Meg, Pippa & Co

23/08/2025

🐾 Puppy Academy – Week 1 🐾

What a fantastic first session today! The pups (and their humans!) did an amazing job getting started on their training journey.

We introduced some of the key foundations:

✨ Look – building focus and attention
✨ Sit – calm starts to good manners
✨ Wait – learning a little patience
✨ Down – working towards relaxation
✨ Plus a first taste of loose lead walking

Everyone worked so hard, and the pups gave us plenty of proud moments already. We’ll be sharing some photos from today so you can see them all in action – learning, exploring and having fun along the way.

Here’s to an exciting 6 weeks ahead! 🐶💫

23/08/2025

“Can’t Even P*e Alone” Why Your Dog’s Always Following You

Sound familiar? You move… they move.
You go upstairs… they follow.
You shift your leg… they sigh, reposition, and settle back down.

It’s sweet, until it starts feeling like you’ve grown a furry shadow.

Some dogs are social creatures, but some don’t know how to switch off unless you’re within arm’s reach. And while it might feel like love (and it often is), it can also be a sign your dog is struggling with independence.

Here’s the thing:

A dog who can settle alone, nap in another room, and stay relaxed when you’re out of sight is a more confident and emotionally balanced dog.

You can gently help them get there:

• Practise short moments of calm separation in daily life
• Reward relaxation not just attention-seeking
• Create a comfy, safe space away from busy areas
• Don’t sneak out, build trust through routine and consistency

It’s not about distancing your dog emotionally, it’s about giving them freedom from needing to be near you 24/7.

Because confidence starts with calm.



www.megpippa.co.uk

22/08/2025

Walk & Train went shopping …. West Midlands Designer Outlets in Cannock

22/08/2025

“He Just Loves Me So Much!” (…Maybe a Little Too Much)

Your dog leans, paws, climbs into your lap… then huffs when you stop stroking.
Cute? Yes.
Always harmless? Not necessarily.

Sometimes pushy affection is just that, a dog who loves contact and enjoys being close.

But sometimes it’s a little more layered:

• A dog unsure how to settle
• Struggling with over-attachment
• Or trying to control interaction (rather than enjoying it)

If your dog demands affection and gets frustrated when they don’t get it, it’s worth checking:

• Can they switch off and settle on their own?
• Do they choose to be near you, or on you?
• Is affection mutual or one-sided?

You’re not being unkind by setting gentle boundaries.
You’re helping your dog feel secure without needing constant reassurance.

Connection is lovely. But calm confidence is the goal.



www.megpippa.co.uk

22/08/2025

Only 1 space left for tomorrow’s puppy course! So excited for our new venue in Burntwood

🐾 NEW VENUE ANNOUNCEMENT 🐾

I’m excited to now be running both my Puppy Course and Life Skills sessions at the fantastic Bradshaw Bark Park in Burntwood (WS7 1YL) – a secure 2.4-acre outdoor field offering a calm, realistic training space for dogs of all personalities.

No echoey halls – just fresh air, space to think, and real-world practice. Plus there’s a café and farm shop on-site for post-training treats!

⸻

🐶 PUPPY COURSE
📅 Starts: Saturday 23rd August
⏰ 9.15am – 10.15am
💷 £120 for 6-week course
👶 For pups aged upto 7 months
✨ Focus on confidence, calmness, engagement, recall, and lead skills – all around other pups, the right way.

Book now: https://megpippaco.as.me/Puppy

⸻

🐕 LIFE SKILLS CLASS
📅 Saturdays weekly
⏰ 10.30am – 11.30am
💷 £20 per session – no commitment required
🌟 Suitable for all dogs, including nervous, reactive, excitable or adolescent types
🎯 Work on recall, loose lead, neutrality, calmness, and handler focus – all in a secure, supported group setting.

Book now: https://megpippaco.as.me/Life

⸻

Whether you’re building foundations or polishing up skills, come join us in this brilliant new space.
📩 Pop me a message to ask questions or get booked in.

22/08/2025

Loved seeing these 2 the other day (and parents) … brotherly love hitting the adolescences, testing boundaries with each other. Little tweaks and heightening training levels implemented to just polish their great relationship!!

21/08/2025

“He’s Just Being Stubborn” … Or Is He Confused?

We’ve all been there:

You give a cue, your dog looks at you… and then does absolutely nothing.

The first instinct? “He’s being stubborn.”

But dogs aren’t naturally defiant, they’re either:

• Unsure what’s being asked
• Struggling to focus
• Or missing some confidence in that moment

Before labelling it as attitude, ask:

• Have I practised this in this environment?
• Is my timing and tone consistent?
• Could they be tired, distracted, or overwhelmed?

Clarity builds confidence.
So when your dog doesn’t respond, take a breath, go back a step, and make success easier, they’re probably trying harder than you think.



www.megpippa.co.uk

20/08/2025

“He’s Full of Energy!” … Or Is He?

We often think a dog zooming around the house or pulling on lead needs more exercise, but sometimes what they actually need… is rest.

Not all energy is healthy or happy.
Over-arousal, under-stimulation, lack of sleep, pain, frustration, they all look like “high energy” on the surface.

What many dogs really need is balance:

• Physical activity ✔️
• Mental stimulation ✔️
• Quality rest ✔️

That means a day doesn’t have to be packed with miles of walking.
A sniffy stroll, some calm enrichment, and a proper nap can do more for your dog’s wellbeing than constant busyness.

Not all zoomies are created equal.



www.megpippa.co.uk

19/08/2025

“He’s Great With Kids!” (…Until He’s Not)

We love the idea of the family dog and the kids growing up together, snuggling on the sofa, sharing snacks, being best pals.

But here’s the truth: kids can be intense.
They move quickly, make noise, hug tightly, and don’t always read when a dog’s had enough.

Even the most patient dog has limits. And those limits can shift, especially if they’re in pain, feeling unwell, or simply tired.

A dog that’s normally fine being touched might suddenly snap or move away if their hip aches, their ears are sore, or they’re just not feeling themselves.

That doesn’t make them “bad.” It makes them a dog.

Our role?

✅ Supervise every interaction
✅ Teach children to give space and read body language
✅ Make sure dogs have a quiet zone where they can rest, undisturbed
✅ And pay attention to any signs of discomfort or pain, especially if behaviour changes

Empathy and awareness keep everyone safe, and protect the precious bond between child and dog.



www.megpippa.co.uk

17/08/2025

Not all dog trainers are the same and I wouldn’t want us to be.

I don’t expect perfection from dogs or their people. Because real life with dogs? It’s muddy, emotional, chaotic and unpredictable. I know that, because I live it too.

I’ve had the nervous Romanian rescue who didn’t trust the world and found safety only in the quietest corners.
I’ve raised a puppy from day dot, all teething, night wakings and learning curves.
I share my life with a squirrel-chasing, high-drive, working Sheperd and the wired, work driven Spaniel who never runs out of energy.
I’ve had the setbacks, the breakthroughs, the frustration, and the love.
And I’ve trained through it all, the rough bits included.

That’s why when I work with you, I bring more than qualifications.
I bring empathy, experience, and understanding, for both ends of the lead.

I read what your dog is really trying to say.
I work with their individual needs, not against them.
I build training plans that fit into your actual life, not one-size-fits-all routines.
And I support you without judgement, because dog ownership isn’t always straightforward.

I’m a compassionate trainer who believes in realistic, fair, kind methods.
I use positive reinforcement with your dog and with you.
My job is to help you feel confident, capable, and calm, even when things get messy.

If you’re looking for someone approachable, understanding, and rooted in real-world experience, I’m your trainer. And I’ll be with you every step of the way.



www.megpippa.co.uk