PawFecter Dog Training Services - IMDT

10/11/2026

🐾 A little Somerset exploring – Cheddar Reservoir! 🌿❤️

Yesterday we enjoyed a fabulous walk around Cheddar Reservoir, and what a beautiful place it is! Another lovely spot added to our growing list of places to explore with the girls.

Fresh air, beautiful surroundings, plenty of sniffing opportunities and four very happy spaniels. What more could you ask for? 🐶

But alongside enjoying our new surroundings, I thought it would be a good opportunity to share a little about how the girls are getting on with their big life change.

We're now heading into week four since our move, and I'm pleased to say things are improving considerably.

As I've mentioned before, moving home has been quite a transition for them. New surroundings, new smells, different walking routes, unfamiliar sights and sounds, and a completely different daily routine.

One of the biggest adjustments has actually been learning to settle with Rupert and me around most of the time.

Previously, they were accustomed to us going out to work and having periods of the day when they would relax without us. Now we're around much more, and whilst that sounds lovely, it's been another change for them to understand.

Learning that just because we're home doesn't mean something exciting is happening all the time!

This is something we've had to work on gradually.

Encouraging them to switch off, enjoy their own space, settle when nothing is happening and understand that downtime is just as important as activity.

And this brings me to something important about dog behaviour.

We often concentrate so much on teaching our dogs what TO DO that we forget to teach them how to do NOTHING!

Being able to relax, settle and switch off is an important life skill.

Dogs need opportunities to decompress, process their experiences and feel comfortable in their surroundings. Particularly when they're going through changes or adapting to a new lifestyle.

It's also a reminder that even positive changes can take time to adjust to. Just because something is better for us doesn't automatically mean our dogs understand that straight away.

We've been taking things steadily, keeping routines predictable, allowing plenty of sniffing and exploring, and not putting unnecessary pressure on the girls.

And do you know what? It's paying off. ❤️

They're becoming more settled, more confident in their surroundings and much more comfortable with their new way of life.

There's still plenty to learn, and I'm sure they'll continue to surprise us along the way, but I'm incredibly proud of how far they've come.

As a dog trainer, I spend so much time helping other people understand their dogs, but my own girls continually remind me that patience, consistency and understanding really do make a difference.

Sometimes progress isn't about learning a new trick or mastering a command. Sometimes it's simply being able to relax and feel at home. ❤️

Now, where shall we explore next? 😂🐾

02/11/2026

🐾 Getting to know our new surroundings – Apex Park! 🌿

Today we headed out to explore somewhere that's literally just down the road from us – Apex Park – and what an absolute gem it is!

Beautiful open spaces, lovely walking routes and plenty of room for the girls to enjoy some off-lead fun. ❤️

We enjoyed a bit of ball play, some scent games (sniffing out hidden balls is always a favourite!), and plenty of time just wandering, sniffing and chilling out.

But, as with every new place, there are lots of new things for the girls to experience and get used to.

We ended our day with a new walk along a different section of beach. Very dog friendly and a beautiful place for a good run around.

This is a very different environment to what they're accustomed to. There are lots of dogs walking around, children, mobility scooters, bikes, a bike park and, of course, the lake right in the centre of the park, which is absolutely full of birds!

And as you can imagine, we attract quite a bit of attention ourselves. Four spaniels walking together isn't exactly an everyday sight! 😂🐶🐶🐶🐶

But do you know what? The girls are doing brilliantly!

They're learning to navigate all this new activity, and I'm particularly pleased with how they're responding to people and other dogs. For the most part, they're happy to ignore what's going on around them, with the occasional quick greeting before happily moving on.

I'm super proud of them. ❤️

The birds, however, are proving to be a rather different challenge! 😂 They're incredibly interesting, and those natural spaniel instincts are certainly coming into play.

So that's something we'll be working on together. Helping them learn that birds can be watched without necessarily needing to investigate every single one!

And this is exactly what I love about having dogs. There's always something new to learn, opportunities to build confidence and little challenges to work through.

Even as a dog trainer, I'm constantly reminded that training doesn't stop once our dogs reach a certain age or achieve a particular goal. It's an ongoing journey, adapting to new environments and helping our dogs make good choices.

For now, Apex Park has definitely made it onto our list of favourite local walks, and I think we'll be visiting quite regularly!

A question for the local dog owners...

Is Apex Park one of your regular walking spots? And have you got any other local hidden gems we should add to our exploring list?

We're always up for discovering somewhere new! 🐾❤️

Claire x

02/11/2026

02/11/2026

👋 Hello! It's been a while! ❤️🐾

I know I've been a little quiet on here, but life has been rather full-on with so much going on, not least our move!

We've now been here for two and a half weeks and, thankfully, we're pretty much settled in. The lodge is starting to feel like home, we're finding our feet and slowly getting into a new routine.

But there's something I really want to talk about, and that's the impact a big move can have on our dogs. Because, whilst moving house is exciting for us, it isn't necessarily quite so straightforward for them!

Our four girls have actually struggled with the transition more than we anticipated. It's taken a good couple of weeks for them to start finding their feet and adjusting to their new lifestyle.

And when you stop and think about it, it's really not surprising.

Imagine everything your dog knows suddenly changing:
🐾 Their home and their safe, familiar environment.
🐾 Their location, with completely new sights, sounds and smells.
🐾 Their daily routine, including familiar walking routes and places.
🐾 The people and dogs they regularly see and the environment they understand.

And then there's the change in our own routine. Rupert and I are now around much more of the time, which sounds wonderful, but even positive changes can be confusing for dogs.

We're also living somewhere very different. There are people walking around, people fishing, unfamiliar activity and movement happening around us throughout the day. For the girls, this is a whole new world to make sense of!

So what happens emotionally and mentally when dogs experience such a big change?

Dogs are creatures of familiarity and predictability. Their routines, surroundings and familiar smells help them feel safe. When those things suddenly disappear, it can leave them feeling unsettled, uncertain and sometimes quite overwhelmed.

You might notice:
❤️ Increased clinginess or wanting to be close to you.
❤️ Restlessness or difficulty switching off.
❤️ Changes in sleeping patterns.
❤️ Being more alert to sounds, movement and activity.
❤️ Increased barking or reacting to things they previously ignored.
❤️ Changes in appetite or general behaviour.
❤️ Seeming unsettled, withdrawn or just not quite themselves.

Sometimes what we interpret as naughty behaviour, stubbornness or a dog being difficult is actually a dog struggling to process their environment and the changes happening around them.

And this is where we need to take a step back.

Rather than expecting our dogs to simply get on with it, we need to give them time. Time to explore, time to decompress, time to build new positive associations and, most importantly, time to feel safe again.

We've also been putting a little extra support in place for the girls. They're having PAWD powder added to their food and are wearing natural calming collars as part of our approach to helping them through this transition.

Alongside that, we've been keeping things as predictable as possible, allowing them to explore at their own pace, finding familiar comforts and not expecting too much of them. We are creating new routines, sticking to them to create a new normal.

There is no rush to experience everything, meet everyone or explore every new place. We can do that gradually.

It's also a reminder that even as someone who works with dogs and their behaviour every day, I still have to remind myself to slow down, observe and listen to what my own dogs are telling me.

Our dogs don't understand that we've permanently moved, They just know that their whole world has changed.

Our job is to help them make sense of that change and show them that, wherever home may be, they are safe, loved and supported. ❤️

We're getting there, one day at a time, and I think the girls are beginning to realise that this new place isn't such a strange world after all!

Now, if only they knew how many beaches, walks and adventures are waiting for them! 😂🐾🌊

A little reminder to anyone going through a house move or big lifestyle change with their dogs: be patient, lower your expectations and give them the time they need. ❤️

Claire x

14/10/2026

❤️ PawFecter Dog Training – A New Chapter, Not The End ❤️

As Rupert and I prepare to leave the North East after 30 years, I wanted to take a moment to talk about what this means for PawFecter Dog Training and, more importantly, for all of you who have been part of this journey with me.

PawFecter has never just been a business to me. It has been my passion, my purpose, my safe place and a huge part of who I am. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with so many wonderful dogs and their humans, supporting them through challenges, celebrating their achievements and being part of their journeys. Every dog has taught me something, every family has left a little mark on my heart, and I will always be grateful for the trust you have placed in me. 🐾❤️

Closing the doors to the School for Dogs was an incredibly emotional moment, but it was never the end of PawFecter. It was the beginning of a new chapter, one that allows me to take a step back, slow down a little and focus on continuing to learn, develop and deepen my knowledge of canine behaviour.

And now, as I move to Somerset, I'm excited to see what the future holds for PawFecter.

🌿 For my existing clients and followers in the North East, I am not disappearing! I intend to return to the Darlington area every so often, to offer 1-2-1 training sessions and continue supporting the wonderful families who have been part of PawFecter. I know how important continuity and ongoing support can be, particularly when you're working through behavioural challenges with your dog, and I want to continue being there for you wherever I can.

🐾 For those of you in Somerset and the South West, this is an opportunity to build something new. I'm looking forward to meeting new dogs and their humans, supporting families with training and behaviour challenges, and developing PawFecter in a new area. There will be new challenges, new opportunities and plenty for me to learn along the way!

One thing that will never change is my belief that dogs are not naughty, that behaviour always has a reason, and that understanding our dogs is the key to helping them. My commitment to kind, force-free, reward-based training and supporting both ends of the lead remains at the heart of everything I do.

I have built such a wonderful community around PawFecter, and I don't want that community to end just because I'm moving. You have supported me, encouraged me and trusted me with your dogs, and I hope you'll continue to be part of this next chapter. Whether you've been with me for years or have only recently found PawFecter, you are part of a community that I am incredibly proud of.

This move is exciting, daunting and, if I'm honest, utterly terrifying at times! But I truly believe that taking this step will allow me to grow, continue my education, become even more knowledgeable in the field I love and offer even better support to the dogs and families I work with.

So, please keep following, keep sharing your stories, keep asking questions and keep being part of the PawFecter family. ❤️

This isn't goodbye. It's a new chapter, a new adventure and an opportunity for PawFecter to grow in ways I may not even have imagined yet.

Thank you for being here, for believing in me and for being part of something that means so much to me.

Here's to new beginnings, continuing journeys and helping more dogs and their humans, wherever we may be. 🐾❤️

Claire x

24/09/2026

New field walk Mondays pick ups start at 1 pm
Limited spots available message to secure your spot

24/09/2026

24/09/2026

21/09/2026

11/08/2026

🐾❤️ NEW FIELD WALKS COMING TO PAWFECTER! ❤️🐾
📍Darlington & surrounding areas
We’re excited to announce that from Tuesday 1st September, we’ll be running our Field Walk every Tuesday! 🌳🐶

A chance for your dog to enjoy some off-lead freedom, exercise, sniffing, exploring and socialising in a secure field — all while having lots of fun! 🥰

🐕 £17 per dog – 50 minutes
🐕‍🦺 Second dog from the same household – just £5!
👥 Small groups – maximum 6 dogs
📅 Every Tuesday
📍 Secure field
❤️ Spaces available!

If your dog would love some extra freedom and fun, send us a message to book their space! 📩

PawFecter Dog Walking — happy dogs, happy lives! 🐾❤️
📞07956577746