Listen Up Pup

08/10/2026

I love providing enrichment activities for my clients 🐾 however sorting out the aftermath can sometimes be a little time consuming 🤣

I hold South West Dog Skills responsible for providing the awesome amaceballs 🤩.

I have never been great at puzzles 🤯

03/10/2026

I finally met Kate from forragers today!

Such brilliant enrichment items! Pop along and have a look at them at Dogfest tomorrow.

I have been told there is a discount on the catapillar with foraging pouches for tomorrow 🥰

Just met the lovely Tracey from Listen Up Pup at DogFest Blenheim Palace. Great to put a face to a name and fantastic to have Tracey’s support for PickPockets. 🥰

02/10/2026

Put your paws together for our most recent foundation class graduates 🎓 🐾

A huge well done to you all 👏
It's been an absolute pleasure watching your pups grow in confidence (as well as size!) over the classes.

Lenny and Freddie are already putting their Listen Up Pup Pickpocket Foragers to good use! Rather than handing out rosettes that end up gathering dust, i like to give the pups something practical that they can continue to enjoy. These foragers make a great enrichment item to keep your pup busy when you are out and about, giving them something fun to do and putting their noses to work.

I look forward to seeing those of you who have signed up for the next block of classes, and hopefully catching up with the rest of you at future sessions.

Well done everyone and thank you for choosing me to be part of your pups learning journey! 🥰

24/09/2026

My, what big teeth you have! 🦷

This is a brilliant example of a fierce play face, as illustrated in the fabulous Doggy Language by Lili Chin. It's always on my recommended reading list for clients who want to learn more about canine body language.

Saturday's puppy socialisation session was full of learning, play and some lovely friendships being made.

🐾 Colin and Enzo

These two Labrador x Spaniel brothers hadn't played together since they went to their new homes at 8 weeks old. They had a marvellous time reconnecting!

At first, Colin was a little overexcited and his enthusiasm was worrying the other puppies. We introduced some calming activities and helped him regulate his energy. By the end of the session, he and Enzo were playing happily together.

🐾 Robbie and Archie

These two terriers made lovely playmates. They had similar play styles and clearly enjoyed each other's company. Their owners are planning to stay in touch to arrange more play dates, which is fantastic to see.

🐾 Peanut

Our youngest puppy, Peanut, was happiest staying in a pen, taking in all the exciting smells and information without having to interact directly with the other dogs.

Towards the end, she had a lovely interaction with Layla, Nat's beautifully calm Springer. The crazy puppy energy from some of the others was simply too much for her, but Layla offered a much more comfortable experience.

We were careful not to force anything, allowing Peanut to meet new dogs at her own pace and on her terms. She will have gained valuable experience and confidence from being able to observe, explore and interact when she felt ready.

And that's what puppy socialisation is all about. It's not about making puppies play with every dog they meet. It's about helping them feel safe, building positive experiences and learning to navigate the world at their own pace.

Every puppy is different, and successful socialisation means recognising and respecting those differences. ❤️

Interested in a puppy or older dog socialisation session?

Message me on WhatsApp on 07747 487803 or email [email protected] and I'll add you to the list.

Let's help your dog build confidence through positive experiences.

20/09/2026

🐾 What’s Coming Up at Listen Up Pup?

There’s lots happening at Listen Up Pup this October, with new blocks of classes starting and two exciting workshops to look forward to!
Whether you’re just beginning your training journey, looking to build on existing skills or want to try something new with your dog, there’s something for everyone.

🎓 Foundation Classes | Sundays at 9am

New block starts Sunday 4th October

For puppies and adult dogs with little or no previous training.
These classes focus on teaching the foundational skills that help dogs develop into happy, confident individuals. We’ll work on building understanding, communication and the essential skills that make everyday life easier.

📍 Outdoor training venue, Brize Norton 📅 7-week block

💪 Life Skills | Sundays, 10.15am – 11.15am

New block starts Sunday 4th October

For dogs who have completed their basic training and are ready to build on those skills.

We’ll tackle common challenges that can arise as dogs get older, while developing strong, practical skills for everyday life. These classes are about helping you and your dog continue to learn, progress and build confidence together.

📍 Outdoor training venue, Brize Norton 📅 7-week block

🐾 Gundog Skills for Pet Dogs | Sundays, 11.45am – 12.45pm

New block starts Sunday 11th October

For dogs who love having a job to do!

This is a fun, rewarding bonding class where you and your dog can learn gundog-inspired skills such as searching, retrieving and working in exciting environments.
A great way to channel your dog’s natural abilities, build teamwork and enjoy learning something new together.

📍 Outdoor training venue, Brize Norton 📅 6-week block

🎉 October Special Events

I’m also excited to have two special workshops coming up this October!

⭕ Hoopers Taster Session
📅 Saturday 10th October ⏰ 9.30am – 11.30am 💷 £20

Give Hoopers a go!

Hoopers is a fun, low-impact agility activity where you’ll learn to work as a team and develop your ability to guide your dog at a distance.

Suitable for dogs of any age, complete beginners and those who would like to improve their existing skills.
🐶 Scent Workshop

📅 Saturday 17th October ⏰ 9.30am – 11.30am

Explore the fascinating world of scent and discover what your dog’s incredible nose can do!

Scent work is mentally stimulating, highly rewarding and a fantastic way to support your dog’s general wellbeing. It can also be a lovely activity for building confidence while enjoying quality time together.

📍 All classes and workshops take place at my outdoor training venue in Brize Norton.

If you’re not sure which class or workshop would be the best fit for you and your dog, just send me a message. I’m always happy to help!

Spaces are available – get in touch to book your place. 🐾

⌨️[email protected]
☎️07747 487803

17/09/2026

What does good play look like?

Mabel and Olea had a lovely time at our larger dog socialisation session last night, with Jellybean and Olea enjoying a nice mooch around too, although they were less interested in playing.

Mabel was a little too much for Jellybean, and because of Jelly’s smaller size, Mabel became more interested in chasing her than playing together.

This highlights one of the golden rules of dog play: if the play isn’t alternating, it isn’t fun for both dogs!

So we stopped that interaction very quickly. Socialisation isn’t about making dogs interact at all costs; it’s about helping them learn to communicate, make choices and feel comfortable around other dogs.

The video shows a lovely example of this.
Mabel, the Golden Retriever, invites Olea to play and Olea reciprocates. They then head off into the long grass together in a wonderfully joyful, rocking-horse-style run🐴.

What I particularly love is what happens next.

Olea gives a calming signal by stopping and looking away, and Mabel responds by breaking off the play too. She then invites Olea to play again, but this time Olea communicates that she’s had enough and is ready for a rest.

Mabel listens.

Rather than pestering Olea to continue, she just lies down beside her.

That is such lovely communication between two dogs. Both dogs are able to say “yes”, “not right now” and “I need a break”, and importantly, the other dog listens.

My next larger dog socialisation sessions are:
🐾 Sunday 4th October at 2pm
🐾 Saturday 31st October at 10am

If you’d like to find out more about these sessions, or you can’t make these dates but would be interested in arranging another session, just drop me an email at [email protected]

09/09/2026

I may have bought a haul of Tug-E-Nuff toys for my birthday 🤫

Bea approves

08/09/2026

It's my birthday today and these are my marvellous presents 🎁.
I particularly love my shed / fencing voucher!

I need a better fencing solution so that we can do more off lead play for the pups.
Plus a shed for all the training and free work items we have collected 🙃

05/09/2026

All set up and ready for the Calm Connection Workshop this morning..

29/08/2026

Your puppy hasn’t forgotten their toilet training… they might just hate the rain! 🌧️🐾

If your pup was doing brilliantly with toilet training but is suddenly having accidents indoors now the weather has changed, don't worry, you’re not alone!☔

For some puppies, a wet, cold garden is enough to make them think, “I’ll hold it!” — until they can’t any longer.
So what can you do?

👉 Go back to basics.

Take your puppy outside after they finish doing anything, eating, sleeping or playing, and stay with them while they toilet. Keep things calm and boring until they’ve completely finished, then reward them with praise, a treat or a little play.

If they don’t go, come back inside and try again in around 5- 10 minutes. Scattering some food for them to sniff can help to stimulate them to go.

Keep a little timetable of when your puppy eats, sleeps, plays and toilets. This will help you spot patterns and work out when they’re most likely to need a toilet break.

Watch for those pre-toilet signs. Sniffing, circling or wandering off can be your cue to get outside before an accident happens.

Most importantly, don’t punish accidents.
Punishment can make puppies worried about toileting in front of you, which can create even bigger problems. Instead, just calmly give them another opportunity to get it right.

Remember to clean accidents thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner to remove the scent and reduce the chance of repeat accidents.

The rain hasn’t undone all your hard work. Your puppy just needs a little extra support while they get used to toileting in wet weather.

If your puppy is struggling with toilet training, get in touch — I’m happy to help.🐾💕