Paws & Play Gundogs

05/06/2026

Does your dog have selective hearing when they’re off lead?

Perfect recall in the garden…
Gone the moment you reach a field.

Sound familiar?

The truth is that recall isn’t something dogs automatically understand in every environment. It needs to be taught, practised and proofed around distractions.

That’s exactly why our Foundation Courses starts in a controlled setting before gradually building the skills needed for the great outdoors.

We’ll work on engagement, recall, whistle cues, focus and self-control, helping your dog learn that listening to you is worthwhile wherever you are.

Because freedom should feel enjoyable, not stressful.

Not ready for classes yet?

My 30-Day Recall Programme is designed to help you build those foundations at home. For just £20, you’ll receive a recall training lesson straight to your inbox every day for 30 days, giving you simple, achievable exercises that build towards a more reliable recall.

Comment RECALL or send me a message for the link.

Classes available in Bakewell & Holmesfield.
Drop me a message to learn more.

04/06/2026

Haha so true…

I love the little sh*ts

Charlie sits down to talk about an unpopular subject.We use Dog F...

04/06/2026

Your dog doesn’t need to be a working gundog to benefit from gundog training…

In fact, most of the dogs that join our Foundation Gundog Courses are much-loved family pets.

Gundog training teaches practical life skills as well as the Gundog skills that every dog owner can benefit from. Better recall. Improved focus. Lead walking. Self-control around distractions. A stronger partnership between you and your dog.

For dogs bred to hunt, retrieve and work closely with people, gundog training gives them an outlet that makes sense to them.

Our foundation Gundog Courses provide a supportive environment, allowing you to build these essential skills step by step before taking them out into the real world.

You don’t need ambitions of field work or competitions.

You just need a dog and a willingness to learn together.

Classes available in Bakewell & Holmesfield.
WhatsApp me for details.

02/06/2026

You know those coffee shop loyalty cards where you collect stamps and earn free goodies?

Well…

We’ve decided our loyal clients here at Paws & Play Gundogs need one too.

Starting this July, every course you complete will bring you one step closer to some exciting rewards.

One course? Business as usual.

Two courses? Prize unlocked.

Four courses? Even better gift 🎁

Six courses? Better still.

Eight courses? Now we’re talking.

Ten courses? You’ll definitely want to stick around for that one.

The truth is, so many of our clients don’t just come for a single course. They stay for the journey.

We’ve watched puppies grow into capable working dogs out in the field or competing.

We’ve seen handlers progress from complete beginners to confident trainers getting hooked on a hobby with their pet gundog.

And we’ve had clients return years later with a brand-new puppy ready to start all over again.

So this is our way of saying thank you.

Thank you for trusting us with your dogs.
Thank you for supporting our small business.
And thank you for being part of the Paws & Play community.

Gift details coming soon…

01/06/2026

Monday reminder…

Progress is built in small, achievable steps, not giant leaps.

Yesterday, Tully finished 4th out of 39 competitors in a Novice Working Test, with only 11 dogs completing all four tests.

As usual, I spent part of the drive home replaying every decision like a VAR review, analysing what I could have done differently. If overthinking were a competitive sport, I’d probably have a few rosettes of my own. 😂

Whilst I’m incredibly proud of her, & it also marks our second award in a month, which is a lovely reflection of the work we’ve been putting in recently & our partnership growing.

The water test, our 4th & final test of the day, & after a long wait before we even went in. I handled when I probably didn’t need to. Looking back, we’d probably both switched off a little, & I think if I’d trusted her a little longer, she may well have solved the problem with less handling.

It’s a good reminder that when we’re evaluating performance, we need to look at the whole picture. Dogs aren’t machines and neither are handlers.

It’s a reminder that training isn’t just about teaching our dogs. It’s also about learning when to step in, when to stay quiet, and when to trust the work we’ve already put in.

Mistakes will happen. Sometimes they’re down to a gap in training, but often they’re influenced by things such as energy levels, fatigue, excitement, pressure, mindset, environmental factors, or simply a handler making the wrong decision in the moment.

The important thing isn’t dwelling on mistakes; it’s understanding them.

Every success and every mistake gives us information.

The challenge is learning which lessons to take forward and using them to make the next training session, the next test, and the next partnership a little bit better.

Trust your training.
Trust your dog.
Keep moving forward.

30/05/2026

“What would you like your dog to be better at by summer?”

1. Better Recall
2. Calmer Walks
3. Reliable Retrieves

There’s always a moment when things start to click…

The recall becomes more reliable. The retrieves become cleaner. The distractions become easier to work through. Most importantly, you and your dog begin to understand each other a little better.

Our new term of in-person gundog training classes is now open for booking in Bakewell & Holmesfield.

Whether you’re starting out with a young puppy, working through the challenges of adolescence, or looking to develop your dog’s existing skills, our courses provide structured training, expert guidance and a supportive environment to help you progress.

We’ll cover the foundations that matter most:
• Engagement & focus
• Recall
• Retrieves
• Steadiness
• Hunting & handling skills
• Building a stronger partnership with your dog

Suitable for pet and working gundogs alike.

Small class sizes mean plenty of individual support throughout your training journey.

Spaces are limited and courses fill quickly, so if you’ve been thinking about getting started, now is the perfect time.

To book your place, visit our website www.pawsandplay.online/courses or DM me for more information

29/05/2026

We’re really proud to be working with Hoddy's Dog Food … not just as brand ambassadors, but because it’s what we genuinely choose to feed our own dogs every single day.

When you spend your life around working & active dogs, nutrition matters. Energy, condition, recovery, focus… it all starts with what goes in the bowl. That’s exactly why Hoddy’s fits so perfectly with us here at Paws & Play Gundogs.

Made using only wild British game and the highest quality ingredients, it’s a food designed for dogs that live life properly — whether that’s training days, working days or simply keeping up with busy active homes.

For us, it’s even better knowing we’re supporting a fantastic local company too, produced just down the road from us in Ashbourne.

We absolutely love the quality behind the brand, and our dogs are thriving on it.

Get yourself an amazing discount on your first order by scanning the QR code or using our code: PAWS&PLAY

As part of our partnership with Hoddy’s, this is an affiliate promotion, which means we receive a small kickback from purchases made using our code — and every order genuinely helps support what we do here at Paws & Play Gundogs, so thank you.

And if you’re joining us for a Paws & Play Gundogs training session, you’ll receive your own free sample to take away too.

If you can’t wait until then… grab yours today.

27/05/2026

It’s Wednesday, 6 am and it’s already 15°…

This week so far has felt like slowing things right down…

With the much warmer weather over the weekend, getting the dogs out for long walks or fitting training in has definitely taken a bit of a back seat.

We’ve been up early for quick walks before it gets too hot, and instead of our usual routine we’ve swapped things for small 5–10 minute training sessions here instead.

Sometimes the best thing we can do for our dogs is adjust. Not every week has to look the same, and rest is just as important as the busy days.

So this week the dogs are getting a bit of time off from the norm… small bits of training in the cooler periods at both ends of the day, plenty of downtime, and then we’ll pick things back up later in the week once it starts to cool down again.

⬇️ What kind of things have you been doing with your dogs whilst the weather’s been hot?

20/05/2026

Tully is 3 today… and while I acknowledge it, I can’t say we’re the “pup cake & party hats” type over here 😂

It did get me thinking though… do people actually buy their dogs birthday presents?

Because honestly… mine are spoilt most days anyway, in some way, shape or form… so her birthday doesn’t really look any different to a Tuesday around here 😂

She’ll still get all the usual things she loves… training, a wander, a sofa nap, probably some of my food once I’ve finished (if there’s any left)… but no wrapped gifts from me.

So now I’m curious… what do you all do for your dogs birthdays?

Are you a full celebration household or more of a quiet acknowledgement like us?