Puppy Plus, Puppy Plus Training Barn, Newtown (2025)

04/07/2025

Is your dog, or puppy in pain?

We often think pain is obvious — a limp, a yelp or refusing to walk. Perhaps a change in gait. But pain can be so much more subtle than that - and is often mistaken for difficult behaviour.

👉 Fearfulness or increased anxiety

👉 Noise sensitivities

👉 Reluctance to be touched or handled

👉 Struggling to settle, always "on the go"

👉 Hard, persistent play biting in puppies

Pain and gut health are deeply linked to behaviour. Even infections like Giardia and Campylobacter can upset the gut, leading to chronic discomfort, emotional instability, and lower tolerance for stress and noise.

The reality? We can’t truly judge if pain is playing a role without a proper pain trial — because dogs (and puppies) are experts at hiding it.

In my blog, I’ve included;

✔ How pain can hide behind behaviour problems

✔ Why gut health matters so much for mood and comfort

✔ How puppies show pain in ways we might not expect

✔ What a pain trial really is and why it’s so important

Let’s learn to really listen to our dogs and support them with patience and understanding. 💛

Read our full blog by clicking on the link below, or searching for our Puppy Plus Website and clicking on Blog!

https://www.puppyplus.co.uk/blog/ouch

28/06/2025

We ran our first NNA Excellent Trial today!
Thank you to Nikki Thorpe for Co-judging with me! I was very happy with how the searches ran, and it was a pleasure watching all the dog’s work.

Our Winner today (on finds) was Katie Weston and Nellie.

Reserve Jane Hanson and Freddie

22/06/2025

We going to be running a combined Bronze and Silver Class from Monday the 30th June at 7.15pm 🙂

Perhaps you've completed a puppy class, or have an adolescent or older dog?

You've probably got the basics started, maybe they’re learning to walk on a loose lead, or sometimes they remember to stay when asked — but it’s not quite consistent yet.

This class is designed to build on what you’ve already started, at your own pace.

We’ll focus on growing calmness, confidence, and connection — with practical life skills like recall around distractions, settling when asked, polite greetings, and loose lead walking in real-world scenarios.

It’s a combined Bronze/Silver Good Citizen class, but it’s not just about passing tests. It’s about deepening your partnership and helping your dog feel more confident and capable in everyday life.

New to Puppy Plus? You’re very welcome.
Still working on the basics? That’s absolutely fine.
We’ll meet you both where you are and support you step by step.

Here's the link to book ;

https://puppyplus.as.me/bronzesilverclasses30thJune

Any questions, please ask 🙂

20/06/2025

We now have a couple of Spaces in our Level 1 SWUK Trial on Sunday 22nd June, 9.30am -due to it being rescheduled because of the heat!

https://puppyplus.as.me/ScentworkLevel1Sunday22ndJune

We will take NFC entries, if you want to take part for the experience!

If you want to compete, you will need to be a current SWUK member, which you can sort out on the SWUK website. You don't need to be registered to enter NFC (Not for competition).

19/06/2025

☀️ Helping Our Dogs Stay Cool in the Heat 🐾

With the warmer weather arriving, it’s easy to feel torn—do we take the dogs out and risk overheating, or keep them home and feel guilty about skipping the walk?

The truth is, we don’t need to panic—we just need to be mindful. Hot weather doesn’t mean we can’t go out at all, it just means being thoughtful about how and when we do things.

🌳 A shaded walk early in the morning or later in the evening can still be a lovely, safe way to get out. And remember, being in the shade can feel several degrees cooler than being in direct sun—so even a short potter under trees can be a far better option than anything out in the full heat.

🔥 And don’t forget the pavements. Tarmac and paving slabs can get unpleasantly hot, especially in the middle of the day. A simple test—if it’s too hot for the back of your hand, it’s too hot for their paws.

Sometimes, the kindest thing is to skip the walk altogether. And that’s OK.

There are still plenty of ways to keep your dog enriched, content, and comfortable at home:

🧊 Licki mats or kongs with frozen treats – Great cooling down
🌬️ Cooling mats – Offer a cool spot to lie on
🪣 Shallow paddling pools – For dogs who enjoy water
🧺 Damp towels or cooling bandanas – Used carefully, they can help with comfort
🌿 Shady garden spots or pop-up shelters – Let them relax outdoors without the heat
🥤 Fresh water and travel bowls – Always have water to hand, even on short trips
🚙 Window shades and car fans if travelling

This morning we took our Supper Sniffers Group to the woods, it was lovely, super cool first thing this morning, plenty of shade to park, and a light cool breeze up in the hills.

We cancelled out afternoon session, and our evening Dog Sports and Hoopers Sessions, as it was too hot this afternoon to do anything outside safely.

Tomorrow I will be going ahead with one to one training sessions, as our fully Air Conditioned Barn provides a lovely cool environment for our visitors. If our clients don't feel comfortable travelling with their dogs, have a long journey, or cannot keep their dogs comfortable in their cars, we are postponing their sessions. This is on an individual basis.

My show bred Labradors, have a much lower heat tolerance than my yellow working bred Lab, I know that and make good choices for them accordingly.

Be sensible, advocate for your individual dogs and keep them safe x

16/06/2025

Do you want to give your puppy the very best start in life?

You may have heard the term Critical Socialisation Period in regards to puppies - but what does that actually mean?

Puppies have what is called a ‘critical socialisation period’ between approximately 3 -18 weeks of age. The puppy’s experiences during this critical period of learning and development influence and shape their behaviour well into adulthood.

Providing plenty of opportunities for socialisation and exposure to different environments during this time can help to ensure your puppy grows into a well-adjusted adult that relates well to other dogs, other animals and people.

This is one of the reasons we try to get puppies into our puppy classes as young as possible. Trying to integrate an older puppy into classes, when they are nearing, or have passed through their socialisation period already is a much harder task, than introducing a baby puppy to the same thing.

We very often hear people say, we'll leave classes until they are older, or we'll see how we get on by ourselves first..... but you know what?

It's too late then.

You can't turn back time.

It's so much harder to integrate older puppies and adolescent dogs in to new environments, as their brains have changed and developed, and they don't accept new experiences in the same way later on.

Many of the behavioural difficulties that we see in adolescent dogs, are simply caused by either insufficient or incorrect socialisation experiences in young puppies.

So if you know someone with a young puppy, or have a young puppy yourself - you know what to do!

Book online to join our puppy classes soon - these take place in our purpose built, air conditioned training barn x

Classes starting Tuesday 24th June 6pm (2 spaces left)

**NEW Puppy Classes starting Tuesday 22nd July (5 spaces left)

09/06/2025

Sit, Sit, Sit....

Have you ever felt frustrated when your dog doesn’t respond instantly to a cue? You’re not alone, but often, hesitation isn’t disobedience, it's just a sign that your dog needs more time to think.

In our latest blog, we explore how pressure in training can actually slow your dog’s progress, creating stress and confusion. We also explain what to do instead — and how to raise a dog who can think for themselves, make good choices, and feel calm and capable in the world around them.

Do you want to understand why ‘Letting our dogs think’ is such a powerful tool when we are training?

Read our full blog here - https://www.puppyplus.co.uk/blog/let-them-think

If you want thoughtful training that meets your dog's needs and helps them thrive, we’d love to welcome you to our classes or one to one training sessions :)

08/06/2025

On Saturday Jen Smith hired our training barn to hosted Vay Coltrose for a Heelwork to Music Workshop. We had attendees visit from all over Wales, and beyond 🐾 🚗 🚙 🐾

🌿 Looking for a peaceful, dog-friendly venue for your next workshop or event? 🐾

Our lovely training barn in Mid Wales is now available to hire for one-off workshops, training days, or canine events. Whether you’re planning a Workshop, Event, or even a small relaxed Hoopers or Agility competition, this space offers a calm, professional setting where dogs and people can feel truly at ease.

🛠️ The barn is fully heated and air-conditioned, so it’s comfortable all year round — rain or shine, summer or winter.

✨ What’s included:
• Spacious, fully enclosed indoor barn.
• Heated in winter, cool in summer — ideal for year-round use
• Secure outdoor space for breaks, demos, or a bit of off-lead time
• On-site parking and toilet facilities
• Tea/coffee station to keep everyone fuelled
• Optional access to specialist equipment (Fitpaws, Agility, Hoopers, etc.)

We love seeing this space come alive with different kinds of learning — so if you’re a trainer or canine professional looking for a venue that’s calm, welcoming, and purpose-built, feel free to message me or email [email protected]

📅 Some Weekdays and Weekends available with prior notice

Let’s create something memorable together 🐾

07/06/2025

We have a few spaces left in this Scentwork workshop on the 16th June!

'Murder on The Narrow Gauge'

Half Day Scentwork Workshops 9.30am and 1pm

The year is 1937. Amidst the undulating hills of Mid-Wales, the picturesque Llanfair Light Railway snakes its way between Llanfair Caereinion and Welshpool, its narrow-gauge tracks weaving through misty fields, mossy stone walls, and sleepy hamlets. This steam-hauled excursion is a private celebration for the birthday of Lady Henrietta Fforbes-Llewellyn, a formidable matron of the local landed gentry.

The celebratory mood sours dramatically near Cyfronydd Halt when the train comes to an unexpected stop, the lifeless body of Mr. Archibald Smythe, is discovered in his compartment. A brass letter-opener protrudes from his chest. The doors were locked, the windows too small for escape, and the countryside around them silent except for the distant bleating of the sheep.

You (and your sniffy dogs obviously 😆) must help Inspector Talfryn Pugh, who together with Miss Gwendoline Evans, and her faithful terrier, Bryn find the clues to identify the murderer.

The station offers a variety of search areas, and the searches can be adapted to the requirements of each team. There will be two trainers and 8 handlers in each session.

https://puppyplus.as.me/llanfairrailwayhalfdayworkshops

Any questions - please ask 🙂

28/05/2025

We’ve got just 2 spots left in our next Puppy Class starting next Monday 3rd June at 6pm!

Ever wondered what it’s like inside one of our puppy classes?

Small groups, real-life scenarios, and no “one-size-fits-all” approach. Just honest, dog-centred training that works in the real world.

We focus on calm confidence — for both ends of the lead. And there’s plenty of space at the barn for pups to learn without feeling pressure.

Curious to see if it’s right for your pup? Drop me a message and we’ll chat it through ☺️

Alternatively want to get booked in - it’s easy to book your place through the book online page on our website x

15/05/2025

Hi

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we’ve a space become available on our 'Unlock the power of rewards' Workshop with Corrine Wrend this Saturday 17th May. 10am - 4pm.
At the Puppy Plus Training Barn, SY16 3HQ

Book here;

https://puppyplus.as.me/corrinewrend17thmay

This workshop is for people who are into the 'geeky' side of training who want to increase their training skills, and enhance their relationship with their dog.

There are 8 places, the dogs are worked individually, so they need to be happy waiting in your vehicles in between.

Puppy Plus

04/07/2025

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20/06/2025

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