Paw by Paw South West

Hi, I’m Rachael!

My love of dogs started as a toddler with my best friend, a German Shepherd called Juno who I was so lucky to share the first 13 years of my life with. We went everywhere and did everything together; she really taught me the meaning of true friendship. Over the years we had many family dogs from puppies to rescues, mix breeds to pure; each and every one unique in their own way. 

My first dog as a young adult was an English Springer Spaniel called Hook Norton. He was given to me by his breeder having been returned to her from his family. Hook Norton found his life with a young family too overwhelming and so came to me for a quieter one. It was through him that my interest in dog training really developed. I started to attend social walking groups, workshops on anything and everything such as clicker training and gun dog scurrying and attended a fortnightly shoot which is where we found his calling. This special boy, was also where my love of spaniels originated and the boy who inspired my logo was my second English Springer Spaniel Dylan! Dylan sadly passed in June 2019 and I miss him terribly.

I now live in Somerset with my husband and daughter; a Fox Red Labrador, Isla and new English Springer Spaniel puppy, Aggie! I discovered Puppy School whilst looking for a puppy training class to attend with Isla and found myself in my element. Fast forward 4 years and I was offered the chance to share my passion with other owners by becoming a Puppy School Tutor myself.  This has since expanded into running classes for junior dogs, workshops and offering private sessions for basic training, training issues and an introduction to Gun Dog Training. I have also, since, achieved Animal Training Instructor status with the ABTC.

I am always keeping my skills up to date by attending regular courses in canine behaviour and the latest dog training techniques and I can truthfully say, I love my job!

I joined the Puppy School Team as a tutor in 2017 after attending classes with my own dog four years before and finding myself in my element. I have had the pleasure of experiencing many breeds from mixed to pure; puppies to rescues over my lifetime and have always taken a keen interest in their training. I have gone on to volunteering at a local rescue centre; furthering my breed and handling experience and assisting at a colleague’s Puppy School classes for the past year. I continue to develop my knowledge in behaviour and the latest training techniques by attending regular courses and workshops. I am a true advocate for reward based training methods and have seen the fantastic results. I live in South Somerset with my husband and daughter and my English Springer Spaniel, Dylan and Fox Red Labrador, Isla.