Paws & Reward

04/01/2026

If you live with a dog who is displaying aggressive behaviours, please take a moment to read this. 🤍

Aggression Is Not a Training Problem

When aggression shows up, the conversation almost always moves quickly toward training plans, tools, and techniques.
What cues should we teach?
What skills should we strengthen?
What’s the fastest way to stop the behavior?

That response makes sense. Training feels actionable.

But aggression isn’t actually a training problem.

It isn’t a lack of cues.
It isn’t stubbornness.
It isn’t a dog “blowing you off.”

Aggression is information. It reflects how a dog is experiencing their environment, their relationships, and their internal state at that moment.

When we focus only on obedience, we risk missing critical pieces of the picture: emotional regulation, stress, context, overall welfare, and even pain.

Skills can sometimes change how behavior looks on the surface, but they don’t resolve fear, discomfort, or conflict on their own.

Lasting change starts when we slow down enough to understand why a behavior exists before deciding how to address it.

01/01/2026

🐾 Happy Pets, Happy Homes – Start the Year Right! 🎉

Is 2026 the year you want to help your dog or cat thrive? At Paws & Reward, we help Adelaide families raise pets that are calm, confident, and resilient – no matter whether you’re welcoming a new puppy or managing tricky behaviours.

From toileting accidents, barking, jumping on guests, pulling on the lead, or even aggression and resource guarding – we’ve got you covered. Our positive, reward-based training is science-backed, simple, and enjoyable for both you and your pet.

✅ Private Consults – personalised support for your dog or cat’s unique needs.
✅ Small Group Courses (max 6 dogs):
🐾Puppy College (3–9 months) – Blackwood & Trott Park
🐾Rapid Recall – Coromandel Valley
🐾 Snake Aware – Glenalta (private sessions now available)

Training shouldn’t feel like a chore – with the right guidance, it’s fun, rewarding, and strengthens your bond!

📅 Spaces are limited – head to www.pawsandreward.com.au
to book your session today and start your pet’s journey to better behaviour in 2026! 🐶✨

30/12/2025

Christmas raffle deliveries are the best kind of errands 🎄🐾

My daughter and I loved dropping off the Christmas raffle gift to the winner, Alby — and here he is showing off his brand new sheep toy 🐑💛
How gorgeous is this boy?!

When I first met Alby, he was feeling pretty sad. He didn’t really want to play and was very tightly attached to his guardian — some might say in a way that wasn’t doing either of them many favours.

Fast forward a year, and while Alby still very much enjoys the sound of his own voice (he’s learned it’s a great way to get attention 😅), he is so much happier. He’s brighter, more confident, and even plays with other dogs sometimes — even if it’s in that slightly awkward “I’m not totally sure if I’m doing this right” kind of way.

Seeing dogs like Alby rediscover joy, curiosity, and confidence is exactly why we do what we do 💛

If your dog is finding the world a bit overwhelming, feeling stuck, or just struggling to see the bright side of life — we can help with that too. With the right support, understanding, and training, amazing changes really are possible 🐶✨

28/12/2025

🎄 Christmas Raffle Update – Better Late Than Never! 🎄🐾

I finally managed to draw our Google Review Christmas Raffle winner today — turns out Christmas was a little more hectic than expected 😅🎄

✨ Congratulations to our lucky winner, Amy! ✨
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review. It genuinely made my day to read and means more than you know 💛🐶

A huge thank you to everyone who left a review and shared their experience. Your kind words not only support our small business, but also help other pet parents find the right support for their dogs 🐾

Amy, I’ll be in touch shortly to organise your festive goodie bag 🎁🐾

Thank you all again — and here’s to a calm, confident year ahead with your pets 💕🐕

26/12/2025

🐍 Snake Aware Workshops – Only 2 Left! 🐍

Snake season is here, and it’s time to give your dog the skills to stay safe. Our Snake Aware Program teaches dogs to recognise and avoid snakes – an essential safety skill for every pup!

📅 Only two workshops left:

- Monday, 5th of January at 5.45pm

- Saturday, 17th of January at 12.30pm

Limited spots available, so don’t miss out! Keep your dog safe and confident in the outdoors.

📩 Book now to secure your spot: https://pawsandreward.com.au/snake-aware

24/12/2025

🎄✨ Reflecting on 2025 ✨🎄

This year has been one of growth for Paws & Reward, with the addition of two absolutely fabulous co-workers, Lisa and Sophie. I am honestly so grateful and honoured to have them join the team – I couldn’t imagine two better, more dedicated professionals by my side. 🐾

But 2025 has also been a year of great personal loss – saying goodbye to my mum, a close friend, and supporting clients who have lost their beloved pets and loved ones. It’s been a challenging year, and a reminder of how precious our time with the people (and pets!) we care about truly is.

Despite the hardships, it has been a year of incredible connections. I’ve met inspiring professionals and guardians, seen dogs and families thrive, and achieved more than I could have imagined. And now… I am very ready to say goodbye to 2025 and hello to 2026!

✨ What’s in store for Paws & Reward in 2026?
1️⃣ Rapid Recall is back! Our first course will be at Coromandel Valley Community Centre. Read all about it here: https://pawsandreward.com.au/rapid-recall
2️⃣ Hoping to add another fabulous team member – someone who will work alongside me helping anxious and reactive dogs feel safer and happier in the world.
3️⃣ Dog Safety Presentations are expanding! I’ll be running more sessions at preschools and primary schools, with a new private page for students who have taken part and free resources provided. There will now be a small cost for these sessions, which helps cover admin, printing, and distributing high-quality materials rather than relying on teachers to do it – they already have enough on their plates!
4️⃣ Not business-related, but a personal milestone… I’m turning 40! 🎉 How did that happen?! I’ll be celebrating with new office storage (practical, I know! 😅). After everything this year, I’ll embrace turning 40 – fairly healthy, genuinely happy, and grateful to be surrounded by such wonderful people.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has been part of this year – clients, colleagues, friends, and family. Here’s to a brighter, happier, and pawsome 2026! ❤️🐾

21/12/2025

🐕‍🦺 Rapid Recall – Because Coming Back Matters 🐕‍🦺

Does your dog come back… sometimes?
Rapid Recall is designed to turn a “maybe” into a reliable, confident recall, even around distractions.

This focused course teaches your dog that coming back to you is always worth it — using clear communication, fun games, and positive reinforcement. We build strong foundations first, then carefully layer in real-life challenges so your dog can succeed where it counts most.

✨ Perfect for dogs who:
• Ignore you when something more exciting appears
• Are reliable at home but struggle out and about
• Need a safer, more dependable recall for everyday life

✔ Small class sizes
✔ Practical, real-world skills
✔ Force-free, evidence-based training

A solid recall isn’t just convenient — it’s life-saving.

Spots are limited.
👉 Bookings now open: https://pawsandreward.com.au/rapid-recall

18/12/2025

🐾 Puppy College – New Course Times Added! 🐾

Due to high demand, we’ve opened two additional Puppy College course times 🎉

📍 Trott Park
🗓 8th of January
⏰ 7:30pm

📍 Blackwood
🗓 10th of January
⏰ 2:30pm

If you’ve been waiting to secure a spot, now’s the time!
✨ Only 6 spots available in each class and they’re already filling fast.

🐶 Set your pup up with strong foundations, confidence, and real-life skills from the very start.

👉 Don’t miss out — book your spot today: https://pawsandreward.com.au/puppy-training-class

14/12/2025

🐾 Training courses for 2026 are here! 🐾

We’re excited to share the courses we’re running next year at Paws & Reward — designed to support dogs (and their humans!) at every stage.

✨ Puppy College
Give your puppy the best start with positive, reward-based training that builds confidence, good manners, and a strong bond from the beginning.

🐍 Snake Aware
Snake Aware is running for the next 2 months, after which we’ll be offering refresher courses only for dogs who have already completed Workshop A.
NEW: We now also offer private Snake Aware training in your own home.

🏃‍♂️ Rapid Recall – It’s Back!
Rapid Recall is returning in a new format!
Instead of one long workshop, we’re now running 3 × 45-minute lessons, with more fun recall games and a step-by-step approach to help skills really stick.
📍 Held at Coromandel Community Centre

👉 Head to our website to see all upcoming classes and private training options, and to book your spot: www.pawsandreward.com.au

We can’t wait to train with you and your dog next year! 🐶💛

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Paws & Reward offers positive, reward-based dog training in Adelaide to help pets and their families thrive. Using science-backed, fear-free methods, we create tailored programs for puppies, anxious or reactive dogs, and those needing better manners at home or on walks. Build confidence, trust,

13/12/2025

🎓🐾 Graduation Day at Paws & Reward! 🐾🎓

Huge congratulations to all the wonderful dogs who graduated from Puppy College and Snake Aware yesterday! We are so proud of how far you’ve all come and of the dedicated humans supporting you every step of the way 💛

That’s a wrap for our 2025 classes — but don’t worry, we’re back in just 3 weeks!

✨ What’s coming up:

🐍 Only TWO Snake Aware workshops left this season

🐶 Puppy College is filling fast in both Blackwood and Trott Park, so we’ve added:
• Trott Park – 7:30pm
• Blackwood – 11:20am (only 1 spot left!)

If you’ve been thinking about getting started, now’s the time!

👉 Find out more about Puppy College:
https://pawsandreward.com.au/puppy-training-class

👉 Learn more about Snake Aware:
https://pawsandreward.com.au/snake-aware

Well done, graduates — we can’t wait to see what you achieve next! 🐕✨

11/12/2025

🎄 Christmas is such a fun time of year, and it definitely brings out some weird and wonderful decorations! But just because we love it, doesn’t mean our furry friends do. 🐾

All those twinkling lights, jingling ornaments, and inflatable Santas can be really scary for pets—especially those who are naturally cautious or a little worrier.

Here’s Elsie meeting our elf, who was taking a relaxing dip in the sink on a warm day. 😅 Elsie, being fearless, took it all in her stride… though she almost fell in! She was more curious than scared, but not all pets will be so brave.

Before you blow up the biggest inflatable Santa or reindeer, consider your pet’s comfort and safety. A little extra thought can make sure the festive season is fun for everyone—even the four-legged members of the family! ❤️