Puppy Fun & Games

11/01/2025

Someone came dressed for the weather!

03/01/2025

With the wintry conditions forecast over the weekend, the councils will be out gritting roads to keep them clear from ice. Whilst this makes the roads safer to drive, it can cause an issue for our dogs as rock salt is highly toxic when ingested.

The gritters are out in force keeping the roads open but the rock salt can be fatal to pets

03/01/2025

This is definitely worth sharing 🐶

Whether you’re a proud owner of a Poodle, Doodle, Bichon, or any other curly friend, this book is packed with essential tips, grooming advice and health care to keep your furry companion happy and healthy.

31/12/2024

What a year 2024 has been! I just want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your support.

I truly have the best students, I look forward to continuing our journey with existing clients and excited to meet all those new pups and owners, who jump on the Fun & Games bandwagon!

I can’t wait for the learning to start again in 2025. Happy New Year!🎉❤️🐶🐾

26/12/2024

A brilliant reminder from The Mutty Professor, after a busy day for the dogs yesterday, we will all be relaxing today.

⚠️ BOXING DAY : EXTRA CAUTION REQUIRED ⚠️

Your dog or puppy may be over stimulated, tired, sore and irritable 😠 🥱 😩 😵‍💫

Take extra care today, please keep in mind that sometimes the first symptom of a dog or puppy being too tired, sore or over stimulated is behaviour change. Behaviour change which, in some instances, can appear to come from nowhere.

‼️ A dog’s usual levels of tolerance may be at risk of lowering.
‼️ Their startle responses may increase.
‼️ Their sensitivity to stimuli, including being touched, may heighten.
‼️ Their ability to recollect prior learned information (their training) may decrease.
‼️ Their social skills may become compromised, which may result in them failing to read the room or being more irritable.
‼️ They may be quicker to fatigue on walks.

Nick and I travelled to see my step mum on Monday. Christmas Eve, we spent the first part of the day cleaning the house and Christmas Day we travelled to see Nick’s parents.

My dogs don’t sleep deeply in the car and despite taking their beds to both family homes, they didn’t sleep for as long, nor as well as they would have at home. They were understandably easily disturbed by the activity and were even following me to the bathroom each time.
Our cleaning related hustle and bustle on 24th would have also interfered with their usual sleep quality.

Yesterday Amigo also dedicated a good hour of his day on his feet putting pressure on kitchen door activity - hoping for a management slip up that would get him access to the food being served and the plates being cleared away from the dining room. You can take the stray off the streets…… 😆

So all in all, across three days- I would guess that my dogs are about 15 hours in deficit (of sleep).

During sleep, stress hormone levels are lowered, the brain’s toxins are removed, cellular repair across the body occurs, and the immune system gets a boost. The body is given an MOT that helps regulate its responses to stimuli the next day.

This includes regulating the perception of pain and of course, quality rest supports the reduction of any inflammation.

My dogs were on their feet - getting up and down more than normal - across the past three days. Any muscular or skeletal pain can become heightened- especially for my senior dog Kanita.

Additionally, during sleep information is processed and stored. Whilst relevant for all dogs, those with young puppies should be especially considerate to the fact that there’s only so much sensory stimuli the young brain can process. A high intensity of stimuli (noise, sights, scents, and touch!) parallel to compromised sleep can lead to an over stimulated puppy- this usually results in a puppy that jumps and mouths more!

Lastly, most of us humans get tired from all of the activity. The usual level of management and ‘tolerance’ of our dogs and puppies may start to slip.

Contexts in which to be cautious:

☑️ Visitors arriving to the home- caution letting dogs greet them at the door or in narrow hallways!

Also be cautious of your dog accidentally escaping out the door or gate left open. Stay vigilant and remind guests to keep the usual doors and gates closed.

☑️ People touching your dog or puppy! Does the dog WANT to be touched? Have they asked to be touched? Is touching the puppy leading to them jumping and mouthing? Is the dog and puppy being touched and/or picked up too often?

Make sure everyone, especially children, leave a resting puppy or dog well alone and that there's understanding of what 'no thanks' looks like (they don't approach to interact when asked, or look away, move away or tense up when being interacted with).

☑️ Monitor anyone playing with the dog/puppy very carefully. Normally, it's the humans that struggle to regulate their behaviour intensity or duration - and the dog/puppy simply responds to that.

☑️ People (including children) behaving in an animated way (loud noises and sudden or unusual movement).

☑️ How WE humans respond to undesired behaviour. Are we appearing confrontational? Are we intensifying the level of stimuli or calming things down?

☑️ Leaving dangerous foods and items around. Keep things out of reach of your dog or shut them away from your dog.

If your puppy or dog 'steals' an item that they 'shouldn't have', trade it for treats. Don't rush to grab things off them and ensure everyone present knows to do the same (or better yet, alerts you to do it). You'd be suprised how many bite incidents happen towards people who aren't the dog's primary carer and who go to take things off the dog/puppy.

☑️ Interacting with unfamiliar dogs on walks (or even their buddies!). Dogs who are tired or in pain may be more quick to be defensive, over stimulated dogs and puppies may be more likely to socialise inappropriately- which may result in them being the target of defensive behaviour.

☑️ The walk itself! Pay attention to the environment, something that’s harder to do when walking in a group!
Be aware and considerate of others, but also towards livestock and wildlife if you’re walking somewhere different to usual.

Keep your dog on lead if you’re not sure their recall is up to the usual standard! Remember, memory recollection AND sensory processing is compromised when dogs are tired.

Lastly, if your dog doesn’t normally go on epic, long hikes, then stick to a distance similar to their usual walk duration. Please don’t exhaust your dog by taking them on an endurance hike they’ve not built the fitness up for, or that they may be too old or less physically able to enjoy.


Today we are meeting my brother, his wife and my two young nephews at the pub for lunch. Kanita doesn’t like children too close and Mohawk gets a bit nervous of their excitement- so we have opted to meet away from the home so my dogs aren’t put in a situation they may struggle with more than normal.

It’s just not worth the risk! I’d rather be labelled as too cautious than there be a concerning or serious incident. My dogs will be happier at home resting.

Be your dog's advocate ❤️

22/12/2024

Puppy Fun & Games - Wrapping Up 2024

Paws up! 🐾 The final lesson of the year is in the bag, and what a tail-wagging year 2024 has been! I've had an amazing time helping so many of you train your furry friends. It has been lovely to meet so many new faces and even lovelier to carry on seeing those, that keep coming back for more Fun & Games.

Hoopers has been a successful introduction this year and I am excited to see the progression of this in 2025!

Thank you for choosing Puppy Fun & Games and being such loyal clients. In a world full of choices, you picked me, and I strive to provide the very best personalised service, to ensure you and your dog have the most fun, rewarding and results-focussed experience.

Your business is truly appreciated and I am grateful for your trust in me to do the best by you and your dog.

If you haven’t yet booked your lessons for the New Year or are interested in starting with us, please send us an email at [email protected] to arrange a convenient time.

Please note, the business will be closed until Monday, 6th January. Emails will be checked periodically, but only urgent ones will be responded to. The rest will be replied to when we reopen.

Have a paw-some festive break and enjoy this video of some of the 2024 Puppy Fun & Games graduates along with some additional festive fun! (Apologies if your dog is missing; sometimes I forget to snap a photo.)

Post a comment if you spot your pup and let me know whether they’re on Santa Paws' naughty or nice list!

Warmest Wags,
Claire
Puppy Fun & Games 🐶🎉

15/12/2024

❌ ℝ𝕒𝕨𝕙𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝔻𝕠𝕘 ℂ𝕙𝕖𝕨𝕤 ❌

They may look like they will be a good tasty chew for your dog and be a cheaper alternative to natural skins... But do you know what you’re feeding and how bad they are? buy them a healthy, natural treat from somewhere like Murphy’s Doggy Deli.

Watch this to educate yourself on why rawhide is one of the most dangerous things for your dog.

12/12/2024

I have just placed my order, so thought it might be worth a little reminder that even the calmest pets can suffer from stress from time to time.

The Christmas and New Year period is lots of fun, but can be stressful for everyone, including our pets.

Stress can be triggered when we least expect it, so keep this handy tin in a safe place, ready to help any pet when stressed. Kit contains: 15ml Calming Spray 6 x Individual Calming Wipes.

And don’t forget you get a 25% discount when you use this link https://petremedy.co.uk/ref/PFAG/

04/12/2024

Our favourite pit-stop for treats!

28/11/2024

What a great Christmas present for your pups!

28/11/2024

Yes, she is as fluffy and cute as she looks! And has the brains to match! I have loved our lessons with her very special, dedicated owners. I so happy that our lessons are continuing and hope that they never stop! 🐶🐾💕

27/11/2024

Don’t miss out - the Tug-E-Nuff Black Friday sale is ending soon - and I wouldn’t want you to forfeit the chance to grab 3 award-winning toys for the price of 2!

Already got a stash of the best tuggy’s in the world?

Check out their brand new purple toys - they’re swoonworthy!

https://tug-e-nuff.com/collections/new-products?ref=funandgames 💜

If better recall, stronger focus, or more fun with your dog is on your Christmas list - this is your sign to grab a bargain.

Tug-E-Nuff toys take the biscuit when it comes to revolutionising your training….

So take full advantage and treat your pup to a bumper stocking full of exciting new toys for Christmas. 🎄

Get 3 for 2 on all toys here: https://tug-e-nuff.com/collections/black-friday?ref=funandgames

*As a Tug-E-Nuff partner and superfan, I get positive reinforcement for sharing this epic offer with you - but it won’t cost you a penny more scooping up a deal through my partner links.

26/11/2024

A good reminder

Not every dog loves to be social and not every dog loves the dog park.

Just like other mammals you have some that love to be social butterflies and others are very selective when it comes to friends.

It is normal to be friend selective. It’s unusual to enjoy and be friendly with every single dog.
Thank you Every Dog Behavior and Training and Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin for this brilliant infographic

26/11/2024

Very happy to announce that the water has been evicted from the training barn and order has been restored 🎉. Apologies once again to all those that had their lessons cancelled today and thank you for all the messages of support and offers of help, they were all very much appreciated ❤️

26/11/2024

Wow! This little fluffball isn’t just a pretty face, he is a super quick learner too! I love that he carefully listened to my instructions for every game we played and followed them perfectly! Normally quicker than his Mum! So much fun in our lessons 😊🐶🐾

25/11/2024

Storm Burt was relentless yesterday and caused flooding here as well as many other places. Unfortunately the barn was affected, I will pump it out and disinfect it today but it could take a day or two to dry out. All lessons tomorrow will be cancelled, as we have no ‘unflooded’ area at the moment. I will make a decision about Wednesday tomorrow. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.