Paws & Progress

Paws & Progress Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Paws & Progress, Dog trainer, Ringwood.
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❗️ Want calm, well-behaved dogs (without the stress)?
🐾 Reactivity | Behaviour Support | Puppy Training
📍 Dorset & Online
👇🏻 Meet with us today
www.pawsandprogress.co.uk

28/05/2026

🐾 Dog Lover Wanted…Join the team! 🐾

Do you love dogs, enjoy flexible work, and dream of spending your days with four-legged friends? We’re looking for a reliable, caring and animal-loving person to join the Paws & Progress team!

As well as award-winning dog training, we also provide top standard dog sitting, daycare, overnight stays and occasional pet care across the Bournemouth, Poole, Wimborne and Ringwood areas - and we’re now looking for someone who genuinely loves animals and wants to be part of the team long-term.

What the role involves:
🐶 Dog daycare and overnight sitting
🐱 Occasional care for other pets too
🚶 Optional dog walking opportunities if you’d like

We’d love to hear from you if you:
• Are trustworthy, kind and confident with animals
• Want a flexible but long-term role
• Are available during busy periods (especially June–September)
• Can commit to sits of up to 2 weeks
• Are happy not leaving the dogs alone for more than 4 hours at a time
• Have experience with dogs (preferred but not essential if you’re eager to learn!)
• Understand reward-based training methods, or are excited to find out more about them
• Have a full drivers licence & access to vehicle
• (No students please)

This role would suit someone who loves building bonds with dogs and treats them like family ❤️

To apply:
Please send your CV and a short cover letter to:
📧 [email protected]
References and an interview will be required.

✨ Start ASAP - we can’t wait to meet you and your future furry clients!

Every dog is different, and training should reflect that. 🐾Whether you’re struggling with puppy chaos, lead pulling, rea...
25/05/2026

Every dog is different, and training should reflect that. 🐾

Whether you’re struggling with puppy chaos, lead pulling, reactivity, or simply wanting a calmer everyday life with your dog, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

At Paws & Progress we focus on building real-life skills through clear communication, trust, and understanding - not quick fixes or unrealistic expectations!

We can help with:
✨ puppy training
✨ reactivity
✨ loose lead walking
✨ recall
✨ confidence building
✨ basic obedience
✨ bond building

Our goal will always be the same though:
Helping you build a calmer, more enjoyable life with your dog, in a way that feels achievable and sustainable for both of you.

Dog training isn’t always easy.There are going to be frustrating walks, setbacks, inconsistent days, and moments where p...
19/05/2026

Dog training isn’t always easy.

There are going to be frustrating walks, setbacks, inconsistent days, and moments where progress feels painfully slow.

But as a dog trainer, it’s always obvious which owners are truly putting the work in.
Not because their dogs are perfect.
But because you can see the relationship growing.

You see:
- clearer communication
- stronger trust
- calmer decisions
- quicker progress
- more confidence on both ends of the lead

The dogs that make the biggest transformations usually aren’t the ones with the easy start - they’re the ones with owners who stayed consistent, compassionate, and willing to learn alongside them.

And most importantly:
A “well-behaved dog” does NOT have to mean a robot dog.

For some people, it means:
✨ peaceful walks
✨ reliable recall
✨ being able to settle at a café
✨ greeting visitors calmly
✨ feeling safe and understood

Your version of success is allowed to look different from somebody else’s, as long as we’re also being respectful to the people, dogs, and community around us.

Progress over perfection, always. 🤍

17/05/2026

Let’s be real - grooming prep should be happening WAY before appointment day! ✂️ 🐾

Millie is a dog who is constantly complimented on how calm and cooperative she is during 2-3 hour grooming and handling situations - but unfortunately that confidence didn’t happen overnight. It came from lots of small, positive experiences over time.

These simple tips and tricks can help make your life a lot easier, and can also be applied at the vets or other stressful situations too!

1️⃣ Visit your groomer without an appointment sometimes. Pop in for 5 minutes, let your dog have a sniff around, get a treat from the team, then leave again. No pressure, no procedures - just positive associations. Puppy visits are amazing if your dog is young enough too 🫶🏼

2️⃣ Practice gentle handling at home. Slowly introduce touching paws, ears, legs, tails, muzzles, etc. Pair everything with rewards and keep it calm. You can even introduce odd sensations gradually - like using a cold spoon against the fur to mimic clippers! 🥄

3️⃣ Let equipment become “normal”. Leave brushes, nail clippers, dryers, or grooming tools around the house occasionally so they’re no longer unfamiliar or scary. Curiosity and neutrality are what we want! 🐶

4️⃣ Keep sessions short and successful. Especially at the beginning. Even 30 seconds of calm cooperation is a win. End before your dog feels overwhelmed. ❗️

Building confidence slowly creates safer, calmer experiences for everyone involved!

Groomers and other handling professionals - Share if you agree!

Dog in video: Millie the Cocker Spaniel at the .my.human stall at 2026

Have you ever woken up after a bad night's and felt completely unable to function properly?You’re more irritable, less p...
17/05/2026

Have you ever woken up after a bad night's and felt completely unable to function properly?

You’re more irritable, less patient, struggle to focus, and everything feels harder than it should.

Dogs experience that too.
Adult dogs need around 12–14 hours of sleep every single day, and puppies often need even more - sometimes up to 18–20 hours daily while they grow and develop.

Yet so many dogs are constantly overstimulated:
- busy walks
- constant entertainment
- non-stop interaction
- no real downtime

An overtired dog will often find it harder to:
- regulate emotions
- learn new skills
- settle calmly
- cope with stress
- make good decisions

Sometimes the issue isn’t that your dog needs more training.
Sometimes they need more rest.

Sleep plays a huge role in behaviour, learning, recovery, and nervous system regulation.

A well-rested dog is usually a calmer dog 🤍

Not every dog needs longer walks.In fact, a lot of large and high-energy breeds actually benefit more from balanced enri...
14/05/2026

Not every dog needs longer walks.

In fact, a lot of large and high-energy breeds actually benefit more from balanced enrichment that works both the brain and body at the same time.

Here are 5 simple ways to help your dog feel more fulfilled:

1️⃣ Sniffari walks
Letting your dog slow down and sniff reduces stress, and provides incredible mental stimulation.

2️⃣ Scent games
Hide treats, toys, or food around your home/garden, and encourage your dog to search for them.

3️⃣ Short training sessions
5–10 minutes of even basic learning can actually be way more tiring than a long walk for many dogs.

4️⃣ Food enrichment
Licki-mats, stuffed Kongs, scatter feeding, and puzzle toys encourage natural behaviours and mental engagement.

5️⃣ Structured play
Games like tug, flirt pole work, or recall chase games build engagement while also burning energy in a healthy way.

A fulfilled dog is often a calmer dog 🤍

So remember.... mental stimulation matters just as much as physical exercise, especially for intelligent and high-energy breeds.

One of the biggest things I see as a trainer is people forgetting where they started.And when you’re living with the day...
12/05/2026

One of the biggest things I see as a trainer is people forgetting where they started.

And when you’re living with the day-to-day challenges, it’s so easy to focus only on what still needs work, instead of recognising how far you and your dog have already come.

But....
That reaction that used to last 10 minutes now lasts 30 seconds.
Your dog recovers quicker.
Walks feel slightly less stressful.
They check in with you more.
They settle faster afterwards.
Those things matter.

Progress is rarely linear, and it doesn’t always look dramatic from the outside. But the small wins are often the foundation for the bigger transformations later on.

Try to remember: the version of your dog you’re frustrated with today may already be a version of them you once hoped for.

Contrary to popular belief… dogs aren’t actually born knowing English. 🤯 So why do we expect them to understand commands...
12/02/2026

Contrary to popular belief… dogs aren’t actually born knowing English. 🤯 So why do we expect them to understand commands we’ve never actually taught them? ❌

In this video, Stokes is practicing his “Stop” cue for only the second time - and in a distracting environment too! But am I expecting perfection? Absolutely not.

Especially since this is the same pup who, six months ago, wouldn’t even take treats on outings because he was so over-stimulated. 🥺 Progress like this doesn’t happen by accident.

You’ll notice it’s not a finished product yet. There’s a little whining in there,but on the final rep, he nails it without us even really trying anything new. That’s the power of practice. 👏

But here’s the important part: before ever saying the word “STOP”, we showed him what we wanted first. We guided him. We helped him succeed.

Only once he understood the behaviour did we then add the cue, pairing the known action with its name. 🎯

Teach first. Name second.

Makes a lot more sense than shouting random words and hoping for the best, right? 😉

Observation work is such an underrated but essential skill in dog ownership. It’s the practice of simply sitting (or sta...
11/02/2026

Observation work is such an underrated but essential skill in dog ownership. It’s the practice of simply sitting (or standing!) with your dog, and allowing the world to move around you - whether that includes dogs walking past, people jogging by, or cars driving through - all while choosing calm engagement over interaction.

Instead of rehearsing excitement or frustration, your dog then learns neutrality. They learn that not every movement requires a response. This builds impulse control, strengthens focus, and reinforces that their guidance comes from you. It also gives you the opportunity to observe their thresholds, body language, and decision making in real time.

Sometimes the most powerful training isn’t active at all. It’s teaching our dogs that peace is an option, and that being present with us is far more rewarding than chasing every distraction.

One of the most common things we hear as trainers is, “It’s just puppy behaviour,” or “They’ll grow out of it!” And whil...
01/02/2026

One of the most common things we hear as trainers is, “It’s just puppy behaviour,” or “They’ll grow out of it!” And while that can be true… it’s only true to an extent.

We’ve met plenty of dogs who are still showing the same “puppy” antics at 7 or even 8 years old, and not in a cute, endearing way.

Behaviours like jumping up, mouthing, pulling on the lead, or being overly boisterous with other dogs are best addressed early. Nipping them in the bud helps keep both you and your dog safe, and saves you from wishing you’d started training sooner.

Don't treat puppy classes like a simple tick on your checklist, take every word in and be consistent!

Address

Ringwood
BH241UU

Telephone

+447887882578

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