who understand what is needed. My kind of people!

08/10/2024

Yesterday I had my first session with Loki. What a gentle giant he is! He is a little ball of anxiousness when out and about but, as you can see, loves his home comforts! We took it easy on his first outing by letting him decide where to go. There are numerous benefits to this:

🧠 Mental Stimulation
• Allows them to engage with their environment more fully by following scents, investigating interesting spots and observing their surroundings
• Encourages them to use problem-solving skills and boosts their confidence in making choices.

🏋🏼‍♀️ Increased Physical Activity
• When a dog chooses the path, they often vary the direction, pace, and distance which leads to a more dynamic walk.
• Allowing them to follow their nose satisfies their natural drives. Sniffing is a physical activity too!

😌 Reduced Stress and Anxiety
• Giving a dog the freedom to choose can help reduce stress and anxiety because they feel more in control of their surroundings.
• If a dog feels uncomfortable or unsure about a certain area, it allows them to avoid it and choose an alternate path that can minimize stress.

❤️ Strengthened Bond
• When the dog leads the way, it shows that you trust their instincts which can enhance your bond.
• The dog learns that their preferences are respected, which can result in a more cooperative and positive relationship.

🤩 Fun
• Dogs are naturally curious and enjoy investigating new areas. Allowing them to decide where to go makes the walk more rewarding for them.
• Giving your dog freedom on walks make it a more exciting adventure that offers more novelty and engagement.

Try it on your next walk and let me know how it goes.

01/10/2024

Jasper loves a bit of “middle”! Great to use for mixing up recall.

26/09/2024

When Charlie met Jasper at Woofing Woods. Perfect place for 2 dogs to be introduced - no leads needed, not their usual walk, space to run around, plenty of sniffs & lots of fun to be had!

25/09/2024

ABOUT ME!!
Thought I’d do a little post to introduce myself to those that don’t know me. My name is Emma and I have a Pointer/Spaniel cross called Jasper.

Before I became a dog trainer, I was an RSPCA Inspector 👮🏻‍♀️ for 20 years. Animal welfare and wellbeing is at the heart of everything I do.

I started my dog training journey in 2020 and became fully accredited with the IMDT in 2022. I am passionate about helping people create a beautiful relationship with their dog through trust, kindness and understanding sprinkled with lots of fun!

I called my business Poppy’s Paws in honour of my first dog “Poppy”. She was the best dog ever (close your ears Jasper! 🙉). Everyone needs a Poppy in their life!

I offer dog training 1:1’s for all your training needs whether you have a puppy or an adult dog that needs some help. Get in touch if I can help. ☎️ 📧

Post a photo of you and your dog below and tell me the best thing about them. Dogs are the best so let’s celebrate them. 🙌🏻

18/09/2024

Who doesn’t love a Spaniel!! Meet Charlie - full of joy, enthusiasm and all the sniffs! He is joining me for some solo walks whilst his owners are having a lovely time away. We are also working on a bit of lead training - standard Spaniel!! If you need my help, get in touch!

29/08/2024

I also work with children and adults who have a fear of dogs. Recently I worked with a girl who was so scared of dogs she would run into the road when one approached. She also couldn’t go for a sleepover at her best friend’s house because she had a dog. After 10 sessions of learning about dog body language and having some face to face sessions with a couple of dogs, she is now much more confident and has already been for a sleepover. 😀
When someone has a fear, it’s important to go slowly and change the way they feel through knowledge and empowerment. This little girl’s life will be much more enriched going forward. So proud of her. Feedback from her parents after the course included:
“She understands dogs now, they are not a scary unknown monster”
“Emma's knowledge of dogs and her way of pitching it to my daughter’s level was amazing”
“it's been so transformative for our family”
KAD Kids Around Dogs

22/07/2024

Anyone that has used me, if you leave me a review by the end of July, you can have 10% off any booking completed in September. Thanks!

16/07/2024

This is why you will never find me using any method or recommending any product that causes discomfort. Your relationship with your dog should be based on trust and love, not fear and pain. 💔

I've swithered about the wisdom of posting this for fear of backlash but I keep coming back to these questions and I think they are important so here goes nothing...

I was working in the park yesterday and saw things which, if I'm honest, kind of broke my heart a wee bit. A beautiful puppy on a slip lead being corrected (by a 'trainer') whenever they stopped to sniff. An obedience class of dogs half of whom appeared to be on 'grot' collars (choke collars). A dog being walked on a prong collar in a strict heel and never allowed to stop, sniff or interact with the world around them.

So my questions are...

What has happened in our relationship with our dogs that makes more and more people feel ok about training their dogs with force & coercion & discomfort/pain?

Do people believe these things don't hurt? That the dog truly doesn't mind? Or do they acknowledge that these things are unpleasant (at best...painful at worst) but believe this is the only way to teach dogs? Do they understand what they are doing but feel there are no other options? Is the dog's discomfort simply a price worth paying for the human's convenience? Has frequent exposure to coercive trainers on social media numbed us to the casual cruelty with which they treat dogs? Or do we just avoid thinking about it all too deeply for fear we may have to face some uncomfortable truths?

Where is our empathy, kindness and understanding for the captive animals we have chosen to bring into our lives? If we truly care about our dogs (and I believe most owners do) then why are we often so quick to use physical force & discomfort? If we are prepared to sacrifice their wellbeing and experience in favour of our control over them - and it's worth saying these are not mutually exclusive - then we have some serious reflecting to do....

27/06/2024

Jasper is the star for Woofing Woods this week. If anyone doesn’t know, Woofing Woods is 4.5 acres of secure woodland in Adel, near Golden Acre park. Stress free, interesting and, more importantly at this time of year, cool. The trees provide so much shade - nature’s air conditioning. Enjoy! Jasper certainly did. 🐾 🌳

🚨 AVAILABILITY 🚨

There’s plenty of availability next week for 30/60/90 min spaces Monday-Friday 🐾

The cheaper Thursday option will be stopped by the end of next week but you can still use and make bookings for future Thursdays until then 🥰

Don’t forget you can save 10% ALL summer on weekday bookings and no restrictions on how many times you use code - WOOFINGGOODTIME

www.woofingwoods.com

🌳🌿🌱

13/06/2024

Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer so why choose me? Fully accredited, force free, ongoing professional development, science backed theoretical knowledge that has been assessed and tested. My book shelf looks like this for a reason! 👩🏻‍🎓📚

07/06/2024

Not all walks go as intended!
Yesterday, I was scheduled to walk Casper, who I have only met briefly out and about. I entered his house and he was not happy! Who can blame him - a virtual stranger invading his house. After 20 minutes of patient trust building, and letting him work out I was actually ok, we left the house. I thought we were good to go but then he didn’t want to leave the drive. He laid down and refused to move. Some dog walkers/trainers would have forced him to move or picked him up. I went back into the garden where he was comfortable, took his lead off and played with him. We did eventually manage to leave and have a little walk which included lots of sniffing after all his stress. Taking your time and being kind might not always be cost effective for some, but for the dog it’s priceless and I’ll always put them first. Get in touch if you want someone who will put your dog first and always work on their terms with kindness and without force.

05/06/2024

I am a KAD approved professional helping children (and adults) overcome a fear of dogs. Get in touch to see how I can help.

05/06/2024

Is your dog in need of a little guidance? At Poppy’s Paws, we use positive reinforcement to help your dog learn in a happy, stress-free way.

✨ **Why Choose Poppy’s Paws?** ✨
- No force, no fear – just effective, compassionate training.
- Customized plans to suit your dog's unique needs.
- Certified and experienced trainer committed to humane methods.

From puppy basics to advanced obedience and behaviour modification, you’re in safe hands!

📞 Contact us today to start your journey.
07396 800394
[email protected]

07/10/2023

Need your dog walking & training at the same time? Let me help! For £25 I’ll take your dog on a training walk and work on whatever it is you think needs improving. I’ll then report back after giving you advice to help with the issue. Contact me to arrange!

06/09/2023