Sarah Groves Dog Training

23/06/2026

10 weeks old… already learning the skills she’ll need as a big girl 🐾

One of the things I love most about my job is getting to work with so many different breeds, personalities and challenges.

This morning I met Hazel, the 10 week old Rhodesian Ridgeback cross Retriever, and although this is a breed mix that I never see, it’s so important to understand what makes each dog tick.

Because every puppy comes with their own natural traits, and the earlier we understand those needs, the easier it is to help them grow into the dog we want them to become.

Hazel is a smart little cookie, and her owner had noticed she was starting to become a little more restless in the evenings, so we started introducing some nosework games to help her use her brain, build calmness and give her an appropriate outlet for her natural abilities.

We also worked on some of those important foundations:
✔️ Sit and lie down
✔️ Building positive feelings around the crate
✔️ Lead focus exercises

The lead work is especially important at this age, as Hazel has started enjoying chewing on the lead (something lots of puppies do!) and we want to help her learn what we’d like her to do instead.

Starting these skills now, before she’s big enough to pull with all her strength, gives her the best chance of becoming a confident, calm and enjoyable adult dog.

Puppies don’t just need tiring out. They need to learn how to think, settle and navigate the world around them.

If you’ve got a puppy and you’re wondering what you should be teaching now to set them up for the future, send me a message and let’s chat about where to start.

07891222454

23/06/2026

Walking on the lead - top tips!

Teaching your dog to walk on a loose lead close to you in a range of different environments without pulling is such a difficult skill to train - and quite a big ask!

Here are some of the reasons why it’s so difficult!

1 – Dogs naturally walk faster than us, so learning how to match our pace can be frustrating – think about walking down the street with an older, slower person or a toddler and think about how you need to match their pace to make sure they keep up with you. This is what your dog needs to do on every walk!

2 – Harnesses, collars and leads are very unnatural pieces of equipment, yet we expect our dogs to just accept them!

Your pup will need to learn what these pieces of equipment are and to be happy with them being put on before expecting them to walk nicely in them.

3 – Dog’s don’t naturally walk in a straight line – they are going to be following scent trails on the ground – which are all over the place! Some dogs will be more 'nosey' than others.

4 – The different environments will be packed full of different exciting stimuli – people, sounds, dogs, birds, smells, textures under their feet – and your dog will want to explore these, which can affect their ability to walk on a loose lead.

So if you are in the middle of teaching your puppy how to walk on a lead, here are some of my top tips!

1) Introduce your pup to a harness and lead at a young age – slowly and gradually

2) A longer lead rather than a shorter lead can be more beneficial when teaching how to walk successfully on a loose lead (but not an extendable lead)

3) Start teaching your pup that walking with you on a lead brings a good outcome – you can do this by giving your dog a treat for standing next to you or taking small steps with you, without pulling infront. If your dog pulls, stop, encourage them next to you and start again.

4) Set your pup up for success by first teaching them to walk with you in a lower distraction environment – starting in the house, then the garden then in a new place, such as a quiet field or street.

5) Repeat from scratch in new places

6) Also teaching your pup to be calm in different situations will help to manage their ability to learn this tricky skill

7) Teach your dog to be able to focus on you in different places can also help

8 ) Don’t be tricked into ‘the quick fix effect’ of tools such as choke chains, slip leads, grot collars or prong collars.

These pieces of equipment will get you quick results, but at the cost of your dogs health and wellbeing as they work by causing discomfort and possible damage to your dogs structures in their neck.

Most of all, try not to get too frustrated, as this skill does take time, and it’s not going to be perfect straight away!

Get in touch to get your dog on track with their lead skills 07891222454

23/06/2026

https://www.sarahgrovesdogtraining.co.uk/post/dogsandsummerheat

By Sarah Groves Dog Training - puppy training specialist for dog owners who live in Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and surrounding areasSummer is FINALLY here - get your shorts on, sun cream out and lollipops ready! It's easy for us to keep ourselves cool in this weather, but what about our dogs?Here a...

22/06/2026

You might have seen me posting about The Puppy Solutions Program and wondered what exactly is it...?

- It's not a class
- It's not just a one to one

So what is it...?

The Puppy Solutions Program was developed to make sure that puppy parents like yourself get longer term training support which is tailored to you and your pups individual needs.

I know that sometimes training classes are too overwhelming and distracting, so the puppy doesn't end up developing the skills that YOU want from them, and you don't get the answers that you need.
One off one to one training session isn't quite enough to give you the longer term support or guidance that you need.

Trying to find answers online is so confusing and you don't get answers for YOUR specific problem or situation - you could ask 5 different people for advice and get 5 different answers!

So The Puppy Solutions Program is a combination of:

- 5 one to one training sessions over the space of about 10 weeks
- Message support in between training sessions
- Online learning to help you along the way
- The option to then build and develop skills as a part of a small group later on once core skills have been taught

By doing it this way, you get THE FULL WORKS -
- Learn how to teach your puppy the skills that YOU need from them

- Get phone support if problems or questions pop up in between training sessions

- Send me a video of your training progress in between one to ones for feedback or send me videos of any behaviours which you might be concerned about at the moment

- Start straight away with videos and resources on my online school

- Continue and develop your skills with the options for group learning later down the line.

So if you're looking for a refreshing change from your typical puppy classes, have a puppy under the age of 18 months old and live within or around the Neath, Port Talbot or Swansea areas, message me today and tell me about your puppy to learn more!

You can find me here or call/whatsapp - 07891 222454
Email [email protected]
You can also fill in a form via my website here
https://www.sarahgrovesdogtraining.co.uk/the-puppy-solutions-program

22/06/2026

💛 Can we talk about the side of puppy ownership that nobody really prepares you for?

The bit where you’re sat there thinking…

“WHAT have I done?!” 😩

And maybe you feel guilty for even having that thought.

But honestly, I don’t judge the overwhelmed puppy parents who have those moments.

Not at all.

Because having those thoughts doesn’t mean you’re a bad puppy owner.

Actually, it usually means the opposite. It means you care. You wanted to get it right, you love your puppy, and you’re trying your absolute best.

But puppies are HARD.

The biting that makes you wonder if you’ve brought home a tiny crocodile 🐊

The broken sleep.

The nights spent on an uncomfortable sofa because it’s the only way anyone gets some rest.

The constant toilet training.

The worry about leaving them alone.

And then just when you think you’re getting somewhere…

You hit the teenage stage 🙈

The dog who suddenly “forgets” everything they learnt.

The chewing.

The barking for attention.

The chaos.

The feeling that your patience is being tested every single day.

It’s enough to drive even the most patient person around the bend.

But here’s what I want you to know…

You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Sometimes the biggest difference isn’t some magic training trick. It’s simply having a plan.

Knowing what to work on first.

Knowing what’s normal.

Knowing what steps to take next.

I’ve had puppy parents come off my consultation calls instantly feeling better.

Not because their puppy has magically changed in 30 minutes, but because they finally know what they need to do and they have a plan to get back on track.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or wondering if you’ve made a mistake…

You’re not alone ❤️

I have a few spaces available this week for a FREE 30-minute puppy consultation where we can discuss where you're at right now, your goals and the next best steps for you.

Let’s get you feeling like “you’ve got this” again.
📞 07891 222454 send me a message to get started!

22/06/2026

🐾 Ianto the 10 month old collie is officially in the teenage stage… and he’s making sure his family know all about it! 😂🐕

It was so lovely to see Ianto's mam again after working with her previous dog about 8 years ago❤️

Today we went back to basics, because sometimes that’s exactly what teenage dogs need.

We worked on building calm behaviours with some “4 paws on the floor” exercises, strengthening his sit and lie down so he understands the verbal cues, and we started rebuilding one of the most important skills of all… recall 🐾

Recall isn’t just about saying a word and hoping our dogs come back. It’s about creating meaning, value and making coming back to us the best choice they can make.

The teenage stage can be challenging, but it’s also such an important time to guide them into the amazing adult dogs they’re becoming ❤️

If your teenage dog has developed selective hearing, forgotten their manners, or is keeping you on your toes, my Teenage Tearaway Programme is here to help you navigate this stage and build a stronger relationship with your dog 🐶

Find out more here:
https://www.sarahgrovesdogtraining.co.uk/teenagedog

20/06/2026

You don’t need to have training problems to start training your dog!

The other day I got chatting to someone at the gym, and the conversation naturally came around to what I do.

When I told her I was a dog trainer, she said:

“Oh, so you work with naughty dogs then?”

When I said, “Actually, no… most of them are really good!” she looked genuinely confused.

And it made me realise there’s still this idea that dog trainers only step in when something has gone wrong.

But from my experience, the most successful puppy parents come to me because they understand that training isn’t about fixing a dog. It’s about building skills, communication, and a relationship from the very beginning.

It’s about teaching your puppy what you want, helping them navigate the world, and giving you the confidence to know what to do when those inevitable puppy challenges pop up.

Because let’s be honest, there is no such thing as the perfect puppy.

Puppies are learning, growing, exploring, and sometimes testing boundaries. That’s all part of the journey.

But when you have the right knowledge, skills, and support, those obstacles don’t feel overwhelming. You know how to handle them and move forward together.

Here are some of the gorgeous pups I’ve worked with this week.

And no, they weren’t naughty - they were learning!

If you have a puppy and want to get started with training, I have a couple of spaces for Monday for a free 30 minute phone consultation where we can chat through your needs, and talk through the details of my services in more depth!

Get in touch - 07891 222454

20/06/2026

https://www.sarahgrovesdogtraining.co.uk/

07891222454

[email protected]

19/06/2026

Kobe the 6 month Doberman 🥰

19/06/2026

✨ Huge changes after just one phone call... 🐾

This week, I met Albus, the gorgeous 9 month old Poochon who has joined my Teenage Tearaway Training Program.

And you know what...? Before we'd even had our first training session, his mam had already started putting the advice from our initial phone consultation into practice and instantly started seeing improvements in his behaviour!

Instead of barking after his walks, Albus was coming home and settling down, calm and relaxed.

I absolutely LOVE it when this happens because it shows me just how dedicated his parents are from day one to take on board advice and make changes for the better.

So many people think they need weeks or months before they see any progress, but sometimes the right advice and a few simple changes can make a difference straight away.

And this is only the start of Albus' journey!

I can't wait to see how much progress he makes!

If you've got a teenage dog who's testing the boundaries, becoming a bit of a handful, or you just want some support to bring out the best in them, head over to my website to find out how I can help 👇

🌐 https://www.sarahgrovesdogtraining.co.uk/teenagedog