Paws4fun - puppy and adult dog training

03/03/2026

Just to let you all know I’m taking early retirement👏👏👍🥳
So Paws4fun will be closing as of 28th March 26.
This page will be taken down soon after that.
Thanks to all those who have followed me I really do appreciate it and wish you all the very best with your dog adventures. ❤️🐶🐕🦮🐕‍🦺🐩
Laura.

19/01/2026

Dogs are so good at hiding pain. Please be aware of changes in your dogs. It often is pain causing the change.

22/12/2025

Love these posts from dogs disclosed.

03/12/2025

❗️RAWHIDE❗️

POSSIBLY THE MOST DANGEROUS DOG TREAT ON THE PLANET!

The chews are made from cattle or horse hides and their journey starts with the hides being soaked in a toxic sodium sulphide to remove the hair and fat. More chemicals are used in order to split the hide into layers which is then washed with hydrogen peroxide to give the white “pure” look and remove the rancid smell. Now comes the pretty festive colours and the glue to form cute shapes.

On testing, these chews have shown traces of arsenic, mercury, chromium and formaldehyde.
If that wasn`t bad enough they regularly cause intestinal blockages, poisoning from chemical residue and choking. The chews go slippery when wet and are near impossible to get hold of to save a choking dog.

Leave them in the shop or if some well meaning person buys them for your dog put them safely away and then dispose in the bin!

14/10/2025

This is often a difficult time for our dogs and owners but understanding the processes helps as explained below.

08/09/2025

It's that time of year again where acorns will going to be flooding the floors and could become tempting to your dog. It's important to remember the dangers of acorns when they become ingested ⚠️

Did you know that acorns (and the entire Oak tree) is poisonous to dogs? 🌳
Here’s the signs and symptoms of acorn poisoning in dogs. Be sure to save this post for later and share to raise awareness! 🐶

Find out more: thekennelclub.org.uk/acorns

19/06/2025

It’s set to be unseasonably hot this week, which means our pets are at increased risk of heatstroke. As the British weather is starting to warm up, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with what temperatures are safe for your dog☀️🐶

Every year our vets treat hundreds of heat stroke cases and, heartbreakingly, some end in tragedy. Many are unfortunately a result of owners not knowing the dangers of exercising their dogs in temperatures too hot for them to handle.

Heat-related illnesses are almost always preventable! DONT TAKE THE RISK and make sure your pet isn’t overheating in the sun.

If you think your dog may be suffering from heat stroke, contact your vet immediately or, if out-of-hours, find your nearest emergency vet.
Remember, Get them WET and get them to the Vet!

18/03/2025

WHEN TRAINING WON’T WORK

There is a common misconception that reactivity, anxiety or fear related behaviour can be “fixed” through training alone.

Barking, lunging, reactivity, aggression, constant hypervigilance - as though danger is waiting behind every corner, hiding or cowering away at the slightest trigger or sometimes shutting down completely are all signs of a nervous system that’s in overdrive and is unregulated.

This behaviour is not a training issue - it’s not bad behaviour, disobedience, stubbornness or some other type of negative label, - it’s a nervous system issue.

Although dogs and people have remarkably similar social and emotional brains, this doesn’t mean that dogs are able to think like we do, or have the words or means to process what is causing their stress or trauma.

When stress is not released, it remains stuck, keeping the nervous system in overdrive or in survival mode.

When a dog or a person is stuck in this state, the brain isn’t able to learn new things or learn to behave in a different way.

This is why trying to “train away” anxiety, fear or reactive type behaviour does not work. We first have to work on the nervous system.

Here are some links related to this subject that provide more information on how to help dogs that are struggling -

How to identify and remove triggers that keep a dog stuck in a cycle of stress and anxiety - Annie Phenix
https://phenix-dogs-canine-behavior-experts-llc.kit.com/7-steps

Creating a healing environment - podcast by Dr Laura Donaldson
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-laura-donaldson-compliance-is-not-cooperation/id1708279785?i=1000693042973

Trauma Informed Dog Training – Book by Sally Gutteridge
https://www.amazon.com/Trauma-Informed-Dog-Training-Professionals/dp/B0DS4T1W8M

What does it mean to be Trauma Informed - Dr Laura Donaldson
https://www.icbdogs.com/product-page/laura-donaldson-what-does-it-mean-to-be-trauma-informed

Ace Free Work – helps the nervous system relax, reset and rebalance
https://www.allpetseducationandtraining.com.au/ace-free-work.html

07/03/2025

😂😂

Classic 🥰

04/03/2025

I STILL NEEDED MY MOM

THE CONSEQUENCES OF TAKING PUPS TOO YOUNG

The early life experiences of a puppy are so important and have a significant influence on how that pup develops - emotionally, mentally, socially and physically.

There are still many so-called “breeders” that allow pups to be taken away at 6 weeks.

Uninformed people just accept this without question and are often unprepared for the consequences.

Just because a puppy may no longer physically depend on mom for food doesn’t mean they are ready to cope emotionally, without the security of their family unit, in a strange new home.

A 6-week-old puppy is still very reliant on mom and their littermates to learn appropriate play behaviour, impulse control, frustration tolerance, bite inhibition, self-confidence and develop the social skills that will help them grow into well-adjusted adults.

Although 8 weeks is the bare minimum that a reputable breeder will allow their pups to leave, some will keep their puppies until 10 or 12 weeks of age, but also make sure that proper, age-appropriate socialisation and habituation is provided.

Habituation is getting a puppy used to different things in an environment in a positive way, at the right developmental time. This could look like introducing different objects, noises, sounds, smells, different textures, places etc, so the puppy learns that these things are not something to be afraid of.

However, we don’t live an in ideal world and having to care for or rescue pups much younger than 8 weeks is often unavoidable due to different circumstances.

In these cases, we need to do what we can and hope for the best.

This post is not about this kind of situation, it’s about spreading knowledge, creating awareness, understanding and encouraging people not to support unethical, irresponsible breeders that allow their pups to leave too early, with no regard for their wellbeing or development.

12/02/2025

Myth Busting: Why 5 minutes per month just isn't right!

➡️There is lots of conflicting and confusing advice when it comes to exercise and puppies. The information can be so overwhelming! Many people will have an opinion, but what is the evidence regarding exercising puppies and joint health?

➡️We know that certain breeds are predisposed to genetic or conformation risk factors but as with anything each dog is individual. We have an extensive array of breeds who may or may not have a certain morphology, a particular shape or form, which may predispose them to joint damage: it is really difficult to give a ‘one size fits all’ advice.

➡️In one study skeletally immature dogs who undertook 15 weeks of jogging at a rate of 40 km per day had no change in cartilage content! (And realistically, 40 km per day is not a realistic expectation or aim!)

➡️In one study, running after balls and sticks throwing by the owner were also identified as risk factors for dogs developing joint issues.

Veterinary Voices: Top Tips

🩵Exercise for puppies needs to be tailored to your dog as an individual

🩵Keep your puppy at a lean body condition score, do not allow them to carry unnecessary weight

🩵Feed your puppy a healthy, complete and good quality diet appropriate for their age and breed. Getting the nutrition wrong at a young age can cause issues.

🩵Each dog should be assessed individually based on their breed, temperament and physical status

🩵Puppies should be free of hip and elbow dysplasia, and genetic predisposition to joint damage

🩵Certain high impact exercises, twisting or jarring may be risk factors for damage! Do not let your dog obsessively chase balls and toys. Avoiding jarring, high concussive (a hard blow or collision) activity during the formative months may be a prudent recommendation

➡️ REMEMBER: 1 hour of sniffing, socialising, walking, training and trotting is NOT the same as 1 hour throwing a ball repeatedly.
One will not be as obviously tiring, but will be mentally and physically stimulating, and prepare your puppy positivity for the sights and sounds of life. The other may cause obsessive, repetitive behaviour, not mentally stimulate and even may cause frustration, and will be high impact movements through our joints possibly adding to risk of joint disease.
Choose wisely 🩵

Check out more below ⬇️

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/puppy-exercise-5-minuets-per-month-of-life