Pawsome Puppies

19/03/2024

You may or may not know of a certain dog ‘trainer’ from Essex who ‘infiltrated’ Crufts then whined because he was banned less than 24 hours later because he uses shock collars. Then someone pushed the old video of him shocking a French bulldog, and he and his fragile
ego are really upset that this video is going viral because he says he would do it differently now. He put out a post saying how he hates social media and how he regrets his ‘e-collar on a frenchie’ video which is still doing the rounds ‘from 3-4 years ago’.

Oh poor victimised man! (And he still uses shock collars but apparently 'only on vibrate'. 🤦🏼‍♀️)

My comment below has been deleted and he has banned me from his page. I consider this a MAJOR victory for ethical and humane interactions with dogs and I'm pretty proud of myself that telling the truth is so dangerous to a man who hurts animals.

"But the pandemic was 4 years ago on and off over a year and that’s when your TikToks went viral and so many people copied you because they didn’t know any better and didn’t have access to face to face/in-person training. You should have ‘known better’ before you promoted your aversive methods to millions of desperate people who’d got puppies/young dogs before and during lockdowns and made sure your information was scientifically correct, ethical, humane and NOT what you’d regret 4 years on. Digital footprints last forever. You should have thought of this before you used social media to grow your business and you don’t get the privilege now of saying you hate it. You fed the monster - don’t be surprised if it bites back.

All the excellent, science based, non-aversive and ethical trainers don’t ever have to backtrack."

It is because of him, and others like him, that I could not sit and watch what was being rolled out to guardians of pandemic puppies.

If you want ethical, humane, science-based training for your dog with no aversive methods, please step away from ‘trainers’ like this and contact me on WhatsApp 07930 125034. I’d love to help.

12/01/2024

Jasper’s resolutions for New Year …

🐾 Eat a more varied diet, which may include any deceased woodland creatures found on a walk. Freshness doesn’t matter too much.

🐾 Spend more quality time with my humans. Sometimes I like to snuggle up to them. Other times I just want to be in the room when they’re busy. We don’t need to be doing anything. I like being at home.

🐾 Refuse to go anywhere that makes me worried. My humans understand I'm the type of dog that doesn’t like busy places, strange surfaces under my feet, unexpected noises, cafés or pubs. It's just who I am and it's not good for my mental and emotional health to try to keep enjoying the places that actually make me unhappy.

🐾 Have more quiet time to myself, which I really enjoy when the humans go out.

🐾 Understand my humans better. They don’t always get what it means to be a dog and can struggle with my language. They don’t always understand why I react a certain way when their hearing and sense of smell is nowhere near as good as mine.

🐾 Get to play more with my toys and my brother even if we do tear the place up with zoomies.

We all strive to reduce stress in our lives, do more of the things we enjoy, eat more healthily, be more active and spend more time with the people we love. Dogs don’t get to choose. We have control over so many aspects of their lives.

So let’s make a New Year’s resolution to work on being better at supporting our dogs to be the emotional, sentient beings they are, and enabling them to have some choices in their lives.

01/01/2024

Dogs are not possessions.

They are sentient, emotional beings with an inner life of their own.

| Give them choices
| Give them clear and gentle guidance
| Give them time and patience

They are totally dependent on us for food, water, shelter, physical and emotional safety and to advocate for them.

You are not a dog owner. You can only own possessions. You are a dog guardian. Their guardian angel.

When you view the human-canine relationship from this angle, rather than one of superiority, the magic can really happen.

If you want to start 2024 off with changing your relationship with your canine companion, or set yourself up for success from the first day with your new pup, message me on
WhatsApp 07930 125034. There IS a different way!

26/08/2023

Please don’t buy into the awful TikTok training trend that’s (surely?) at its peak right now. It started in the first lockdown which was the motivation for me to start up Pawsome Puppies - there are unqualified, uneducated, unethical, unbelievable people out there frightening dogs by literally hanging them, kicking them, shocking them, making them urinate or defecate in terror and withholding food and water to show ‘who’s boss’.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Choose your dog trainer as carefully as you’d choose your toddler’s nursery school. Anyone claiming to be a dog daddy, dog father or dog whisperer … avoid, avoid, AVOID! (Also anyone from a seaside town in Essex whose pier has burnt down four times!)

Thank you Lighten Up Dog Training for a brilliant post explaining the rationale behind ethical, humane, dog-centric interactions with canines.

If you know someone who’s considering getting a pup or who has an adolescent dog who seems to have forgotten everything they knew, please put them in touch with me. There IS a different way!

26/07/2023

Keep your puppy safe at home and then you won’t end up using the dreaded “No! NO! NOOOO!!!”

14/07/2023

If you have used my services in any way at all, there is a chance to nominate Pawsome Puppies as your favourite dog person/business! As a thank you, Pet Remedy will send you a money off voucher to use on their website.

It’s very easy to do - fill out your details, choose the category ‘dog trainer’ and then wax lyrical about how Pawsome Puppies has helped you and your dog.

This is a great way to help a small independent business and I’d be really grateful. Link below and thank you in advance!

The Pet Remedy Summer of Love Awards are a chance to recognise all those amazing dog related businesses and people throughout the UK who look after our four

10/07/2023

How do you build a fantastic strong relationship with your pup? One of the key ways is in recognising when your dog communicates their needs, especially when they seek your comfort or reassurance.

It’s not helpful (or acceptable) just to ignore a dog who is scared or anxious because you’ve been told this will make them worse. A dog cannot lie - they are telling you the absolute truth about how they feel in that moment. Their behaviour is feedback on their emotional state, and you cannot reinforce fear by comforting or attending to your dog. It’s also no good chucking treats around and hoping this changes their feelings!

At Pawsome Puppies the dog’s needs come first! Understanding that he or she is looking to their guardian for emotional support with what’s happening is vital to influencing how the pup develops an opinion of the world based on the input they get. We want it to be a positive emotional response, not a negative one, and with time this may become ‘no’ response - the dog is unbothered or ‘neutral’ to the situation. Having support emotionally, and useful help to make choices, is what builds a pup’s emotional resilience.

Knowing how to recognise your dog’s communication and respond clearly and quickly to your pup allows you to create thinking space for them to process what’s happening. And this is where the magic will happen!

If you want to know more about how to communicate with your puppy, contact me via WhatsApp on 07930 125034 or DM the page.

29/06/2023

This is a brilliant post explaining that a puppy is not a blank canvas and it’s not “all in how you raise them”.

Do your research, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to interview a breeder. If they’re a good one, they’ll be interviewing you for sure!

Above all, if you’re thinking of bringing a puppy into your life, please do consider booking a pre-puppy video call with me to find out all you need to know about building a positive relationship with your pup. They will be living with you for the rest of their lives so let’s set you both up for success from the beginning!

DM the page or WhatsApp 07930 125034.

Puppies are not clean slates !
You often hear people say 'get a puppy they are a clean slate'

As a behaviourist and breeder I can confidently tell you this is not true. Both nature and nurture has a huge impact.
A puppy will inherit genes from its parents and these genes will impact the puppies genetic potential to behave in a particular way.
Such as :
Using aggression as a strategy to deal with difficult situations
Sociability towards people and dogs
Fearful responses
Strong instinctive behaviour to hunt, chase, grab and hold.
Trainability including the ability to learn self control as humans desire it
When people breed dogs they sometimes select for specific traits and sometimes not. If someone is breeding for a particular look or just money then these traits can become altered becoming stronger or weaker or unbalanced.

Then the puppy is born and the first 8 weeks learning with the breeder will have an huge impact on the development of all these genetic traits.

My six puppies have all come from the same parents and been reared in the same environment. They have very individual personalities. The training and socialisation they receive in their new homes will only influence the genes and first learning, it won't change their personalities.

So if you are looking for a puppy
Firstly learn about breed traits and instincts and make sure you pick a puppy that will suit your lifestyle. For example there no point getting a breed that is 'aloof with strangers' if you have 3 young children and lots of friends visiting.

Secondly meet the parents or (genes), see what they are like. Make sure you are meeting the actual parents, some people buy in puppy farmed litters and then 'hire' an adult of the same breed to pretend the puppies were bred there!!

Thirdly make sure the puppy has had plenty of early neurological stimulation and learning before it leaves the litter. Ask these questions.
1) What have the puppies seen?
2) Who and what have they met?
2) What have they learnt?
3) How have they learned to play?
4) What do they do if they get frustrated?
5) What do they do if they get bored?

A professional trainer can help support and guide you on the process of looking for a puppy. Don't wait till afterwards for help.

Prevention IS better than Cure. This goes for training and socialisation too, get a professional to help and guide you.

Puppies are building neural pathways with every experience, every day, make sure they're building ones you like.

First Learning is the strongest, make sure you get it right first time.


Written by Jane Ardern BSc (Hons) Dip.CABT
WaggaWuffins Canine College
Bury Lancashire

*Permission to share this post. No cutting and pasting please.

28/04/2023

Such great news. There is NO excuse 🙌🏻🥲

In a historic moment for animal welfare, we’re welcoming news today that the Government is completely banning the use of remote controlled electric shock collars in England, as of 1 February 2024, following our ten year campaign. To find out more, visit thekennelclub.org.uk/shockcollarsbanned

21/04/2023

Everything written here 🙌🏻👏🏻 Thank you Sally for your reflective wisdom, your constant understanding of dogs’ needs and the importance of RELATIONSHIP ❤️

A couple of things happened yesterday; things that made me think.

The first was I saw a dog trainer in the park wandering around with what looked to be a guardian and their dog. The dog was moving carefully and didn’t have relaxed body language. It seemed like the trainer was showing the lady how her dog could walk (creep) with the right kind of treatment.

I thought about it for hours afterwards. I wondered why some dog trainers take peoples’ dogs off them for an entire walk. I completely understand showing techniques momentarily as examples, like marking a check in. But what would be the point of taking someone’s dog off them for any longer than that?

The next thing was some (confident but wrong) guy on a Facebook video telling people what to look for in a dog trainer.

In his opinion dog trainers should have very well-trained dogs and show off well trained dogs on their social media all the time. There were a few other things that made me cringe too, but I didn’t watch for long and won’t go into them.

On reflection.

Neither of these approaches or people seemed to place any focus on how the dog feels.

Both of them focused on what they can make the dog do.

This to me is where full focus on training to change behaviour breaks down, and causes welfare issues.

It’s like the expectations on Victorian children.

You will be seen but not heard.

Can you imagine living a life where you’re the only one who is expected to change in a relationship. Where changing you is the priority of everyone around you. Everyone you love unconditionally fills your life with conditions.

Never asking you how you feel about things.

Never wondering what it is you might want and need.

Always just pushing you to be different.

To fit better into their expectations of you.

Imagine if your entire life was filled with people who didn’t acknowledge your personality, your fears, your aches and pains. People who didn’t know that trauma which dictated your behaviour now. People who didn’t help you to feel safe or didn’t even recognise when you felt unsafe.

It's time to shelve this idea that dogs should be seen and not heard.

I saw an excellent meme yesterday from the amazing “Heal the Dog” it stated very clearly that the opposite of obedience is not disobedience.

And that’s true.

Without rigid and forceful training dogs are not going to run wild eating people.

When we meet their dog needs, our dogs need less training.

Then with the training they do need, because we have built a wonderful trust between us, it’s more like coaching.

It’s a dance of unique individuals.

It’s a friendship.

A healthy relationship.

Let’s zoom out from the idea that we have a priority of nicely trained dogs.

And instead look at the entire dog.

The glorious dog.

Their full potential.

They don’t live very long, let’s fill that few years with safeness, respect, happy learning and fun times.

Not being walked around the park by a stranger for ego’s sake.

Not wearing a chain collar that threatens them not to move at their natural walking pace.

Their life, their time and their moments are all they have.

I promise you all, one day you will see how bad it is to overlook a dog’s needs and instead employ a trainer who gets results.

Don’t let that day be even a day too late for your dog.

🐶 Please!

11/04/2023

I’m proud to be a member of this ethical and force-free community of pet professionals ♥️🐾

Celebrating our AWESOME members! 🎉🎉🎉

Today we give a shout out to Member Babette Tappin of Pawsome Puppies, here's a little more about Babette and her story:

🐾🐾🐾

I’m Babette from Pawsome Puppies and my superpower is coaching existing puppy guardians and those who have committed to getting a pup shortly. I give them all the information they need to make decisions and choices about how to co-exist peacefully with their new family member.

I set up Pawsome Puppies to offer force-free, positive, ethical and relationship-centred help, advice and training for puppy guardians. I don’t do puppy classes or groups. I don’t train your dog for you. I coach humans to be the best person they can be for their canine companion and empower them to train their puppy themselves through understanding not just the ‘how’, but the ‘why’!

I was chased by a German Shepherd when I was 3 and spent the rest of my life as a ‘cat person’ who was terrified of dogs … until 7 years ago when we got a Labrador puppy. I spent two years researching and reading before this, and realised that everything I’d done using positive parenting with my four offspring was applicable to relationships with animals. I also realised that I could have learnt about dogs years before and cured my fear!

🐾🐾🐾

Her TOP TIP to all our followers and community is:

My top tip would be to understand that animals don’t - indeed, cannot - lie, and that all behaviour is information and feedback on their current situation. We just have to learn to listen ❤️

🐾🐾🐾

Here's what she has to say about the Pet Professional Network:

I’ve been so grateful to be part of the PPN network as it’s a group of like-minded, animal-loving professionals who truly believe, as do I, that there is no place for any aversive interaction with an animal. The supportive network is so uplifting and such a safe space to chat, exchange ideas and share resources.
........................................

Find out more about our supportive community 🐕🤩🥰

The Pet Professional Network is a business support community and educational platform.

To find out more about how to join Babette and over 500 other kind and ethical pet professionals please visit our website:

www.petpronetwork.com

Kind. Ethical. Trusted.

10/04/2023

⭐️ This little star is almost 8 now ⭐️

His life has been filled with good experiences, strong bonds and relationships (human and canine) and reliance on adults who will always listen to him and advocate for him.

This is why understanding your new puppy is so important! Don’t wait until you think there’s a problem and then believe it’s a quick fix or a simple training issue. I guarantee you it won’t be that easy!

What should you do?

Do the work when the dog is a puppy and your relationship will be so much better with fewer issues and problems as time goes on. And when things do go pear-shaped, you’ll know what to do!

How?

Book a video call with me. You’ll likely only need the one session to get you on the right road to that level of relationship from which every success will stem.

And a word to the wise - don’t let the cost of living crisis get in the way of setting you and your pup up for success!

Why?

Because I guarantee you it will be a longer and more expensive process to undo mistakes and misunderstandings further down the line!

WhatsApp 07930 125034 or message my page 🐾

01/04/2023

I'm posting this with a heavy heart. The time has come for a good hard look at my life. As much as I love the very bones of my two labradors, it’s taking up too much of my time to look after them, what with walking them twice a day, playing with them, ensuring they get the canine enrichment they need and and keeping up with the everyday basics of cleaning and maintaining my home, life admin and my human relationships. Something has to give before I reach breaking point!

As this is such a heartbreaking decision, I ask for serious enquiries only please.

Jasper (pictured right) aged almost 8, sensible and intelligent boy, slightly nervous of strange surfaces under his paws, needs to carry cushions or stuffies indoors and sticks outdoors, deeply loyal and doesn’t stray far from your side. Experienced in gundog and agility training.

Bix (left) is almost 5, full of puppyish joie de vivre, extremely affectionate, born to hunt and run, walks beautifully on a loose leash, always eager to please.

Please ensure messages are sent before 12 noon today, 1 April, April Fools’ Day!

16/01/2023

I will never forgive myself for allowing a gundog trainer to hit Jasper round the face twice in succession, with an arm raised for a third attempt, to get my beautiful, trusting animal to drop what he had so cleverly retrieved. I had no idea this was going to happen and had no warning and no conversation happened.

By their own admission they were not ‘100% positive' with their training, but at my first lesson I had no idea what this meant. What did my dog think of me, standing there, letting this happen? How could he forgive me for not speaking up, saying it was unacceptable, staying until the end of the lesson? I can't imagine sitting next to my granddaughter in her piano lessons and allowing the teacher to smack her hands for being in the wrong position, never mind continuing to the end of the session!

After I'd cried all the way home, I wised up, got myself educated and qualified in canine behaviour, and never went near anyone after that who said they were anything other than force-free in their training.

In some circumstances, my dogs, with whom I have built a cooperative and trusting relationship, may need to be leashed and told we are walking the other way, and they may not want to play that game. Yes I've had to drag my dog away sometimes - but on a harness, not on a collar and lead, so they are not strangled - to keep them safe when they don't understand the danger (busy road/field of sheep) but I am still advocating for my animals.

Sadly, humans, canines and equines often get treated this way because they are the most forgiving species and always come back. (I can't imagine a cat returning for a dose of the same treatment!)

Dogs are not 'dumb animals'. They just don't speak with words - it's all in their body language. Thank goodness I learnt to listen.

Here’s a picture to make you laugh - a fully paid-up card-carrying member of the adult Labrador community having a puppy moment - all tail, toes and teefs!

27/12/2022

Did you or someone you know get a puppy over Christmas?

The study below states that owners of new pups who didn’t have guidance in those first few formative months, and those who admitted to using aversive methods, had an increased chance of reporting ‘problem behaviour’ at around 9 months.

At Pawsome Puppies, the aim of the game is to set you up for success right from your first day together. Not only is timing critical, but the way you interact with a new pup sets neurological patterns which, like plumbing and wiring, will be hidden and undetectable until something goes wrong.

Don’t wait until the lights fuse to be told the house needs rewiring!

Message 07930 125034 via WhatsApp/text or message this page and let me help you prevent problems arising using only ethical and force-free science-based information 🐾

Read more: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159120302355

21/11/2022

I won’t train your dog. 🛑 ✋🏻

What?! 😱

But that’s why I’m contacting you! I want my dog to be well-behaved! To sit when told! To come when called! To be a model citizen of the canine world! So I need to know the magic words and actions to make that happen!

Then stick with me and read on.

I will teach YOU and empower YOU to understand your dog. How to recognise what he says, what she feels, what they think. That’s where the magic happens!

And I won’t use ANY aversives.

• No, I will not ask you to spray your dog with water if he counter-surfs in your kitchen.

• No, I will not ask you to ignore your dog if he’s trembling because he’s afraid of fireworks.

• No, I will not ask you to use ‘commands’ and expect him to know what you mean in every situation.

Forget what you’ve seen from those YouTube and TikTok ‘training’ videos.

If you want a different, positive, ethical, science-based approach, and a great relationship-centred foundation from which to work, get in touch!

WhatsApp me on 07930 125034 and let me coach you so you can be your pup’s biggest advocate and greatest cheerleader!

(Just to remind you - I won’t train your dog. Now you know why 🐾😌)