Wonder Paws Puppy School & Family Dog Training

21/07/2022

20/07/2022

Sounds like the perfect solution... kids itching to walk their new dog + over-stretched parents thrilled that their children are taking responsibility and lightening the workload! What's not to love?

Actually quite a LOT.

I can't tell you how many disappointed faces I see when I try to explain why a child walking a dog ALONE *might NOT be* the best idea for anyone!!?

And I get totally it.

If this is your first family dog, a quick spin around the block may look harmless enough - until you consider ALL of the things that can (and DO) go wrong.

Even (mentally and physically) FULLY-GROWN ADULTS get pulled down to the ground, or dragged over to squirrels, skateboards and the neighborhood cat. They accidentally drop leashes, or watch helplessly as their pup slips their collar. They struggle to control their dog around other dogs, or conversely, they panic or freeze when an off-leash dog comes sprinting full-speed towards them (friendly or not friendly.. who knows? They’ll likely find out when it’s too late!)

And this is ONLY a handful of the things that can happen to GROWN UPS… so for kids the stakes are simply exponentially higher.

As a trainer, I’m pretty calculated about where I go, and when I walk my dogs my radar is always activated. Even still, I’ve personally had to dash after my loose dog, I’ve been bitten by a dog who was attacking mine, I’ve seen a dog run over in a school parking lot, and watched a child be literally dragged for 50ft against her will!

So, I hope by sharing the potential risks with you, you can make informed choices about your family dog walking situation:

Here’s my hotlist of things to consider:

Size - of child and dog
Strength - of child and dog
Maturity - of child and dog
Training - of child and dog
Temperament - of child and dog

Then download, print and share our poster.
THESE are my questions to help families size up the COMBINATION of their dog and child to see whether WALKING ALONE together is a SMART call.

For more info for kids, dogs and making EVERYONE'S life SAFE and HAPPY - go to thefamilydog.com/families

16/07/2022

Congrats to our final puppy grads…. 🎓🐾🙌🏻 Bravo to Sid, Teddy, Nica, Chia, Mee-cot and Axel and their awesome families for their dedication and love for their puppies, you made us very proud trainers 💙💙💙

16/07/2022

Our very last puppy class at Wonder Paws in full swing! 💙💙💙

15/07/2022

It doesn't matter what you want to train your dog to do, whether it's loose lead walking, retrieving a gundog dummy or competitive obedience, breaking the exercise down into smaller steps will not only make it more achievable, but it will be easier for your dog to understand what you want them to do AND you'll be more motivated to keep training as you'll see progress quicker.

https://thepetgundog.co.uk/Home/Books
http://www.retrievingroll.com/









https://www.trainedforlife.co.uk/Home/Books

15/07/2022

With temperatures continuing to rise, we want to remind you how to keep dogs safe and cool during this heatwave 🌡🌞
For more tips see DogsTrust.ie/CoolToBeKind

12/07/2022

Thank you to Niall and the Nationwide team at RTÉ One for asking us to be involved. It was a great opportunity to promote ethical puppy training to a huge audience 💙💙💙 Watch our piece from 13m40’ https://www.rte.ie/player/series/nationwide/SI0000001172?epguid=IH000412834

Watch all your favourite TV shows Live or On Demand on your PC, smartphone or tablet for free.

11/07/2022

Today’s smile 😊 moment 💙

09/07/2022

Do you know where your British bulldog puppy came from??

09/07/2022

STABILITY ASSISTANCE DOGS TASK ASSISTANCE DOGS THERAPY DOGS STABILITY ASSISTANCE DOGS We have developed a highly successful Stability Assistance Dog Programme. It is the only one we know of in Europe. It works

07/07/2022

Poor Echo 💞

02/07/2022

27/06/2022

On 16 July 2022, after 10 years of serving puppies & their families we closed our doors. Thank you to all the thousands of families that entrusted us with their puppies, adult dogs and rescues in the time. We have loved working with each and every one of you.

A massive THANK YOU to Magali, Olivia, Orlagh, Joe, Sheena, Kathryn, Sharon and Damian and our family of trainers over the years who are passionate about their education and sharing that knowledge to help improve the lives of the dogs you love and brought into your families.

To our mentors and teachers Chirag, Suzanne Clothier, Theresa McKeown, Anne Rogers AniEd to name just a few… THANK YOU for sharing your incredible depth of knowledge with us.

Thank you to Jill, Andrea, Ann, Joey, Selina and all the team at Festina Lente for hosting us for 8 of the 10 years, it was such a nurturing and peaceful environment to train in.

To all the rescues and rehoming centres who we worked with and recommended us thank you…. Wicklow Animal Welfare/Traveller Animal Welfare, Dogs Trust Ireland, Dogs in Distress, Ash Animal Rescue etc etc. Our goal was to support new adopters, reduce return numbers and help young dogs from being surrendered by overwhelmed families 💙💙💙

And finally…..THANK YOU to all the wonderful like-minded veterinary professionals who recommended us to their clients over the years, namely Ark Vetcare, Brayvet, Petcare Vets, Blacklion Pet Hospital - The Greystones Pet Vet, Blackrock Veterinary Clinic, Primrose Hill Veterinary Clinic, Kilcoole Vets etc etc

Our training services are fully booked till 16 July.

Wonder Paws Dog Adventure Park and The Grooming Shed at Wonder Paws will remain open for business as usual

Cathy 💙

25/06/2022

Please donate what you can to WAW

24/06/2022

HAPPY DOG FRIENDLY IRELAND DAY!! Have you brought your dog to work today? If so tell us all about and post a photo!! Best pic wins a free session for 4 dogs at our Wonder Paws Dog Adventure Park

Hip Hip Hooray, today is Dog Friendly Ireland Day!! 🥳🐶

This year, we’re on a mission to make Irish dogs happier in their homes, with simple but enriching changes to their daily routines. This is because we believe making Ireland the best country in the world for dogs and the people who love them starts at home!

So, celebrate your dog today and whip up a dog friendly “Cocker-Tail”, play a game of “Cardboard Box Bonanza” or roll out the “Towel Treats”! You can find out how to do all of these enriching activities over on our website: DogsTrust.ie/DFIDay Then, snap a pic and share it with the !

Sign-up to receive your pack on DogsTrust.ie/DFIDay

20/06/2022

"The advice from the UK Brachycephalic Working Group is to stop and think before buying a flat faced dog.... This evening alone, 81% of our hospitalised inpatients are ‘flat-faced’, suffering from airway obstruction, spinal problems, fractures and eye issues"

Brachycephalic or ‘flat-faced’ breeds are extremely popular due to their outstanding personality traits, but did you know they are 25% more likely to have a health disorder than other breeds, with English Bulldogs twice as likely?

This evening alone, 81% of our hospitalised inpatients are ‘flat-faced’, suffering from airway obstruction, spinal problems, fractures and eye issues

The advice from the UK Brachycephalic Working Group is to stop and think before buying a flat faced dog
We can help them to live better lives, but we love them and we owe it to them to promote their health and welfare

13/06/2022

Puppy socialiers needed for 12-month period for future disability assistance dogs. Contact Dogs for the Disabled directly.

10/06/2022

ITS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE….. spay, neuter, keep microchip details updated…… the rescuers in this country are at BREAKING POINT not to mention the poor dogs incarcerated in puppy farms breeding for impulse purchasers.

Text WAW to 50300 to donate €4, PayPal or bank details on request. Thank you.

31/05/2022

Volunteer Socialisers needed 💜💜💜

A huge THANK YOU to the EchoLive.ie for this great article written by the lovely Mary Hassett. Please share and spread the word 💜

29/05/2022

PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. Text WAW to 50300 to donate €4 or PayPal through the blue icon, just click on the WAW post.

29/05/2022

Please research your minder/walker 💙

28/05/2022

Rescue heroes 💞 Please support this incredible rescue…. TEXT WAW to 50300

28/05/2022

We are incredibly proud of our Senior Trainer Olivia! Not just a superb dog trainer!! 🙌🏻💙🙌🏻

Congratulations to our lead clinical nurse, Olivia, on two excellent presentations at Annual Congress today 👏

Our nurses practice the highest standard of veterinary nursing each and every day, and we could not be more proud of them sharing their extensive knowledge and skills through national lectures and workshops

25/05/2022

🐩 A new study has revealed a huge demand for designer crossbreed dogs in the UK between 2019 and 2020, believing they are more hypoallergenic, generally healthy, easy to train and good with children, which could be misconceptions based on current evidence. The new study also suggests that this increased demand poses a significant risk to the health and welfare of these designer dogs due to high demand leading to poor breeding and to buyers unintentionally supporting puppy farming and illegal importation of underage puppies.

➡️ Read More: https://rvc.uk.com/designer-dogs-welfare