Paws Up 4 Dogz

02/06/2026

Puppy level 2 course is open to all our Puppy 1 Graduates! 🎓

🐾 Puppy 1 – Foundation Skills is just the beginning of your puppy’s journey. It lays the foundation for confidence, creativity, and good habits — much like preschool does for children.

🐶 But the foundation alone isn’t enough. To truly help your pup thrive, it’s important to cement those early lessons and give them regular practice. Ongoing training not only strengthens your bond but also helps your puppy grow into a well‑mannered, resilient companion who can handle life’s challenges with ease.

💫 In Puppy Level 2, we build on the skills from Level 1 and apply them to everyday situations.

Pups also meet different dogs from other classes. 🐕

Training stays fun, positive, and progressive, while your pup learns to:

✅ Build on foundation obedience and life skills in different situations — sit (including default sit), stay from a distance, recall even with distractions, and loose‑lead walking.

✅ Learn exciting new skills like sending your pup around an object, walking in middle, and playful leg weaves.

✅ Enjoy fitness fun while developing body awareness and coordination.

✅ Grow frustration tolerance so they can cope calmly with waiting for food, walks, playtime, or your attention.

✅ Come away from distractions and focus on you.

✅ Gain confidence in different environments and situations, making them adaptable and secure.

✨ Ongoing training ensures your puppy doesn’t just learn the basics but continues to build confidence, focus, and life skills that last a lifetime.

It’s the key to raising a happy, well‑balanced dog and deepening the special bond you share.🐶

11/05/2026

THE IMPORTANCE OF PUPPY SOCIALIZATION (3-16 WEEKS)

Puppy socialisation is crucial because it shapes a puppy's temperament, ensuring they grow into confident, well-adjusted adults rather than fearful, anxious or aggressive dogs. By exposing them to new sights, sounds, objects, experiences and environments between 3 and 16 weeks (breed dependent), you reduce the likelihood of behavioural issues, which are the primary reason dogs are surrendered to shelters.

Socialisation does not mean playing with random dogs at the park or ONLY going to puppy school. While puppy school is great start to meet other dogs and people in a safe space while learning new skills but socialisation is wider than that. Learning can continue outside puppy class. Learning includes a range of experiences and safe exposure to different sounds, textures, objects and environments that your puppy may not encounter at puppy school. See checklist below. This list is not comprehensive and will depend on your context.

Well socialised dogs can be less fearful, less aggressive and less anxious. Early, positive exposure to new experiences boosts confidence and emotional resilience. A well-socialised puppy learns to handle unfamiliar situations and environments calmly, making them less prone to panic. Properly socialised dogs have a lower risk of anxiety-driven behaviours, such as incessant barking, destroying items, or excessive fearfulness.

While early socialisation is critical, it should be done in a safe, controlled manner to prevent exposure to diseases before vaccinations are completed, so don't wait to start the journey. Most guardians erroneously wait till all vaccines are completed before their pups leave the house to begin socialisation, but this can be too late as the critical socialisation window would have closed. Late attempts at socialisation can lead to the issues highlighted above.

Here is a proposed checklist for socialisation of your puppy👇🏽

Please shout if you have questions or concerns about socialisation of your puppy.

11/05/2026

Their world completely changed.
And they don’t know why.

We see their quietness as coping or relaxing so we can accidentally expect too much, far too soon.

One of the hardest parts with newly rehomed dogs is their stress doesn’t always look dramatic.
We would recognise that easily, but some dogs become extremely still and quiet.

Some follow people constantly.
Some sleep more.
Some avoid all interactions.
Others become busy, mouthy, overexcited or unsettled.

We have a job to do from the second they arrive and it’s not about training.
It should be far more about observation.

We should be watching.
Learning who they are.
Recognising patterns.
Seeing what changes their emotional state.

What startles them?
What helps them relax?
What environments suddenly change their body language?
When do they seek distance?
What happens around food, visitors, handling or rest?

They are telling us who they are and how they are coping, often as clearly as they can and we have a duty to listen.

One thing nearly all rehomed dogs share? It’s incredibly easy to unintentionally overwhelm them.

And it’s usually done with the very best of intentions.

10/05/2026

08/05/2026

Because many households have dogs and cats! 🐾

If you want a great safe space for your kitties, this is the answer! 🐈

We build customised catios to suit your cats needs, and ensure your cats enjoy some outdoor space in a safe way.

Any size from large enough for people to walk in, or smaller ones!

Keeping our cats safe is a priority.

03/05/2026

02/05/2026

Please make yourselves aware! Alpha pack theory is unfortunately still out there - despite being debunked ages ago.

01/05/2026

Next level training, Puppy 2, starts Saturday, 9th May at 4:30pm.

Open to all our Puppy 1 Graduates, under 9 months of age. 🐾🐶

01/05/2026

WHY DOGS NEED TO CHEW

Did you ever wonder why dogs love to chew so much? They sometimes chew furniture, the couch, your shoes or your books!

In the the wild, they have to kill their prey and eat it. Grinding and gnawing on the carcass bones can clean tartar off teeth, while shredding and tearing aids in flossing for healthy gums. The dexterity needed to chew keeps the dog’s jaw, neck, and forearms well-muscled. So for our pet dogs, the need to chew is a hard-wired, healthy, normal dog behaviour. The act of chewing is internally rewarding and brings our pet dogs much enjoyment. It also helps with boredom and mild anxiety relief.

Though our pet dogs may not be using their teeth as weapons anymore, it’s still important our pups chew for their dental health. Chewing is also a great outlet for extra energy in our dogs. Providing the proper chew toy can even help reduce mouthiness and nipping during puppy play, and prevent inappropriate and destructive chewing at home. Always supervise your pet when given a chew. If you have other dogs, pets, or children, be sure to give your dog a safe, quiet place to chew without being bothered.

Take away items that become too small and could be a choking hazard. Be proactive and prevent guarding behaviours by teaching your dog to “trade” for a treat when you take away bones and chews.

Consider the following types of chews:
- Frozen raw marrow bones. The enzymes from the raw marrow help break down plaque and tartar naturally.
Frozen raw bones are much less likely to splinter or crack than cooked bones. They last forever, and getting more chew action equals cleaner, healthier teeth, and a happier hound. They are inexpensive and accessible at natural pet food stores or local butchers.
- Tendon chews. All-natural and completely digestible. Inexpensive and flavourful. Tendons are especially great for extra flossing action.
- 100% natural beef or ostrich sticks. This is my personal favourite.

Avoid:
- Rawhides (bleached or flavored) as rawhides are not safe. Dogs can choke on these, get ill from them, not digest the rawhide completely and need surgery to remove it.
- Busy Bones. Contains every ingredient NOT to feed your pets. You will spend a lot of money for your dog to devour the whole chew in less than 5 minutes, then have mushy clay-colored p**p for 3 days.
- Greenies. Albeit better than Busy Bones, they still have very little nutritional content and encourage weight gain. Also, very expensive if given as recommended (daily).

Remember to always supervise any chewing, as with any other enrichment activities. Not all bones are appropriate for all dogs as some may damage their teeth due to being hard chewers. Cooked, smoked and prepared bones are a no no as they break and splinter easily.

What daily chewing opportunities do you afford your pet?

01/05/2026

🐶 Puppy class for pups 5 - 8 months old, starts Thursday 7th May!

Book today before the class fills up!

For more information, send a WhatsApp message to 083 440 0426