The Paw-sitive Experience

The Paw-sitive Experience At The Paw-sitive Experience, we believe every dog deserves the chance to thrive, be understood, nurtured, and guided with kindness. Based in Stourbridge.

We specialise in professional, force-free dog training and enriching countryside walks. At The Paw-sitive Experience, we believe that every dog deserves the chance to thrive to be understood, nurtured, and guided with kindness. Based in Stourbridge and the surrounding countryside, we specialise in professional, force-free dog training and enriching countryside walks tailored to working breeds and

family companions alike. From KC Puppy Classes and group workshops in recall and loose lead walking, to tailored 1:1 sessions for individual needs, our training is fun, practical, and science-based. With 5+ years experience and ongoing Level 6 Advanced Canine Behaviour study, we focus on building skills, confidence, and a stronger bond between you and your dog. We also offer enriching countryside walks whilst you work.

Bunkers Hill and Friars Gorse For Tuesday.
02/06/2026

Bunkers Hill and Friars Gorse For Tuesday.

Could anyone offer a temporary foster placement for this lovely boy for a few weeks please? If not could you share so we...
02/06/2026

Could anyone offer a temporary foster placement for this lovely boy for a few weeks please? If not could you share so we can see if we can find him somewhere safe.
Thank you.

Monday at Highgate Common. Just one walk again today.
01/06/2026

Monday at Highgate Common. Just one walk again today.

01/06/2026

Something a little different is coming to the blog this month…

This series was actually inspired by my recent studies — sometimes diving deep into the science for an assignment makes you realise just how much of it every dog owner would love to know. So I decided to share it.

Over the next four weeks I’m stepping away from training tips and doing a deep dive into the extraordinary story of you and your dog. We’re talking 15,000 years of shared history. The secret language between species. Why your dog does what they do, where they came from, and what that means for the dog standing in front of you right now.

It’s science, it’s history, it’s a little bit fascinating — and I genuinely think it’ll change how you see your dog.

Part one is live now.

https://www.thepaw-sitiveexperience.co.uk/the-secret-history-of-you-and-your-dog-how-we-changed-each-other-forever

The EU Parliament voted in June 2025 to introduce new minimum welfare standards for dogs & cats across all 27 member sta...
01/06/2026

The EU Parliament voted in June 2025 to introduce new minimum welfare standards for dogs & cats across all 27 member states.

Bans on shock collars, prong collars & choke collars. An end to cosmetic mutilations. Restrictions on breeding practices that cause suffering. The focus explicitly on positive, reward-based training & humane handling. Full implementation expected 2027-2028.

We left the EU. But we don’t have to leave behind the values.

Wales banned shock collars in 2010. England still hasn’t. The legislation was drafted. Campaigners were told a ban was imminent. Then nothing. Twice. Meanwhile the science has only got clearer — aversive training methods compromise welfare, increase fear & aggression & are no more effective than reward-based methods. The evidence isn’t new. The political will just isn’t there.

27 countries just voted to move forward.

As a force-free trainer I’ve never needed a shock collar, a prong or a choke. Not once. The dog doesn’t need pain to learn. It needs clarity, consistency & a handler who actually understands it.

Come on UK. The rest of Europe is leaving us behind. 🐾

Sunday at Highgate Common with Ollie & Bolt & well done to Ollie’s people for running the 9 locks challenge (the adverti...
31/05/2026

Sunday at Highgate Common with Ollie & Bolt & well done to Ollie’s people for running the 9 locks challenge (the advertising lied! It was not 9 locks! It was about 20… a gruelling uphill run) they both did amazing! And Ollie and Twix were there to cheer them across the finish line x

Did I forget Fridays walks at Highgate Common and Friars Gorse? 🤦🏽‍♀️ sorry
31/05/2026

Did I forget Fridays walks at Highgate Common and Friars Gorse? 🤦🏽‍♀️ sorry

Training weekly update!1:1 Sessions - Well, last week the heat had other ideas — all 1:1 sessions were postponed! But th...
31/05/2026

Training weekly update!

1:1 Sessions -
Well, last week the heat had other ideas — all 1:1 sessions were postponed! But that didn’t mean I was putting my feet up. Assignments, admin, and more assignments. 😩

Week 4 Puppy Class learned how to play safely with tug toys this week — including a starting cue and how to teach a drop/release cue. We also worked on how to help puppies unwind and be calm. A skill that doesn’t always come naturally to some dogs, especially busy working breeds 🐾

We welcomed a brand new puppy class too — and they all behaved impeccably. Very brave and very clever on their first lesson. Welcome to The Paw-sitive Family!

Our adolescent class continued working on calm in the environment and focus on their handlers. We also began introducing loose lead walking — building skills around the other dogs and using them as distractions whilst walking, and the walking dog as a distraction for the settled dogs.

Calm and settled behaviour can feel like a tall order for adolescent dogs — and there’s a reason for that. The adolescent period brings a surge of hormones alongside a remodelling of the brain, particularly in areas responsible for impulse control and decision making. It’s not naughtiness. It’s neuroscience. They’re doing their best with a brain that’s still under construction.

The good news? With consistent, positive training this phase absolutely passes — and the work you put in now shapes the dog you’ll have for life.

If you have an adolescent dog that’s struggling, a new adolescent class will be starting in a few weeks. Drop me a message to find out more and get your name on the list.

Exciting news from our household — Twix is confirmed pregnant! Due 29th June we’ll be documenting the full journey from ...
28/05/2026

Exciting news from our household — Twix is confirmed pregnant! Due 29th June we’ll be documenting the full journey from pregnancy to puppies, including early handling, ENS and the very first steps of training our keeper pup. If you want to follow along, head over to our new page!

FB: The Chocolate Cocker Box
Insta: The_Chocolate_Cocker_Box

Thursdays chaos at Highgate Common.
28/05/2026

Thursdays chaos at Highgate Common.

Address

Stourbridge

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447928412653

Website

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