Sarah Groves Dog Training

02/09/2026

At 13 weeks old, Jet is learning skills that have nothing to do with being "obedient"... and everything to do with everyday life.

We had a jam packed training session today!

Before we got started, we had a chat about how things are going so far, because puppy life isn't always straightforward.

There will be good days, frustrating days, things that suddenly seem to go backwards and plenty of moments where you wonder, "Am I doing this right?"

And that's exactly what I'm here for. We can talk through what's happening, work out why, and come up with a plan to help you and your puppy move forwards.

Today Jet worked on:

🐾 How 4 paws on the floor gets attention rather than jumping up to greet on the baby gate.

🐾 Attention noise, so his mam can redirect his focus away from trouble and back onto her when needed.

🐾 Mat training in the living room, helping Jet learn that he can be right in the middle of family life while also learning how to switch off and chill.

🐾 Recall, building those foundations now so coming back to his mam becomes a really rewarding habit.

🐾 Nose to hand touches, giving his mam another useful way to get his attention and helping build those recall skills.

We also introduced the clicker, helping make things clearer for Jet while he's learning and giving him a really clear signal when he's got something right.

There's a lot going on when you have a young puppy, and it's easy to focus on the behaviours that are driving you mad.

But it's these little foundations we're building now that will help Jet navigate everyday life as he grows.

Well done Jet, you worked hard today! ❤️

01/09/2026

New here? Welcome!
If you've recently welcomed a puppy into your family, you're in exactly the right place.

Whether you're dealing with puppy biting, toilet training, pulling on the lead, unreliable recall, zoomies, or you've suddenly found yourself living with a teenager who's forgotten everything they once knew... you're certainly not alone.

I'm Sarah, an IMDT accredited dog trainer, and I help puppy and adolescent dog owners across Neath, Port Talbot, Swansea and the surrounding areas raise calm, confident family dogs using kind, reward-based training.

My goal isn't just to train your dog.

It's to help YOU understand your dog, so you can feel confident, enjoy your walks together and have a dog that's a pleasure to live with.

I've been training dogs for over 12 years, and I still love learning. I regularly attend courses and workshops to make sure the advice I give families is based on modern, reward-based training that is practical, effective and enjoyable for both dogs and their owners.

And this handsome boy is Prince with me in this photo. ❤️

Prince is my 13-year-old Staffy x Labrador, and he's a huge part of why I do what I do. He came to me as a fearful three-year-old and taught me so much about patience, understanding and seeing the dog in front of you. Without him, Sarah Groves Dog Training probably wouldn't exist,and without me i honestly think he would have been put to sleep by now.

Over the years I've worked with hundreds of families, and I've realised that almost everyone wants the same thing...

To enjoy life with their dog.

To walk without being pulled down the road.

To let them off lead with confidence.

To have visitors over without chaos.

To feel proud of the dog they're raising.

That's exactly what I love helping people achieve.

So whether you're here because you've got a tiny puppy, a teenage whirlwind, or you're simply looking for friendly, practical training advice, I'm so pleased you've found my page.

You'll find plenty of free tips, client success stories and training ideas here to help you along the way.

I'd love to get to know you, so tell me in the comments:

🐶 What's your dog's name?

🎂 How old are they?

💬 What's one thing you'd love to improve?

And if you'd like to find out more about working with me, take a look at my website:
www.sarahgrovesdogtraining.co.uk
You can message me via whatsapp 07891222454

01/09/2026

30/08/2026

Is your dog crazy in the evening?
Dogs are 'crepuscular'.
Meaning they are most active during dusk and dawn...

30/08/2026

Mat training - one of the most versatile skills to teach a dog!

Prince, of course being a greedy boy, wants to get involved with what's cooking!

So I have a mat quite central where he can't get in the way, so I can open the oven door to open the oven door!

No one gets hurt, and greedy dogs can stay safe and out of under the feet!

28/08/2026

The Dog Owner’s Circle of Life 🐾
(yes I got AI to help me with this but I think it's true and relevant)

First, you get a puppy.

A tiny, adorable bundle of fluff
who looks at you with big, innocent eyes…

…and then promptly bites your ankles,
eats your skirting boards,
pees on your favorite rug,
and steals your socks.

You survive that phase. Barely.

Then comes adolescence.

Suddenly, your sweet little puppy has developed opinions.

Recall?

"Never heard of her."

You say "Come!"

And they hear: "Let’s see how fast I can run in the opposite direction."

They discover hormones, sudden selective hearing, and the undeniable belief that they are, in fact, the main character of the world.

You spend months training them how to behave around people, dogs, wildlife, bins, squirrels, bicycles…

Especially leaves.

You have good days.

And you have days where you question every single life choice that led you here.

You lose your patience.

You whisper: “For the love of dog, JUST WALK NICELY!”

You jokingly threaten to sell them to the circus.

You don't, of course.

Because despite the chaos, the muddy paws, the ruined furniture, and the recall that vanishes the second a squirrel appears…

You fall hopelessly, unconditionally in love with them.

And then, before you even realize it’s happening…

The puppy is grown.

Then older.

And one day, that ridiculous little menace has a sugary grey face.

Their walks get a bit slower.

They sleep a little deeper.

They don't hear you coming quite as quickly.

And suddenly, it hits you right in the chest:

None of the frustration ever mattered.

Not the muddy floor.

Not the chewed shoes.

Not the embarrassing recall fail in front of the whole park.

Because time is a thief.

And one day, you would give absolutely everything you own just to have that crazy young dog back for one more wild day.

So yes…

Train them.

Set boundaries.

Guide them well.

But don't forget to enjoy them while they're here.

Because that annoying little rascal…

is going to turn into the best friend you’ll ever have. ❤️🐾

Whenever you're ready, upload the photo of Prince, and let me know how you'd like the background transformed!

28/08/2026

What a lovely week of dogs! 🐾❤️

I’ve worked with such a brilliant mix of dogs, ages and breeds this week, and no two sessions have been the same.

From puppy biting, building calm and mat training, to improving focus and lead skills…

Helping a dog prepare for life with a new baby, teaching dogs how to settle when visitors arrive, and working on recall and focus down aberavon.

It’s a real reminder of just how many different things our dogs need help navigating throughout their lives.

And honestly, I absolutely love my job. ❤️

I feel very lucky that I get to spend my days helping dogs and their humans understand each other a little better, build better habits and enjoy life together.

Thank you to everyone who trusts me with their dogs - I genuinely appreciate every single one. 🐾

One more day of classes tomorrow then a well earned long bank holiday weekend!

Do you have plans with your dog this weekend?

27/08/2026

Sometimes your dog doesn't need "fixing"... they just need a little help understanding that life has changed.

You usually hear me talking about puppies and teenage dogs, but today was a little different because I met Annie, a gorgeous 9 year old Poochon.

Annie's family have recently welcomed a new baby, and they wanted to make sure Annie felt relaxed, settled and still very much part of the family.

They'd already done lots of the things they'd read about, including getting Annie used to the new smells and introducing her slowly.

But the baby's cries were causing some barking, and Annie just wasn't quite as settled as they'd hoped.

So today was all about helping her through this new chapter.

Her routine is naturally going to change, and there will be times when her family simply can't give her the same attention they could before.

We looked at ways to keep her mentally occupied during those moments, along with some calming activities and mat training to give Annie her own safe space to settle.

We also introduced an attention noise to help redirect her focus back onto her family when needed, and some noise training to help her learn that those unfamiliar baby cries aren't something she needs to worry about.

And she did brilliantly.

Annie is such a lovely girl, and I have no doubt that with a little refresher on her training and some support while she adjusts, she'll become much more settled.

Sometimes it's not about completely changing your dog's behaviour.

It's about helping them understand that although life has changed, they're still safe, they're still included, and they're still very much part of the family.

🥰🥰🥰

27/08/2026

Sunny is only 4 months old, but we’re already working on the skills that are going to make life with him so much easier.

I met this gorgeous Whippet for the first time this week as part of his Puppy Solutions journey, and like most puppies, there’s a LOT going on at this age.

- Toilet training.

- Biting.

- Getting comfortable wearing his harness.

- Feeling happier and more relaxed in the car.

And then there are all those little everyday things that can quickly become big problems if we don’t teach them early.

So this week we started building some of those foundations.

We worked on mat training, teaching Sunny that his mat is a place to settle and relax, but also giving his owners a useful boundary.

It can mean:

🐾 Staying on his mat while dinner is being prepared instead of racing around the kitchen.

🐾 Going to his mat when visitors arrive.

🐾 Having somewhere to settle when life is busy.

🐾 And eventually, helping to prevent that classic puppy dash through the front door when someone comes in!

We also started working on an attention noise, teaching Sunny that hearing that sound means, “Hey, pay attention to me.”

That’s going to become really useful for redirecting his attention before he gets himself into mischief.

And that’s what I love about puppy training.

We’re not just teaching tricks.

We’re teaching the skills that help puppies navigate everyday life.

Because a well trained dog isn’t created by teaching a hundred different 'commands'.

It starts with getting the foundations right.

And Sunny has made a great start!

I’m looking forward to seeing how this little Whippet develops over the coming weeks!

26/08/2026

'How did you become a dog trainer?'

Providing you with the right guidance and support that you need for your puppy or teenage dog. Neath, Port Talbot, Swansea.