PAWS To TRAIN - Dog Training

20/08/2024

This lovely little man was an overseas rescue so little was known about the first 5 months of his life. His new family wanted to learn how to teach him impulse control, focus, loose-lead walking and recall.

After just 3 training sessions Mr D was having a fabulous time running free (on a long line) around Hungerford Common, he chose to ignore the cattle on a recall and demonstrated good manners when meeting other dogs. What a little superstar 🌟

For any training needs, Paws to Train are here to help.

12/07/2024

I might be a dog trainer but when it came to Mr C's first photo shoot for an amazing collection of new homes overlooking a Polo Pitch, he was having none of it!

Mr C had his own ideas.... sleeping on the job, pose with a goofy look, and stand but not sit. Mind you, I still think he is adorable and who wants the perfect dog anyway!!🥰🐾

17/06/2024

Love this........

17/06/2024

Just spent an amazing time at the APDT members-only dog training camp! 🐾 It was an incredible opportunity to learn new skills, share knowledge, and connect with fellow dog trainers who are just as passionate about canine welfare as I am.

Continuous learning is key in our field, and this camp was a perfect reminder of that. Staying up-to-date with the latest studies and information ensures that we're providing the best care and training for our furry friends. Plus, making new friends along the way is always a bonus!

Feeling grateful for the APDT community and excited to apply what I've learned. Here's to raising the bar in dog training! 🐶💪

13/06/2024

This gorgeous young lady needed help with her meeting and greeting of hoomans and dogs as her excessive exuberance meant she was jumping and lunging to get close to them.

Not fully grown at 9 months, she was only going to get stronger and holding her back was going to be harder, so we worked with her to keep 4-paws on the floor when visitors arrived and focus on her hooman. We also introduced pattern games to distract and keep her attention, and taught her that walking with a loose lead was more fun than jumping and lunging at passing triggers.

All training was carried out using positive reinforcement and whilst it might not provide instantaneous results and will need consistency and patience, it is a kind, fair and effective way to train your dog which has lasting results.

If you and your doggie need assistance or would like to learn more about P+ training, please get in touch.

09/04/2024

Positive reinforcement for their recall, and distraction from the highland cow 😄

24/02/2024

Dog training isn't just about teaching new behaviours; it can be about changing emotions and building confidence, especially if they tend to bark at other dogs and people.

As was the case for gorgeous mini Mr.M, he would bark to keep people and dogs away, so we worked on building his confidence by rewarding non-reaction whilst introducing his triggers at an appropriate distance, then gradually bringing them closer.

With perseverance and patience from his hooman, Mr. M delighted us both by walking Hungerford High Street and running on the common without any barks to be heard. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

15/02/2024

One of the best things about my job is when clients let me know they have reaped the benefits of all their work in training.
Mr.D’s hooman’s really wanted him to be able to join them in French cafe’s and restaurants when holidaying but his reactivity to unknown people and dogs was causing them great anxiety.
After just 3 sessions and some training walks Mr. D learned to focus on his hoomans, ignore dogs, and enjoy just settling.
The proof of his results is in the photo …… he got to enjoy the French hospitality 😍.

30/01/2024

⭐ BREW AT THE BARN ⭐

Introducing Brew at the Barn! our new self serve "Honesty Cafe" where you can grab a refreshing drink and delicious snack with friends at our cosy barn 🧁☕

Meet members of your community and enjoy a relaxing atmosphere amongst the animals 🐶🐱🐰

Join us on a Wednesday when there will be opportunities to chat about volunteering at the centre! You can connect with our friendly volunteers at the barn about the important work they do for the charity and how you can get involved 😊

We look forward to seeing you soon! 🏡☕

02/01/2024

Another happy client, and thrilled to receive such a lovely testimonial. 🥰

“Michelle has been simply amazing.
We asked Michelle to help us with our rescue greyhound, who was finding life in the big wide world after leaving racing quite overwhelming.
Michelle is very knowledgeable, and kind and loves all the dogs she works with.
Michelle worked with us to help us bond, communicate, and reassure her when she felt anxious.
After just a couple of sessions working with Michelle, our dog had grown in confidence and was making real progress on her walks.
I would definitely recommend Michelle!”

12/12/2023

🎄CHRISTMAS EVE DOG WALK🎄

Our wonderful friends at The Downgate Pub, Hungerford are hosting a Christmas eve dog walk on Sunday 24th December to help raise funds for our centre.

There will be prizes for the dogs and humans in the best Christmas jumpers and complimentary mince pies afterwards! Everyone is welcome to join. The walk starts at the pub at 11am and will end back up at the pub for prize givings - so make sure you're dressed in the full festive spirits! 🎅 Donation buckets will be located at the pub for everyone to donate to, to help rescue animals this Christmas 🥰

Hope to see you there! 🎉

03/12/2023

This cheeky chappy’s pet parents wanted his meeting and greeting of other dogs to be as angelic as his looks!😁.

After working on focus and attention to his owners using pattern games, he is now coping with meeting other dogs and not being so vocal.

It’s early days so with patience and practice, he’ll become a dream dog out on walks. 😇

If you and your dog would like to take the training journey, please get in touch. 😁

26/10/2023

This is Mr. D after he completed his 3 sessions of recall training 😀 worn out after showing his pet parents he could recall even with all the distractions on Hungerford Common. What a superstar and even he was happy to hear he had passed with flying colours 🥳.

We offer modern, positive reinforcement training either in classes or privately on a one-on-one basis and cover Wantage to Newbury, Thatcham to Hungerford.

No human or canine is ever too old to learn new 'tricks' so don't ever think it's too late!

24/10/2023

This is me from a few years back when I was part of the corporate world commuting for long hours and attending board meetings, the reason for mentioning this is because, to me, this photo oozes love, commitment, and respect from my girls and absolutely from me to them. It was also the start of my journey into the dog world!

Covid and the subsequent lockdown were brutal on all of us but for me, it gave me an opportunity to change my life and follow my passion and dream, to work and spend time with dogs. Whilst I have, so I am often told, a natural way with dogs, I also believe that to be a really good trainer of dogs and their pet parents, it is important to learn about what dogs really are, why they might behave how they do, how they learn best and what makes them happy.

So I enrolled with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers which is a team of trainers dedicated to ensuring that dogs are trained with methods that are kind, fair, and effective. My nearly 3 years of study, which included attending residential weekends, completing many assignments, having classroom and home study, and mentoring in real-life training classes, finally culminated in a 10,000 word 'dissertation' a training class assessment followed by an oral exam.

I passed, I was ecstatic, and I was relieved (I could start reading other things non-canine related) but most importantly, I could now offer dog training that comes from my heart in addition to learned knowledge, whilst also being supported by scientific studies that show us how to get the best from our canine companions.

Many owners believe their dogs think, feel, and act like humans so they reward them based on human desires, often done out of pure love for their dog; but to really love a dog is to think like a dog and really understand what makes it feel fulfilled.

I am sorry it's a long post and I do hope you made it through this far because if you have and you would like to learn more about how you can build on your bond with your dog be it by training or by learning 'new tricks', I would love to hear from you.

A qualified dog trainer offering puppy training classes, one-to-one training, and dog walking.

08/10/2023

Perfect for our cherished golden oldies ❤️

07/08/2023

Proud to be a member…..

23/07/2023

This time last week we were just home from a fabulous weekend with APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) learning new training skills….

Introduction to scent work and pattern games, both great for working on focus, building confidence and redirection in tricky situations.

Our tutors were fantastic, they had patience and made our learning fun ……

If you would like your dog training to be fun, fair and effective get in touch.

09/07/2023

Meet the gorgeous Ms.M, a Bordernese (Border Collie X Bernese Mountain Dog). Living on a small holding with sheep and horses, Ms.M's pet mum wanted her to be more respectful when going through gates and to recall with distractions, especially important during lambing season!

Using tuggy toys, balls, and treats for positive reinforcement during her training Ms. M very quickly worked out that by changing her behaviour to sitting and waiting at each gate, and returning when called she was rewarded with lots of fun and games.

What a little superstar. 🌟

03/07/2023

This is Mr.H on his last day of puppy training showing off how well he can walk with a loose lead. In addition to all the basic training, Mr.H passed his 'recall' exercise with flying colours and received the best reward of all...... his field and country walks are all now off lead.🐾🥳.

Well done Mr.H and pet mum.

We offer full training, focused exercise training, and refresher courses to suit any needs, just call or message to have a chat to see how we can help.

26/06/2023

This is Mr. C's idea of hiding just after his 'Zoomies' mayhem....

Zoomies are sudden bursts of energy where dogs run in circles, maybe chasing their tails, and usually have their backends tucked in whilst doing laps around the house or garden.

It is a natural behaviour that is fun to watch, the only cause for concern is where your dog chooses to 'Zoom' as they will slip and slide on laminate, tile, or wood floors which can damage their joints.

To reduce indoor 'Zoomies' give your dog enrichment toys or introduce and play enrichment games.

If you would like to know more about enrichment, please get in touch.

24/05/2023

Have just seen 2 hedgehogs on the edge of the road (Upper End) between the village hall and Tower Hill so please drive slowly and avoid them.

17/05/2023

At the grand old age of 14yrs, I guess Ms.P deserves a comfy bed for the evening. I just wish she would let me have space on the sofa to chill for the evening🤦‍♀️.
She might ‘ask’ to get onto the sofa, but she then certainly takes advantage 😂😂.

16/05/2023

This is the adorable Ms. T who at 8 weeks old had 2 training sessions and even at her young age, showed her pet parents she wasn't too small to learn loads.

28/04/2023

Great news today, following a ten-year campaign led by The Kennel Club, dog shock collars are set to be banned in England from February 2024.

All dog training should be kind, fair and effective. If you'd like to know more about positive reinforcement training get in touch.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dog-electric-collar-ban-b2329041.html

23/04/2023

Puppy and adolescent training classes.

We are now taking bookings for our 6 week training classes in Chaddleworth Village Hall.

From basic behaviours to focus and enrichment, you and your puppy will have fun training together.

Our classes are small groups to ensure the best experience so we recommend booking early.

18/04/2023

Introducing Master B, a handsome 12-month-old Staffie who needed help with his bouncing, pulling, and playfulness when on walks and meeting potential canine friends and their humans.

With the help of specialised, one-2-one training, he soon started to learn that focusing his attention on his owner rather than the other dog resulted in tasty or fun rewards; so much better than having an arm yank when he reaches the end of the lead!!

As with all training for any species, it only gets better with practice and perseverance so if, when you are out and about, see the handsome Master B, or any other dog being lured away, please do keep your distance, put your dog on a lead if he might try to say hello, keep calm and walk on by. 🐾🐾

If you think your 🐾 'four paws' 🐾 could benefit from training, we offer classes, specialised sessions, and one-to-one training and designed to make it fun, fair, kind, and effective.

24/03/2023

Please join me in welcoming Roger to the Paws to Train team.

Roger will assist in our training with puppies and dogs who experience anxiety when it comes to meeting other dogs when out on walks.

Anxiety and fear often result in barking and lunging when on a lead, which cause the other dog to respond in the same way. .

Shouting and pulling your dog back on its lead will not change your dog’s behaviour, it will just reinforce their negative emotions.

Roger is used as a ‘stooge’, as he won’t react and we can put him at a distance where the training dog is comfortable and by using positive reinforcement, we can teach an anxious dog there is nothing to worry about when walking past another dog.

If your dog would like to walk calmly past other dogs, please contact Roger or another member of the team 😀

02/03/2023

Meet Ms M, a beautiful 6-month Samoyed with plenty of energy, lots of excitement, and 'selective hearing'!!!

In her excitement to go on a walk, Ms M has a tendency to explore everything around her resulting in strong pulling on her lead; so we set about teaching her why it is good to walk on a loose lead..... lots of good things happen when Ms M walked to heel, plenty of super tasty treats.

And to work on her selective hearing, we played a game with Ms M on a long line recalling to her family members to be rewarded with treats and fuss.

We missed taking a photo of Ms M in training action but wanted to show off how beautiful this little lady is, so here's a 'pose for the camera' shot instead!

Here to help with all training needs.