http://spotthatdogtraining.com/

Spot That Dog - Training and Services, Bristol (2026)

06/09/2026

🐾 CLASSES NEXT WEEK! 🐾

Here’s what we’ve got coming up at Spot That Dog from 7th–13th September 👇

📅 MONDAY 7th
🐶 6:30pm – Dog Socialisation
🐾 7:00pm – Fun Gun Dog Class

📅 TUESDAY 8th
🍻 6:30pm – Pub Training Workshop

📅 WEDNESDAY 9th
👃 7:30pm – Scent & Search

📅 THURSDAY 10th
🐕 6:30pm – Puppy Socialisation
👃 7:00pm – Scent & Search

📅 FRIDAY 11th
🏅 6:30pm – Rolling Agility
🐕 7:30pm – Puppy Foundation Agility

📅 SATURDAY 12th
🚫 No classes scheduled

📅 SUNDAY 13th
🎉 BS14 Fundraiser – all day!

Whether you’re working on socialisation, obedience, confidence, scentwork or having some fun with your dog, there’s something for everyone! 🐕💚

📩 Spaces are available – get in touch or book through our website!

06/09/2026

🐾 PUPPY WEEK — THAT’S A WRAP! 🐾

And just like that… PUPPY WEEK is over! 🥹🐶

We hope you’ve enjoyed following along this week and, more importantly, that you’ve picked up a few things that might make life with your puppy a little easier.

We’ve talked about some of the BIG things that every puppy owner should know:

🐶 LIFE STAGES
Understanding that puppies don’t develop overnight — and that adolescence is coming! 😂

😴 SLEEP & BITING
Because sometimes your tiny land shark doesn’t need more exercise… they need a nap! 🦈💤

🌎 SOCIALISATION & HABITUATION
It’s not about meeting everyone and everything. It’s about helping your puppy feel safe and confident in the world.

🏠 SEPARATION & INDEPENDENCE
Teaching your puppy that being apart from you is safe and that they can cope when you’re not right beside them.

🧠 TRAINING
Training isn’t just about teaching a “sit”.

It’s about teaching your puppy how to navigate life.

And finally…

😈 ADOLESCENCE
Because yes… that gorgeous little puppy will eventually become a teenager who appears to have forgotten every single thing you’ve ever taught them! 😂

⸻

❤️ BUT IF YOU TAKE ONE THING AWAY FROM PUPPY WEEK…

You don’t need a perfect puppy.

Your puppy doesn’t need to:

❌ Sit perfectly every time
❌ Walk beautifully from day one
❌ Love every dog they meet
❌ Be comfortable in every environment
❌ Have perfect recall
❌ Never have a bad day

They’re babies.

They’re learning.

And they’re going to make mistakes.

Your job isn’t to prevent every mistake.

It’s to help them learn from those experiences and give them the skills they need to succeed.

⸻

🐾 DON’T COMPARE YOUR PUPPY

One puppy might confidently walk into a busy town centre.

Another might need months before they’re comfortable there.

One puppy might be brilliant at recall.

Another might find sniffing EVERYTHING far more exciting. 😂

One puppy might sleep beautifully.

Another might need more help learning to settle.

That’s okay.

Every dog is an individual.

Progress isn’t always linear.

Some days you’ll feel like you’re absolutely smashing it…

And other days you’ll wonder if your puppy has been replaced by a tiny furry gremlin. 😂

That’s puppyhood!

⸻

💚 AND REMEMBER…

The goal isn’t to create a dog who simply does what they’re told.

We want to help create dogs who are:

🐾 Confident
🧠 Resilient
❤️ Emotionally secure
👃 Able to explore
🏠 Comfortable being alone
😴 Able to settle
🐶 Able to communicate
🤝 Able to build positive relationships
🌎 Able to cope with everyday life

And that takes time, patience and consistency.

⸻

🎓 KEEP TRAINING!

Puppy class isn’t the end of your dog’s training journey.

It’s the beginning.

As your puppy grows, their needs change.

That’s why continuing education is so important — whether that’s puppy classes, 1:1 training, adolescent training, scentwork, confidence work or simply continuing to practise those everyday life skills at home.

You’re not just training a puppy.

You’re building the relationship you’ll have with your dog for the next 10, 12, 15+ years. ❤️

So celebrate the tiny wins.

Celebrate the first successful recall.

The first calm walk.

The first time they settle while you make dinner.

The first time they choose their toy instead of your shoes. 😂

Those little moments are the BIG moments.

🐶💙 Thank you for joining us for PUPPY WEEK! 💚

If you’ve found our posts helpful, save them, share them with another puppy owner and keep following Spot That Dog for more training tips, advice and support.

And if you’re currently raising a puppy and thinking:

“I could really use some help with this…”

That’s exactly what we’re here for. 🐾

📩 Get in touch with Spot That Dog to find out how we can help you and your puppy.

Because you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. ❤️

Spot That Dog — helping you understand your dog, not just train them.

05/09/2026

Little bit of Saturday lunch garden training with the boys today

I love using gundog style games to help with their wait and impulse control

05/09/2026

Don't forget to book your space on our Pub Training Workshop, this Tuesday at The Compton Inn

Teach your dog to relax in public setting and make those family outings more enjoyable!

Head to www.spotthatdogtraining.com to book your spot!

Limited spaces available!

05/09/2026

🐾 PUPPY WEEK: WELCOME TO ADOLESCENCE! 🐾

Ahhh… adolescence.

That magical stage where your sweet, cuddly puppy suddenly seems to wake up one morning and think:

“I know you said sit… but have you considered… NO?” 😂🙈

If you’re currently living with a teenage dog, you’re not alone!

And if your puppy hasn’t reached this stage yet…

Buckle up! 🎢🐶

🧠 WHAT ACTUALLY IS ADOLESCENCE?

Adolescence is a normal developmental stage between puppyhood and adulthood.

It can begin from around 6 months, although the timing varies between individuals, and some dogs can continue developing socially and emotionally well into their second or even third year.

Their bodies are changing.

Their brains are developing.

Their hormones may be changing.

And they’re becoming more independent.

Basically…

They’re figuring out who they are!

⸻

🙉 “BUT THEY KNEW THAT YESTERDAY!”

This is one of the most frustrating parts for owners.

Your puppy may have had a fantastic recall.

They knew their sit.

They could walk beautifully on a lead.

They settled at home.

Then suddenly…

🐕 “I can’t hear you.”

👃 “This smell is MUCH more important.”

🐶 “That dog over there is my new best friend.”

🏃 “GOODBYE, HUMAN!”

😂

It can feel like all your hard work has disappeared.

It hasn’t.

Your dog hasn’t forgotten everything you’ve taught them.

Their ability to respond can be affected by increased distractions, excitement, changing motivations and their developing brain.

This is why adolescence is NOT the time to stop training.

It’s the time to go back to basics and keep building.

⸻

🐾 YOU MAY ALSO NOTICE…

Teenage dogs can suddenly become:

👀 More distracted
🐕 More interested in other dogs
👃 Obsessed with sniffing
🏃 More independent
💥 Full of energy
😳 Suddenly worried about things they previously ignored
🦷 More mouthy
🙉 Less reliable with recall
🚪 More interested in exploring
❤️ More emotionally sensitive

And sometimes their behaviour can seem to change from one day to the next!

That’s normal.

Development isn’t always a straight line.

⸻

💚 WHAT CAN YOU DO?

1️⃣ KEEP TRAINING

Don’t think:

“They’re a teenager now, so there’s no point.”

Quite the opposite!

Keep reinforcing the behaviours you want.

Short, fun training sessions can be incredibly valuable.

⸻

2️⃣ LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS

Your dog might be brilliant in the kitchen but struggle in the park.

That’s okay!

Training needs to happen in different environments and around gradually increasing distractions.

Don’t expect a teenage dog to have the same level of impulse control everywhere.

⸻

3️⃣ DON’T STOP REWARDING

Just because your dog “knows” a behaviour doesn’t mean they should never be rewarded for doing it.

Why would they keep choosing you if the environment is offering better rewards?!

Make yourself worth listening to. 🥰

⸻

4️⃣ GIVE THEM APPROPRIATE OUTLETS

Teenage dogs have energy, curiosity and a growing desire to explore.

Give them opportunities to:

👃 Sniff
🧠 Problem solve
🐾 Explore
🦴 Chew
🎾 Play
🏃 Move
😴 REST

A fulfilled dog is much easier to live with than a dog who is constantly frustrated or overstimulated.

⸻

5️⃣ DON’T FORGET SLEEP!

Just because they’re bigger doesn’t mean they no longer need plenty of rest.

Teenagers can still become overtired and overwhelmed.

Sometimes the answer isn’t another walk…

It’s a nap! 😂💤

⸻

❤️ MOST IMPORTANTLY…

Don’t give up on your dog during adolescence.

This can be one of the most challenging stages for owners, but it’s also an incredibly important time to continue building the adult dog you want to live with.

Your teenage dog isn’t trying to make your life difficult.

They’re developing.

They’re learning.

They’re experimenting.

And they’re still figuring out how to navigate the world.

So when they have a bad day…

Take a breath.

Go back a step.

Make things easier.

Reward the good stuff.

And remember how far you’ve already come. 🐾❤️

The puppy you loved is still in there… they’ve just discovered teenage hormones! 😂

💙💚 At Spot That Dog, we don’t just want to train puppies — we want to help you understand them through every stage of their development.

If you’re struggling with your teenage dog, you’re not failing and you’re definitely not alone.

Keep following for the rest of PUPPY WEEK! 🐶

04/09/2026

Round up of all the paws and snoots we’ve seen this week!

🐾🐶🐐

04/09/2026

🐾 PUPPY WEEK: SEPARATION & INDEPENDENCE 🐾

One of the biggest things we can teach our puppies is something that often gets overlooked…

How to be okay when we aren’t there. 🏠🐶

It can be tempting to spend every waking minute with your new puppy — and let’s be honest, who wouldn’t?! 🥹❤️

But puppies also need to learn that being apart from us is safe, normal and nothing to worry about.

🏠 WHY IS SEPARATION TRAINING IMPORTANT?

Imagine being a puppy who has just left their mum and littermates.

Suddenly, you’re in a completely new home, surrounded by new smells, sounds and people.

Your new humans are your entire world!

So when they disappear through a door, it can be pretty scary.

We want to gradually teach our puppies:

“My human can leave… and they always come back.” 💚

This is where independence training comes in.

⸻

🐾 START SMALL!

Separation training doesn’t have to mean:

❌ Leaving your puppy alone for an hour
❌ Going straight out for a shopping trip
❌ Waiting until they cry and hoping they’ll settle
❌ Suddenly changing their routine

Instead, start with tiny, successful separations.

For example:

🐶 Puppy settles with a chew
🚶 You take one step away
⏱️ Come back
❤️ Reward calm behaviour

Then gradually build up.

A few seconds can be enough to begin with!

The goal is to build confidence gradually, not to see how long your puppy can cope before they become distressed.

⸻

🚪 YOU CAN PRACTISE WHILE YOU’RE STILL AT HOME!

Separation training isn’t only about leaving the house.

Try giving your puppy opportunities to relax while you:

☕ Make a cup of tea
🚿 Have a shower
🍽️ Cook dinner
🧹 Do some housework
💻 Work at your desk
📺 Watch TV

Your puppy doesn’t need to follow you from room to room all day.

Sometimes you can calmly encourage them to settle while you get on with your own life.

⸻

🧠 TEACH THEM THAT BEING ALONE = GOOD THINGS

A special chew, food toy or enrichment activity can help create a positive association with their safe space.

Think:

“When I’m relaxing on my own, good things happen.” 🦴❤️

But don’t use food as a way to simply distract a puppy who is already panicking.

If your puppy is distressed, we need to reduce the difficulty and work at a level they can cope with.

⸻

🚨 DON’T IGNORE DISTRESS

There’s a BIG difference between a puppy who is having a little grumble because you’ve moved away and a puppy who is genuinely distressed.

Signs can include:

😰 Persistent whining or barking
🚪 Scratching or trying to escape
💨 Pacing
🐾 Repeatedly following you
💦 Excessive panting or drooling
🚽 Toileting when normally house-trained
🦷 Destructive behaviour
😟 Being unable to settle

If your puppy is showing significant distress, don’t simply leave them to “cry it out.”

They aren’t learning that being alone is safe if they’re terrified.

They need the training broken down into smaller, achievable steps.

⸻

🎓 AND WHAT ABOUT TRAINING?

This is why we LOVE training from the very beginning!

Training isn’t just about teaching:

🐾 Sit
🐾 Down
🐾 Paw
🐾 Stay

It’s about teaching your puppy life skills.

We want our puppies to learn:

✔️ How to settle
✔️ How to make good choices
✔️ How to cope with frustration
✔️ How to focus
✔️ How to be independent
✔️ How to listen around distractions
✔️ How to confidently navigate the world

And most importantly…

Training helps you and your puppy understand each other. ❤️

You don’t need a perfectly behaved puppy.

You need a puppy who is learning how to be a dog in the human world — and a human who understands how to help them.

🐶💙 Remember: independence is a skill, and skills need to be taught.

Start small.

Go at your puppy’s pace.

Celebrate the little wins.

And don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re struggling.

Follow Spot That Dog for more Puppy Week tips! 💙💚

03/09/2026

🐾 PUPPY WEEK: SOCIALISATION & HABITUATION 🐾

One of the biggest things we hear from new puppy owners is:

“How do I socialise my puppy properly?” 🤔🐶

And there’s a common misconception…

Socialisation does NOT mean taking your puppy out and making them meet every person and every dog they see!

In fact, sometimes less interaction and more observation is exactly what your puppy needs. 💚

🌎 WHAT IS SOCIALISATION?

Socialisation is about helping your puppy learn how to feel comfortable and behave appropriately around the people, animals and environments they are likely to encounter throughout life.

This could include:

🐶 Other dogs
👨‍👩‍👧 Different types of people
👶 Children
🚗 Cars and traffic
🏠 Different environments
🐾 Other animals
🛒 Busy places
🏥 Vets
✂️ Groomers
🚂 Public transport
🌳 Parks and countryside
🏙️ Town centres

But here’s the important part…

Your puppy doesn’t have to interact with everything they encounter.

Sometimes the best socialisation is simply:

👀 Look at it.
👂 Listen to it.
🧠 Process it.
💚 Feel safe.
🐾 Move on.

For example, sitting outside a café and watching people walk past can be fantastic socialisation.

Your puppy doesn’t need to greet every single person.

⸻

🔊 SO WHAT IS HABITUATION?

Habituation is slightly different.

It’s about helping your puppy learn that everyday sights, sounds and experiences are just part of life.

Think about all the things your puppy may encounter:

🚿 The shower
🧹 The hoover
🚪 The doorbell
📺 The TV
🚗 Traffic
🚲 Bikes
🛵 Motorbikes
🌧️ Rain
💨 Wind
🎆 Unexpected noises
🛍️ Shopping bags
🪜 Different surfaces
🔔 Household noises

The aim isn’t to make your puppy completely ignore everything.

It’s to help them learn:

“That’s a bit weird… but it’s okay.” 😌

⸻

🧠 QUALITY > QUANTITY

You don’t need to tick off 100 experiences in one week.

In fact, overwhelming your puppy with lots of new experiences can be counterproductive.

Instead, think:

Small + positive + controlled = great learning

Let your puppy experience something new at a level they can cope with.

If they’re comfortable, great!

If they’re worried, give them more distance and time.

You don’t need to force them closer.

⸻

🚨 WATCH YOUR PUPPY!

Your puppy is constantly communicating with you.

Look for signs that they’re becoming overwhelmed:

👀 Avoiding or hiding
🐾 Trying to move away
👅 Excessive licking
🥱 Yawning when not tired
🐕 Freezing or becoming very still
😳 Excessive barking
💨 Trying to escape
🦷 Becoming unusually bitey
🙉 Unable to focus

These can be signs that your puppy needs more space, less stimulation or a break.

Don’t wait until your puppy is completely overwhelmed.

⸻

❤️ AND REMEMBER…

Socialisation isn’t something you “finish” at 12 weeks.

Yes, early puppyhood is an incredibly important time for development, but learning doesn’t stop there.

Your puppy will continue experiencing new things throughout adolescence and adulthood.

Our job is to keep helping them navigate those experiences positively.

So instead of asking:

❌ “How many people/dogs has my puppy met?”

Try asking:

✅ “How many new experiences has my puppy learned they can safely cope with?”

That’s a much more useful measure of successful socialisation. 🐾💚

Socialisation isn’t about making your puppy love everything.

It’s about helping them become a dog who can confidently exist in the world.

💙 Follow Spot That Dog for more Puppy Week tips!

02/09/2026

🐾 PUPPY WEEK: SLEEP & PUPPY BITING 🐾

If there are two things that can leave new puppy owners wondering “What on earth am I doing wrong?!”…

😴 Sleep
🦷 Biting

The good news? They are often connected!

😴 LET’S TALK ABOUT SLEEP

Puppies need A LOT of sleep.

A young puppy can sleep for 18–20 hours a day, although individual puppies will vary.

That might sound excessive, but their bodies and brains are working incredibly hard as they grow. 🧠💤

They’re learning new things, experiencing new environments, meeting new people and developing physically and emotionally.

All of that takes energy!

A puppy who hasn’t had enough sleep can become:

😵‍💫 Over-excited
🦷 Extra bitey
🏃 Zoomy
🙉 Less responsive
😤 Frustrated
💥 Unable to settle
👀 Easily distracted

And sometimes what looks like a puppy who needs more exercise is actually a puppy who desperately needs a nap!

💤 HELPING YOUR PUPPY SLEEP

Don’t wait for your puppy to become completely exhausted before expecting them to settle.

Instead, build regular opportunities for rest into their day.

Think:

🐾 Toilet → play → training → explore → sleep

A quiet, comfortable space can help your puppy switch off.

And remember…

Rest is not a punishment.

Your puppy doesn’t need to be entertained every minute they’re awake!

Learning to relax, settle and do absolutely nothing is an incredibly valuable life skill. ❤️

⸻

🦷 NOW… THE BITING!

“MY PUPPY IS TRYING TO EAT ME!” 😂

Puppy biting is normal puppy behaviour.

Puppies explore the world with their mouths, play using their mouths and, of course, go through the process of losing their baby teeth and getting their adult teeth.

So when your puppy grabs your hands, clothes, feet or ankles…

It doesn’t automatically mean they’re aggressive or “bad.”

They’re learning.

But that doesn’t mean we simply have to put up with being a human chew toy! 😂

🦷 WHAT CAN YOU DO?

✔️ Redirect onto an appropriate toy or chew

If your puppy wants to bite, give them something they can bite.

✔️ Keep hands out of the game

Avoid encouraging rough play with your hands if you don’t want hands to become part of the game.

✔️ Reward calm behaviour

If your puppy chooses to lie down, chew their own toy or interact calmly with you — reward it!

✔️ Look at their sleep

If the biting suddenly goes from “a little nibble” to SHARK MODE 🦈…

Ask yourself:

👉 When did they last sleep?

👉 Have they had lots of stimulation?

👉 Have they been awake too long?

👉 Do they need a quiet break?

✔️ Don’t turn it into a wrestling match

Chasing your puppy, pushing them away or repeatedly telling them “NO!” can sometimes make the interaction even more exciting.

Instead, calmly redirect and give them an alternative.

🧠 AND HERE’S THE BIG ONE…

A tired puppy isn’t always a sleepy puppy.

Sometimes they’re an overtired puppy who has completely lost the ability to regulate themselves.

Think about a toddler who desperately needs a nap but is instead running around screaming…

Puppies can be remarkably similar! 😂

So next time your puppy turns into a tiny land shark, don’t immediately assume they need more exercise.

They might need:

💤 SLEEP

🐾 A calm environment

🦴 Something appropriate to chew

❤️ And a little help regulating themselves

Puppyhood can be hard — but you’re not doing it wrong!

They’re babies learning how to navigate a very big world. 🐶🌎

Follow Spot That Dog for more Puppy Week tips! 💙💚

Tomorrow we’re talking about another BIG puppy topic… 👀🐾

Spot That Dog - Training and Services

06/09/2026

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