Dogs be Dogs

15/04/2025

Edit: we are full for 2 sessions on the Bank Holiday Monday. If you want to be on the cancellation list - please DM us.
We will be looking at running these sessions on a monthly basis for our puppy classes clients!

Puppy Social – Bank Holiday Monday!
Mapledurham | Secure Off-Lead Field | For Puppies Under 6 Months

Calling all our puppy class graduates and current attendees – you’re invited to a free off-lead social this Bank Holiday Monday in a secure field in Mapledurham!

This is a fantastic opportunity to:
• Test your puppy’s recall in a safe, enclosed space
• Let them enjoy some off-lead fun with other well-matched pups
• Meet likeminded owners and maybe even arrange a few puppy play dates!

Puppies must be under 6 months old and have previously attended or be currently attending our puppy classes.

Let’s make the most of the long weekend with some puppy play and good company!
Pop us a message to let us know you’re coming so we can keep track of numbers.

Time: 11am-11:45am (although depending on the level of interest, we may add an extra session).
Location: DM me, so I can send it to you!

02/04/2025

💭 “I thought I’d made a huge mistake.”

That’s what I said — through tears — when Napa was a tiny, bitey, chaos-gremlin of a puppy.

I was exhausted. I felt like a failure. She hurt. I cried. And I loved her… but I didn’t like her very much.

If you’re feeling that way right now — you are not alone. And you’re not a bad puppy parent. You’re just overwhelmed. And I’ve written something just for you. 💛

It’s raw, real, and packed with practical advice (including why puppies bite, and what to do instead of hiding in the bathroom again).

📖 Read the blog: “I Thought I’d Made a Huge Mistake”

🔁 Know someone with a new puppy? Share this — it might be exactly what they need today.

Feeling overwhelmed with your puppy? You're not alone. Tash from Dogs Be Dogs shares her honest experience — plus practical tips to help you and your puppy thrive.

26/03/2025

Nero met Kiara from today and he’s absolutely smitten.
She let him steal a mat out of her bag and strut around like he’d won Best in Show — total game changer in his books!

As someone who works closely with vets and physios like Kiara, I can’t stress enough how important it is that we all share insights when it comes to your dog’s behaviour. What can look like reactivity, noise sensitivity, touch sensitivity - can be influenced by pain — especially the subtle, easy-to-miss kind.

Having a physio who can come to your home and assess your dog in a calm, familiar environment makes a world of difference — Nero was far more relaxed than he would have been in a clinic setting.

Kiara and I will be going live on Facebook on Monday 28th April to chat all about the subtle signs of pain in dogs, and how it can affect your dog’s behaviour.
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “why is my dog suddenly doing this?” — this one’s for you.

26/03/2025

Nero met Kiara from Advance Veterinary Physiotherapy at the weekend and he’s absolutely smitten.
She let him steal a mat out of her bag and strut around like he’d won Best in Show — total game changer in his books!

As someone who works closely with vets and physios like Kiara, I can’t stress enough how important it is that we all share insights when it comes to your dog’s behaviour. What can look like reactivity, noise sensitivity, touch sensitivity - can be influenced by pain — especially the subtle, easy-to-miss kind.

Having a physio who can come to your home and assess your dog in a calm, familiar environment makes a world of difference — Nero was far more relaxed than he would have been in a clinic setting.

Kiara and I will be going live on Facebook on Monday 28th April to chat all about the subtle signs of pain in dogs, and how it can affect your dog’s behaviour.
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “why is my dog suddenly doing this?” — this one’s for you.

12/03/2025

Should you wait to train your puppy? Here’s the truth:

I’ll wait until they’re older to start training.

If I had a pound for every time I heard this… 🫣

The truth? Puppies start learning from the moment they arrive home—whether you’re training them or not. And here’s the problem:
🐾 If you don’t teach them how to walk nicely on a lead, they’ll teach themselves that pulling works.
🐾 If you don’t teach recall, they’ll learn that running off is more fun than coming back.
🐾 If you don’t teach them how to settle, they’ll assume zoomies at bedtime are a way of life.

By six months, your puppy isn’t just ‘still learning’—they’re practising behaviours every day. If they’re rehearsing the wrong ones, you’ll have to undo them later. So why not teach them the right ones from the start?

Waiting doesn’t mean they’ll grow out of bad behaviours. It usually means they’ll grow into them.

That’s exactly why, in our puppy classes in Berkshire & Oxfordshire, we don’t just teach ‘obedience’—we focus on real-life skills that make life with your dog easier. Because training should fit your life, not just look good in class. With rolling start dates, you can begin as soon as you’re ready.

💬 What’s the first thing you started training your puppy? Or, if you haven’t started yet, what’s your biggest struggle? Let me know in the comments!

👉 Wondering what good puppy training actually looks like? I break it all down in this blog:
https://www.dogsbedogs.co.uk/why-puppy-training-is-more-than-just-sit-stay-the-essential-skills-every-puppy-needs

👉 Ready to start? Join our puppy classes in Mapledurham & Sulhamstead:
https://www.dogsbedogs.co.uk/puppy-classes

10/03/2025

🐾 Client Spotlight: Meet Charles! 🐾

Introducing Charles (aka Charlesy, Charles the Great, and so many other nicknames we’ve lost count). At 8 years old, this flat-coated retriever is the very definition of Peter Pan with his ever-wagging tail, cheeky grin, and endless spark of mischief. ❤️

Charles truly embraces his retriever roots when it comes to carrying a ball - he’s always got one in his mouth. But anything more serious? Forget it. His love of rolling about takes precedence over focus, and honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way!

When you return home, Charles has a quirky way of welcoming you - by presenting you with a shoe (any shoe will do). It’s also his signature move for visitors. If he had a job, he’d undoubtedly be a ball boy at Wimbledon, but don’t expect to get those balls back easily - hoarding is part of the charm! 🎾

His head-tilts whenever food is being consumed are legendary, as if to say, “Snacks for me?”. It’s impossible not to smile at his antics. Charles adores golden retrievers (sometimes a bit too much!) and is deeply loyal to his beloved tennis balls, though cats firmly hold nemesis status.

His autobiography? “Me and My Tennis Balls: A Journey.” A true masterpiece in the making.

His favourite activity - rolling on his back, of course!

His claim to fame - he is our longest standing client; I first met Charles when he was under a year old and I have secretly been in love with him ever since!

We’re so lucky to have Charles (and his brilliant guardian) as part of the Dogs Be Dogs family. He’s proof that life is best lived with a wagging tail and a spark of fun.

Want your dog to be featured next? Whether you’ve joined our puppy classes, gundog classes, scent work sessions, or 1-2-1 training, we’d love to share their story! DM us for the questionnaire and let’s celebrate your incredible dog.

05/03/2025

Crufts!!! I am going tomorrow, as it’s Terrier day!

Some of our clients will be in the ring and I will cheer them on! Hoping to see some heelwork to music too!

I am also looking forward to a day of dog related shopping, seeing people I don’t see very often and just being immersed in all things dogs! 🥰

Are you going? Are you watching? What are the things you are looking forward to in the next 4 days of the world biggest dog show?

Picture of me and Monty at Crufts 2018 🥰

26/02/2025

What to expect from puppy training (it’s not what you think!)

Think puppy training means marching around a village hall, yanking leads, and shouting “Sit! Stay! Heel!” in your best Barbara Woodhouse voice?

Not here! If that’s what you’re expecting, you’re in for a surprise…

🐶 No yanking, no dragging, no shouting. Because training should be about teaching—not punishing—when puppies get it wrong.
🐶 No marching in circles – we train for real life, not an obedience competition.
🐶 No stiff commands – your puppy will learn to want to listen, even when the world is exciting.

So what do we do?
• Training that actually makes sense for real life – because no one wants a puppy who only listens in class.
• Confidence-building from the start – because a nervous puppy today can become a reactive dog tomorrow.
• Skills that make life easier – settling when guests arrive, handling without fuss, and not dragging you across the park at the sight of another dog.

Puppy training isn’t about “obedience.” It’s about setting them up to be a great companion for life.

💬 What’s the one thing you really want your puppy to learn? No shame—tell me in the comments!

Know someone with a new puppy? Even if you don’t - share this post so everyone knows what training should look like!

26/02/2025

What to expect from puppy training (it’s not what you think!)

Think puppy training means marching around a village hall, yanking leads, and shouting “Sit! Stay! Heel!” in your best Barbara Woodhouse voice?

Not here! If that’s what you’re expecting, you’re in for a surprise…

🐶 No yanking, no dragging, no shouting. Because training should be about teaching—not punishing—when puppies get it wrong.
🐶 No marching in circles – we train for real life, not an obedience competition.
🐶 No stiff commands – your puppy will learn to want to listen, even when the world is exciting.

So what do we do?
• Training that actually makes sense for real life – because no one wants a puppy who only listens in class.
• Confidence-building from the start – because a nervous puppy today can become a reactive dog tomorrow.
• Skills that make life easier – settling when guests arrive, handling without fuss, and not dragging you across the park at the sight of another dog.

Puppy training isn’t about “obedience.” It’s about setting them up to be a great companion for life.

💬 What’s the one thing you really want your puppy to learn? No shame—tell me in the comments!

Know someone with a new puppy? Even if you don’t - share this post so everyone knows what training should look like!

Puppy training isn’t just about teaching “sit” and “stay.” From building confidence and preventing behaviour issues to teaching calmness and focus, early training sets your puppy up for success in the real world. In this blog, we break down what proper puppy training includes, why waiting ...

24/02/2025

It’s happening! We’ve tested the tech, and we’re all set 😆. Join us tonight at 7:30 PM for a Facebook Live with Cheryl from Posh Paws Groom Room!

We’ll be diving into consent-based grooming—what it is, why it matters, and how it can make grooming a stress-free experience for your dog. Plus, we’ll share practical tips for helping your puppy or adult dog feel comfortable with grooming at home, what essentials you need in your at-home grooming toolkit, and we’ll be answering all your questions!

Don’t miss it—see you there! 🎥🐶

17/02/2025

After all this build up, technology has failed us! Apologies to everyone!
We are going to reschedule for next Monday 7:30, I’ll try different streaming apps and if needs to be will visit the Posh Paws Groom Room in person!

Picture of Mabel - Cheryl’s rescue pup just to soften the blow! 🥰

17/02/2025

We are going live on FB in 10 minutes, providing I can get the technology to work! We will be talking all things Consent based grooming with Cheryl from Posh Paws Groom Room

10/02/2025

Are you over socialising your puppy? Here is why less could be more!

Puppy socialisation isn’t about meeting every dog, every person, and every moving thing—it’s about creating positive experiences that build confidence without overwhelming them.

One of the biggest mistakes new puppy guardians make is letting their puppy greet everyone. Right now, it might seem cute that your pup wants to run up to every dog and person they see—but fast forward a few months, and that same puppy is now a frustrated adolescent, lunging and barking because they expect to say hello every time.

✅ Good socialisation is about teaching your puppy that sometimes we walk past, sometimes we observe, and sometimes we interact—when it’s safe, calm, and appropriate. By setting expectations early, you prevent frustration later.

❌ Bad socialisation is letting every experience be a free-for-all, where your puppy believes excitement means an automatic meet-and-greet. Or even worse, your puppy gets overwhelmed or scared!

Our puppy classes teach you how to socialise the right way—helping your pup grow into a confident, well-mannered adult dog.

🐶 Join us in Mapledurham and Sulhamstead — spaces are limited! Click the link in our bio to book your spot today.

Know someone with a puppy? Share this with them—getting socialisation right from the start makes all the difference!

20/01/2025

I have recently had a guest appearance on a podcast!

We talked about raising resilient puppies, importance of early socialisation, what can a breeder do before your puppy comes home to set them up for success. And how you can continue that socialisation when you bring your puppy home to help them grow into confident and happy dog!

Podcast Episode · The Happy Dog Podcast · 20/01/2025 · 1h 20m

11/01/2025

Spot the dogs!!!

There are 2 dogs in this picture! Comment ‘found’ once you have found them both!!!

28/12/2024

🐾 Client Spotlight: Meet Bella! 🐾
Say hello to Bella, or “Bells” to her friends. This almost 2-year-old golden retriever has mastered the art of winning friends (her autobiography title for a reason), though retrieving? That’s a bit hit-and-miss—especially on walks.

Bella’s favourite pastime is a good game of tug with any pull toy, but her real quirk? Sleeping half on and half off the sofa like she can’t quite commit. If she had a job, she’d undoubtedly be working on the cheese counter, pairing her food-driven instincts with her charming personality. 🧀

She’s hilariously rubbish at looking guilty when caught being naughty, which makes her cheeky moments all the more endearing. As for her social life, Bella tries to boss Archie (a fellow Goldie) around, but let’s just say her success rate is… low.

We’re so lucky to have Bella (and her wonderful guardian) as part of the Dogs Be Dogs family—her personality is as golden as her coat!

Want your dog to be featured next? Whether you’ve joined our puppy classes, gundog classes, scent work sessions, or 1-2-1 training, we’d love to hear their story! DM us for the questionnaire and let’s celebrate your amazing pup.

21/12/2024

It’s a tough job socialising puppies, but someone has to do it 🤣🐶