Poppy's Positive Pooches

Poppy's Positive Pooches Dog Trainer, R+, VSA DTC Graduate. Part of the Dog Behaviour and Training Charter. Portsmouth UK. This was the start of Poppy's Portsmouth Pooches.

As a lifelong dog lover, Poppy found herself getting lots of questions, from friends and family, who had become first time dog parents, asking for help and advice. At the time, she felt she was unqualified to give this advice, but it inspired her to learn more, and become a certified dog trainer - through VSA, to be able to help all dog parents. Poppy love’s working with dogs and their families to

help develop and nurture their bonds. Each session is tailored to the needs of the dog and their families, and are centred around positive and rewarding experiences, to help you learn together. As with people, all dogs are different too, in personality, learning techniques and needs. This is reflected in the training plan, as well as being educational, it is clear Poppy puts thought and heart into all she does. Poppy will never put you and your dog in a situation where you are set up to fail. Each session is always about progress and the little wins. During your sessions with Poppy, you will be guided through each training exercise, ensuring that you and the dog are comfortable, enjoying yourselves and always working towards building confidence together. Using her knowledge of science-based training techniques Poppy also explains why, what and how each training method is useful. It is clear Poppy is passionate about what she does. Poppy's goal is to encourage and enable you and your dog to find a common language, build a partnership and keep it all positive, rewarding and fun!

One whole year of you 🖤All the ups, all the downs, All the cuddles on the sofa and nibbled cushions,Walkies and involunt...
07/05/2025

One whole year of you 🖤
All the ups, all the downs,
All the cuddles on the sofa and nibbled cushions,
Walkies and involuntarily running,
Happy greetings and sad partings,
I'm so happy that you're ours.

Quietly optimistic. We just had the best walk.Walked to the park, watched squirrels, ignored most dogs - including a mal...
27/04/2025

Quietly optimistic.
We just had the best walk.
Walked to the park, watched squirrels, ignored most dogs - including a male dog who was VERY interested in her, and all people.

On the walk back she took treats so I could do counterconditioning and training!
Got back she's eaten breakfast straight away, and has settled herself in the sun.

Compared to the beginning of her first season, she went off her food, lost 5kg!, became people reactive, and hyperfixated on dogs, and lost interest in us/training/treats... I'm holding my breath and hoping this season is going to be easier!

Then and now, same toy, same game, different rules.
17/04/2025

Then and now, same toy, same game, different rules.

Stanley has completed his Puppy Package! What a difference 8 sessions made, he's gone from a jumpy, bitey, misunderstood...
10/04/2025

Stanley has completed his Puppy Package!

What a difference 8 sessions made, he's gone from a jumpy, bitey, misunderstood pup... To a confident, well mannered, and steadily growing boy!
We focused on his behaviour in the house, communication, body language, mental and physical enrichment, Puppy schedule, lead etiquette, settle work and much more!

Stanley's mum is taking advantage of Training Walks, to get some extra support with Recall and socialising.

When your teenager is too cool to sit with you. Working with your adolescent dog can feel like an uphill battle. I've le...
08/04/2025

When your teenager is too cool to sit with you.

Working with your adolescent dog can feel like an uphill battle. I've learnt to ask for help, even though I'm a trainer and know what to do, sometimes you just need outside perspective and support.

Esme is lucky to have the support of her Aunty Joanna Muddy Trails dog coaching when she won't take reinforcement from me, she'll take it from her. When I need support with my training plan she's there to help.

If you're struggling, this is your sign to ask for help, even if you know what to do, sometimes you need a helping hand.

Joanna and I are both positive reinforcement trainers, drop either of us a message for training advice and support.

A full weekend with Uncle Bertie! While mummy was away during the day, Uncle Berite was on duty.
09/03/2025

A full weekend with Uncle Bertie!
While mummy was away during the day, Uncle Berite was on duty.

Happy Birthday to my gorgeous girl Esme!!A whole year old already 🥹We had a meet up with whom we are so lucky to be fri...
28/02/2025

Happy Birthday to my gorgeous girl Esme!!
A whole year old already 🥹
We had a meet up with whom we are so lucky to be friends with!
Then a party at the Sausages, concluding in STAKE and cuddles.

Here's to many happy returns my love.

Happy Birthday Dexter!!! Ya Big 3 year old 🥰
03/02/2025

Happy Birthday Dexter!!!
Ya Big 3 year old 🥰

Congratulations Baxter, on completing 5 sessions focused on reactivity training! Including management, training around t...
27/01/2025

Congratulations Baxter, on completing 5 sessions focused on reactivity training! Including management, training around triggers, and muzzle training!
He has now managed to walk calmly past several of his previous triggers. Children, workers (High-Vis), scooters, joggers and buggies.

This couldn't have happened without his guardians staying consistent, and developing problem solving skills of their own!

Well done Baxter, and I hope your walks from now on are far more enjoyable for you and your parents!!

Chico has completed his Puppy Package! What a difference 8 sessions made, he's gone from a jumpy, bitey, misunderstood p...
22/01/2025

Chico has completed his Puppy Package!

What a difference 8 sessions made, he's gone from a jumpy, bitey, misunderstood pup... To a confident, well mannered, and steadily growing boy!
We focused on his interactions with people, communication, body language, mental and physical enrichment, Puppy schedule, lead etiquette, recall and much more!

I hope to continue seeing Chico as he grows and adapts to new challenges, and hormonal changes... Bring on the raptor phase!

Why does my dog need space? Maybe we all do sometimes. Since adopting firmer boundaries for Esme around People her nervo...
22/01/2025

Why does my dog need space? Maybe we all do sometimes.

Since adopting firmer boundaries for Esme around People her nervousness has dramatically decreased. Now people aren't approaching or putting hands on her without asking, she's already more comfortable around them.

My aim? Isn't to make Esme a people-loving dog, but to show her there's a middle ground.
Now she mostly ignores them PERFECT! That's the dream. And to give her the skills and tools to cope and manage when people don't ignore her.

She's now made 2 NEW human friends, that she's actually happy and excited to meet, and they don't have a dog.

By advocating for her space and giving people as much warning as possible, Esme is slowly beginning to trust again. So now, I can introduce her to people I'd like her to be comfortable with, and she trusts that they must be OK if mum says they are.

What they don't teach you in puppy classes... Sleep regression in Dogs: This is the period where a dog's sleep pattern c...
14/01/2025

What they don't teach you in puppy classes...
Sleep regression in Dogs: This is the period where a dog's sleep pattern can significantly change. It's often characterised by increased nighttime waking, restlessness, or disrupted sleep, in Esme's case it's all three plus night barks.
This can also tie-in with the second fear phase which, if you've been following Esme's training, you'll know has manifested in people shyness/mistrust.

We had nailed Esme's sleep, her dad was the best at the nighttime routine (I'm useless after 8pm). She would settle herself in bed about 730pm, we'd wake her up for last wee's and maybe some calm interaction (brushing or settle training or just strokes), then she'd settle back down and sleep downstairs all through the night.

Then we started the 11pm barking, this usually coincided with neighbours returning from late shift, or leaving for night shift. She'd hear their car and start barking, sometimes she'd settle herself down again, sometimes we'd have to come down to interrupt the barking, taking her outside and offer toileting.
Then the 1am barks...
Then the 3am barks...
Sometimes we get the 5am barks...

It's effectively sleep torture, my partner is a much heavier sleeper than I am, I am also an insomniac and once I'm awake I sometimes cannot get back to sleep. This plays merry hell with your cognitive functions, and affects your level of calm empathetic thought too.

And funnily enough if lack of sleep does that to you, it also does the same for your dog!
Training became harder, they forget cues or routines go out the window. Their needs change too, they may need more space or more attention, something to chew, might go off meals or need more food.

On days like these, a decompression walk, a couple of slow release chews, and space to rest is ESSENTIAL. And then, do the same for your dog!

If you'd like to know how we're managing and (when possible... But not today) training around this, drop me a DM or email.

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Portsmouth

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Monday 7am - 7pm
Tuesday 7am - 7pm
Wednesday 7am - 7pm
Thursday 7am - 7pm
Friday 7am - 7pm
Saturday 8am - 5pm
Sunday 9:30am - 4pm

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