Paws Intuition - Puppy training specialist Solihull

07/08/2026

I hope this is true. So many horrible stories coming from this place

BRUCE’S DOGGY DAYCARE TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE SOLIHULL/UMBERSLADE ESTATE IN SEPTEMBER

06/08/2026

Watching George grow in confidence has been such a pleasure. 🐾

Like many teenage Labradors, George finds the world incredibly exciting. Every smell needs investigating, every distraction feels important, and self-control can be in short supply! It's completely normal, but it doesn't mean you have to accept stressful walks as "just a phase."

Over the past three sessions, George and his owner have been learning how to navigate busier environments together, helping George make calmer choices instead of being led by every distraction around him.

We also spent time practising something many owners overlook... settling. Being able to switch off and relax in a new environment is just as important as learning to walk nicely on a lead. It's a skill that needs to be taught, and today George finished his session lying down while we enjoyed a drink and he enjoyed a well-earned treat. ☕🐶

Progress isn't about perfection. It's about building the skills that allow your dog to make better choices, one session at a time.

George and his owner are absolutely smashing it, and I couldn't be prouder of how far they've come already. 💚

05/08/2026

Not every behaviour problem is a training problem. ❤️

When Joey came to see me, his owner explained that he was reacting to other dogs. During our chat, she also mentioned that he was sometimes reluctant to lie down and can be mouthy having his lead and harness on.

As part of my assessment, I carried out a very gentle check and noticed what may have been some discomfort around his spine.

I'm not a vet, so I can't diagnose pain, which is why I've recommended that Joey has a full veterinary examination to investigate further.

As dog trainers, it's so important that we look at the whole dog. Behaviour is communication, and sometimes what we assume is "naughty", "stubborn" or simply "typical puppy behaviour" can actually be a dog's way of telling us that something doesn't feel right.

That doesn't mean every behaviour issue is caused by pain—but it's always worth ruling it out before expecting a dog to learn.

Have you ever discovered there was an underlying reason behind your dog's behaviour? Let me know in the comments. 👇🐾

05/08/2026

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹?

One of the biggest mistakes I see is owners putting all their focus on teaching their puppy to come back...

But recall is only one piece of the puzzle.

If your puppy is repeatedly allowed to run up to every dog they see, they're rehearsing a behaviour that becomes more rewarding every single time. The more they practise it, the more likely they are to do it again.

Instead, use management while your puppy is learning. A long line can prevent unwanted rehearsals and gives you the opportunity to guide your puppy towards making better choices.

Just as importantly, teach your puppy what you do want them to do when they spot another dog. Looking back at you, choosing to stay close, engaging in play, or simply moving on calmly are all skills that need to be taught—not expected.

Play is another piece that often gets overlooked. If you're fun to be around, your puppy has a reason to choose you over the environment. Building value in yourself makes recall so much easier because your puppy genuinely wants to come back.

A reliable recall isn't built by endlessly calling your puppy's name.

It's built by:
• Preventing your puppy from rehearsing unwanted behaviours.
• Teaching them what to do around distractions.
• Making yourself the most rewarding part of the walk.
• Gradually increasing distractions as your puppy succeeds.

That's how you create a puppy that chooses you—even when the world is full of exciting things. 💚

04/08/2026

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹?

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news but your puppy finds you boring...

If your puppy thinks the environment is more exciting than you are, they'll keep choosing the environment.

That doesn't mean they're stubborn. It doesn't mean they're ignoring you. It simply means they've found something they value more in that moment.

Recall isn't about shouting louder or repeating your puppy's name over and over. It's about building a relationship where coming back to you is always the best choice.

If you don't provide the fun, your puppy will find it elsewhere.

Be the source of the games. Be the source of the rewards. Be the source of the adventure.

When your puppy believes that amazing things happen when they come back to you, recall stops feeling like a battle and starts becoming a habit.

That's exactly what we work on in my Puppy Club and 1:1 training sessions, helping owners become the most exciting part of their puppy's world, so choosing you becomes second nature. 💚

04/08/2026

𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻...

But the truth is, the magic happens in the moments in between.

Today, Gizmo isn't just learning to walk nicely on a lead. He's learning to:

• Settle while the world goes by.

• Watch people and dogs without needing to say hello.

• Be comfortable doing nothing.

• Make good choices in real-life environments.

• Check in with me instead of being distracted by everything around him.

These are the skills that create a dog you can take anywhere with confidence.

You don't need to be constantly asking for sits, downs or tricks. Sometimes the most valuable training is teaching your puppy that the world is a safe, calm place to simply exist.

Every walk. Every wait. Every outing.

It's all training. 💚

What did your puppy learn on today's walk? 🐶

03/08/2026

No you're eyes aren't deceiving you, this is a puppy class. But it's not in a village hall I hear you say. And yes you're right. Because at Paws Intuition I do things differently. Yes we do classroom sessions, but I also teach real life skills in the real world. After all, your puppy won't live their life in a village hall, but they may spend a good amount of time settling at a cafe.

So if you're about to welcome a new puppy into your life and you want that dream dog you can take anywhere, drop me a message

03/08/2026

Dog buggies are brilliant for safely socialising young puppies...
But I refuse to believe this isn't what's going through their head...

"Chaaaage... to the battlefield!" 🪖😂

Did you use a puppy buggy and did you have the same thoughts or is that my ex army mindset kicking in? 😂

29/07/2026

𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Somewhere along the line, we've convinced people that a 6-week puppy class is all they need to raise a calm, well-behaved dog they can take anywhere.

If only it were that simple.

If six weeks was all it took, we wouldn't have so many dogs pulling on the lead, ignoring recall, jumping up at visitors, barking at everything that moves or becoming impossible to manage during adolescence.

Most puppy classes do exactly what they're designed to do – they teach the basics.

✔ Sit.
✔ Down.
✔ A little lead walking.
✔ Some focus around carefully controlled distractions in a village hall.

And that's a great place to start.

But it's only that... the start.

The real challenge begins when you leave the hall.

Suddenly you're dealing with joggers, cyclists, children, squirrels, cafés, parks, visitors, busy streets, exciting smells and all the unpredictable situations that real life throws at you.

That's where so many owners feel like they've failed.

Not because they're bad owners.

Not because their puppy is stubborn.

But because they were never taught how to take those skills into the real world.

And then adolescence arrives...

The puppy who seemed to "know everything" suddenly appears to have forgotten it overnight.

That's completely normal.

It's also why I'll never offer a basic 6-week puppy class and pretend that's enough.

My goal has never been to teach puppies to sit in a hall.

My goal is to help owners raise a dog they can confidently take anywhere, through puppyhood, adolescence and beyond.

So if you're thinking about getting a puppy, here's the advice I wish every owner heard before bringing one home:

A well-behaved dog isn't created in six weeks.

It's built through months of guidance, consistency, practice and support.

So before you bring a puppy home, be honest with yourself.

Do you have the time?
Do you have the patience?
Can you invest in the training and support your puppy will genuinely need?

Because getting the puppy is the easy part.

Raising the dog you dream of takes much longer than six weeks.

That's why I created my 4 and 12 month programmes. Tailored support, group classes, classroom and in the real world. Giving you the skills to last a life time, not just for puppyhood until it falls apart

26/07/2026

🚨 Thinking of getting littermates... Don't!

So you've gone to choose your puppy...

You fall in love with more than one. They're tiny, cuddly and adorable. Then you notice there's just one puppy left waiting for a home and think...

"We'll just have both."

It sounds like a lovely idea.

But in reality, it's one of the biggest mistakes many new puppy owners can make.

Raising two puppies from the same litter isn't just twice the work...it's a completely different challenge.

Littermates often become so dependent on each other that they struggle to build confidence independently. This can lead to what's commonly referred to as littermate syndrome, a collection of behavioural issues that may include:

🐾 Separation anxiety when apart
🐾 Poor focus on their owners
🐾 Difficulty with training
🐾 Fear and lack of confidence when alone
🐾 Over-attachment to each other rather than their humans

Now, before anyone comments, yes, in some cases littermates can work. There are owners who successfully raise two puppies together.

But is it worth the risk or the stress? In my opinion, no.

The reality is that these success stories are the exception, not the rule. If things go wrong, the consequences can be heartbreaking for both the dogs and their owners.

As they reach adolescence, another issue can emerge...

⚠️ Conflict and fighting.

Many littermates that seemed inseparable as puppies begin competing as they mature. Competition over toys, food, attention, space or even access to their owners can escalate into serious fights. These aren't always minor squabbles either. Some dogs inflict severe injuries on one another, and in the worst cases they have to live permanently separated or one dog has to be rehomed.

To give littermates the best possible chance of succeeding, they need significant time apart. That means separate walks, separate training sessions, separate socialisation experiences, separate rest time and often even sleeping separately.

The reality is that most owners simply don't have the time to raise two puppies as individuals.

If you've fallen in love with two puppies, my advice is simple...

❤️ Choose one.

Give that puppy all of your time, training and attention. Once they're mature, emotionally stable and well-trained, then consider adding another dog to your family if it's right for you.

Your future self and more importantly, your dogs will thank you.

Have you ever been tempted to bring home littermates? Let me know in the comments. 👇