Once Dog AID achieved charitable status, I left and moved on to working with dog owners on a 1-2-1 basis, teaching basic training and helping them solve behavioural problems. Problems can often begin within the home environment, so I commence training there initially as it’s where both dog and owner already feel comfortable, before progressing to outdoor training and/or socialisation as may be required.

In between times, I attended agility with Cassie for fun, and dabbled in competition in both obedience and working trials, the civilian version of police dog work. My GSD’s enjoyed the latter immensely, the nose work elements in particular ~ searching & tracking ~ because it was simply channelling their natural instincts.  In fact, despite Saxon’s numerous problems, with kind training he became a great tracking dog and was also very enthusiastic when it came to man work (chasing and catching ‘criminals’).

I’m involved with dog rescue too, and spent the latter months of 2016 working as the behaviourist for a local centre, whilst I am currently working with ‘Forgotten Souls Rescue’, helping rehabilitate and re-home Romanian street dogs.

My personal opinion is that because of immense over-breeding and the recent trend for ‘designer’ crossbreeds that there are far too many dogs in rescue kennels awaiting homes at present, and worse still, hundreds being euthanised due to lack of available homes.

Dogs seem to ‘find’ me when they need a home, and I’m a firm believer that everything that happens for a reason and so they’re where they’re meant to be, as happened with my all of my beloved dogs.

My passion for helping dogs and their humans over the years eventually led to me to my decision to make it my life’s work by creating ‘Joyful Paws’, and I now dedicate my full attention to ensuring that I can help as many dogs and their humans as possible to live their lives in harmony together.

Offering professional, friendly, caring yet affordable assistance, I receive referrals from Vets4Pets, Walsgrave, Coventry, have been invited to do

many online presentations by various organisations, having also been consulted by T.V. production companies for advice on dog behaviour and training with regard to impending programmes.

I work with all breeds of dog of all ages, including rescues (Romanian street dogs & other overseas rescues, as well as U.K. rescues), Pit Bulls and other  breeds of dog which some trainers actually refuse to work with, and other exempted dogs. 

I’m happy to work with dogs of all temperaments, and specialise in helping reactive dogs; those displaying aggression or fear-based traits, and I very much look forward to working with you and yours. 

DOG TRAINING

So, you’ve invested your hard-earned money in buying your dog, and you’re now looking for help with his training.  Then doesn’t it make sense to invest in the best possible training for him that you can?  Well, Joyful Paws provides exactly that ~ the very best, for both you and for your dog.

Training sessions are on a 1-2-1 basis commencing from the comfort of your own home, progressing to outdoor sessions as required/desired.  Unlike in group training classes, full attention will be entirely on you alone, and your dog will also not be distracted unnecessarily. This gives you the opportunity to focus all of your energy on learning how to handle and train your dog, rather than worrying about what, or how, other dogs and their humans are doing.  If you live with a nervous or excitable/reactive dog, you may well find that group sessions are counter-productive for both you and your dog as your dog is likely to feel overwhelmed, which is likely to increase his stress levels and do more harm than good.

Dogs may exhibit a variety of ‘problem’ behaviours during their lives, but these can be easily resolved with basic training.  Such issues can include barking for attention, jumping up, pulling on the lead, not coming back when called, lack of toilet training, stealing items, or refusing to give up a toy (this list is not exhaustive!). 

As dogs learn by association, it’s often the case that we are inadvertently ‘rewarding’ them for inappropriate behaviours without even realising it, but even worse, it’s more frequently the case that our dogs are training us !