Joyful Paws

Wolverhampton vigil for Marshall & Millions ~ June 4th, 2023 💔 🐾 Solidarity in the U.K. & around the world ~ we will NOT forget! 🐾 #justiceformarshallandmillions #endbsl #deednotbreed #Metdogkillers #Metdogmurderers #policebruralitymuststop #policebrutalityawareness #mydogtoo

How to keep a Staffy happy.... 😁 🐾 My lil Cody would keep doing this all day if I let him! He stunk like pond water when he finished!! 😅 🐾 #staffiegram #staffygram #staffordshirebullterrier #staffiesdaily #staffiesofinstagram #bullies #bullbreeds #happystaffy #coventrydogtrainer #coventrypuppytrainer #dogtrainingadvice #dogbehaviouradvice

From Alex Lee & Becca James:- Late last year Becca and I reached out to Joy as the rescue pooch we had recently adopted reacted at all things dog. When on a walk, when in the car, when a dog came on TV. You name it … she barked! And loud! Joy has worked with us empathetically over the last few months to make sure our girl can be more chill (and learn some manners) around other dogs. The pics and vid attached are from a doggy date today with one of Joy’s other students! Fair to say they’ve both come on imeasurably! A few months back we couldn’t get near a dog without our pooch barking her chops off. Today she was playing and sniffing away without any stress. Thank you Joy ❤️

Our Tiger ❤ 🐾 Another piece of my heart crumpled in pain yesterday at the loss of this beautiful boy. 🐾 Tiger lived with one of my closest friends, & he was one of the sweetest souls you could ever wish to meet. 🐾 He was one of the '3 Amigos', along with his little brother Puffin & my very own sweetheart, Merlin (also sadly at the Bridge), & we all had many wonderful adventures together ~ the theme to 'The Littlest Hobo' being their own special song. 🐾 Tiger was also an important part of the Joyful Paws team, helping many of the anxious ones gain their confidence with his own inimitable kind temperament. 🐾 His amazing hoomans, Lisa Clarke & Martin Moloney, rescued Tiger as a young pup & he had an incredible life with them. My heart breaks for them both knowing the immense pain that I know they are feeling right now at the gaping hole he has left in their lives. 🐾 He suffered with a condition called Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI), but thanks to the dedication of Lisa, she helped the vet to diagnose this awful condition when they themselves were at a loss as to what was ailing him, & she nursed him back to full health. 🐾 As the years rolled on, sadly Tiger struggled with Degenerative Myelopathy, which cruelly robbed him of his ability to walk properly & which eventually led to the decision to let him go. 🐾 Tiger had a fantastic zest for life; if there was mud around, he would roll in it. If there was water, he would swim in it. 🐾 He suckled his teddy bear as he settled down to sleep. He gave the sweetest kisses & the very best cuddles, & everyone who knew him, loved him. 🐾 To the very end, he was happy & was loved, so very very loved throughout his 14 years. 🐾 So run free now, our sweet & beautiful boy. You are already greatly missed, but I am so grateful to have been able to share your life with you & your family, & those many, many fabulous memories will, in time, make us all smile again in our thoughts of you. 🐾 #hear

Reactive Romanian Rescue walks on a Loose Lead !

Many dogs rescued from the streets of Romania are reactive in one way or another; some are terrified of humans due to lack of actual contact or plain abuse, whilst others are reactive towards other dogs. 🦴🦴🦴 Max was thought to be an aggressive dog by his adopters, Pete & Ali Wilkins, yet they have worked with Joyful Paws to gain a better understanding of how he communicates & the reasons for his behaviour, & here he is, walking very calmly on a loose lead, which is something they never thought they would achieve 🥰 🦴🦴🦴 #rommierescuedog #rommies #rommiedogsofinstagram #reactivedogs #aggressivedogs #coventrydogtrainer #dogtrainingadvice #dogbehaviouradvice

My crazy furballs, Baxter, Bella & Cody enjoying a splash about at Coundon Wedge. 🐾🐾🐾 Only problem was, they just didn't want to get out again! 🤣 🐾🐾🐾

Baxter vs Reggie

My lil Baxter enjoying a frolic in the long grass with Reggie the Border Terrier during his Joyful Paws walk <3

I'm currently working with the Italian Greyhound, Skylar, & her hooman contacted me as she was concerned about the 'play' between her own & her friends' dogs, Abi the Cocker Spaniel, & Bella the Labrador. She sent the footage for me to review, & it was clear that Bella was NOT enjoying the 'game'. As all dogs are youngsters, the play had quickly gotten out of hand, with Abi targeting Bella, & in the melee & excitement, Skylar was joining in & sniping at Bella's hindquarters. Bella constantly attempts to 'calm' the situation, repeatedly going into the 'Sphinx' position (Calming Signal); her tail is down throughout & she is clearly unhappy about the situation. In the background, you can hear the hoomans discussing what they thought was happening, with comments about Bella being 'aggressive' and 'dominant'. Bella was being neither; she was simply frustrated at being targeted by both dogs (tantamount to bullying in hooman terms!), so she then attempted to 'pin' Abi to curtail her inappropriate play (Calming Signal, restricting the other dog's movement). Sadly, as she's only a youngster herself, she hadn't quite got the authority for Abi to respond to, & you can see that Abi continues to go for Bella. It's important to step in as your dogs' pawrents & stop play from getting out of hand; youngsters will quickly learn that this is the way to interact with all dogs they encounter if their inappropriate behaviour is not corrected by a sensible, adult dog, & much like hooman bullies, they will soon target those dogs who are sensitive or fearful. The hoomans of both Abi & Bella have since contacted me so that I could explain what was happening, & they happily agreed that I could turn the footage into a training video.

Water Sports for Dogs!

My boys, Cody (Staffy) & Baxter (Staffy x Dachschund) enjoying their splash around <3

Nala the German Shepherd & more friends !

Nala was very anxious around strange dogs, & I've been working with her for a long while now. Over time, she's learned that dogs are good to have as friends, with the help of my dogs.

I would like everyone to meet my new baby, Baxter ❤ He's 6 months old & is a Dachschund x Staffy ~ isn't he adorable? 😍 🐾 Baxter (was Barnie) belonged to a client who had only recently begun his training with Joyful Paws. Although the training was going well, the lady found him rather too much to physically cope with, & so contacted me to ask for help in rehoming him. 🐾 After losing my beautiful lil Rosie in July, this little sweetheart had room to move in, so he came to live with us on Monday afternoon 😃 🐾 He's settling in well, & is enjoying meeting my clients & some of their dogs 😍 🐾 #staffycross #dachschundcross #doxycross #lovemydog

Calming Signals with Bella & P.J. pup

Dogs use a system of Calming Signals to communicate their feelings towards each other & to their human families, & it's a very important part of what I teach my clients. As children learn good manners & social etiquette from their parents & teachers, so puppies learn best of all from older dogs with experience & sound temperaments. Bella is helping teach P.J. to gain confidence & how to behave politely.