07717 894414

Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Joy

“Bowl & Recall”

June 20, 2016 by Joy Matthews

Bowl & Recall is the perfect way to train your dog to come racing back when you call! It taps into your dog’s natural chase-drive so your dog will love it … and you’ll love the results! Click the video to see how to play.

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121 dog training cheltenham: good dog trainer & individual training to rescue dog

Luther

We found Joy online through her website and her experienced background in dog-training & helpful blogs convinced us to book 3 x 1;1 sessions with her. These were perfectly tailored for Luther & his temperament and Joy ensured that we covered enough techniques & exercises to progress Luther's training in our own time. We saw immediate improvement in Luther's behaviour, we went from only lead walking him to having the confidence to go off lead in public parks within 3 days. We continue to use what we learnt in our sessions on a daily basis & Luther's behaviour continues to improve. ... Read more

Emilie & Joe

Poppy & her pup ‘Coco’

My daughter Poppy and I have loved the last 6 weeks at puppy School. Thank you Joy for all your advice, enthusiasm, care and attention. I feel much more confident about how to handle Coco in many situations.

Sophie Wintle

Ramsey

We have just finished Puppy Life Skills Starters and it’s been great seeing Ramsey’s confidence and focus improve week on week. Such a great opportunity for Ramsey to socialise with other puppies and for us to chat to other owners about shared experiences. As first time dog owners Joy’s 1;1 training was invaluable and she always addresses our concerns during each session. Ramsey loves his “find it” game and we use to either get him in from the garden or to calm him down when he’s anxious about a new situation such as lead walking on busy roads. A big thank you... Read more

Sally & Julian

Wookie

We can’t thank Joy enough for helping us with 4 fantastically illuminating training sessions, aiding our understanding of our beautiful puppy Wookie. The 3 of us gained so much - we are a much happier and well-behaved unit because of the training! Thank you Jenny, Nick and Wookie

Jenny & Nick

Howie

I don't often write reviews, but feel compelled to do so about Joyful dogs as we have gained so much from it. We recently finished the Puppy Starters group course with our puppy, and also 1;1 training sessions and have had such a brilliant experience - its made having a puppy infinitely more fun and enjoyable! It wasn't the chaos I was expecting in a puppy class instead it was structured and a calm environment for the puppies (even if our dog did try his hardest to create havoc), learning many skills that we will continue to develop- far more... Read more

Claire M

Dog Training: Recall Dog Training cheltenham

Rudi!

We contacted Joy about 1:1 training with Rudi after a really enjoyable 6 wk Puppy Course last year. We found Joy’s approach clear and straightforward. The 121 training focussed on lead walking and recall; using treats and their placement to reduce pulling on lead along with the bowling game, flirt pole, and squeezy cheese game to reinforce Recall. Rudi is not that food orientated so Joy highlighted exactly how to reinforce her using play and chase games! We found the sessions extremely useful and whilst we would have liked more before moving away, we have been practising daily with what... Read more

Sarah, Ben & Felix

Reactive barking dog behaviourist: pet behaviour counsellors, behaviour consultations Gloucestershire

Bailey

Joyful Dogs popped up when I was searching for positive dog trainers for my reactive dog. The individualised attention that Bailey and I received through our four 1:1 training sessions with Dannyelle allowed us to really focus on our needs. Dannyelle taught me how to reinforce Bailey at the right time, slowly build up the criteria for rewards and, more importantly, when to step back if the situation was proving to be too challenging for Bailey. Bailey has made great gains and we will continue practising what we have learned. I will sign up for more classes with Dannyelle (the... Read more

Bailey's Mum!

Ludo

I contacted Joy to train my dog Ludo not to chase our cats! Over four sessions with Joy we had enormous fun learning techniques to distract and discourage him from chasing them, as well as learning a few new tricks. I now have a much better understanding of my dog, and he's already far less interested in chasing. I'm delighted, and really enjoying using the techniques Joy taught us. I would recommend Joy to anyone. She has a very lovely manner and is never, ever stumped. Thanks Joy!

Tulip

We all really enjoyed the course and appreciated Joy’s approach. It gave us confidence as owners to carry on training at home and helped us understand how dogs think and the best way to interact with our puppy. There were many simple techniques or ways of training that were a revelation and have stuck with us as our puppy grows. We love the “Find it” game and play it almost everyday. We also found our one to one session incredibly helpful as we were able to discuss specific behaviours or challenges. We quite often say now “What would Joy do?" Tulip... Read more

Jane & David

Poppy

Huge thanks to Danyelle at Joyful Dogs. The techniques she has demonstrated have been incredible. Dannyelle listened to where we needed help & focused on desensitising Poppy to those things; Poppy is responding to the bucket game in a way that is eye opening, the ways in which we can use this game are almost never ending. I watched youtube videos previously but only after seeing Danyelle demonstrate, could we do it properly. We now see how very important it is. Dannyelle is an asset to Joyful Dogs; for the first time since we got Poppy, I feel optimistic that... Read more

Jo Morton

puppy school cheltenham: training plan: Recall or one to one Dog Training skills for rescue dogs

Nuggett

Really enjoyable and useful course. We found the information about Dog Body Language invaluable – really helped us in the early stages. As did the Enrichment Games (snuffle bowl) and the agility course was lots of fun too! Thank you

Debbie, Hayley & Sophie

puppy classes Cheltenham: 121 dog training for rescue dog

Cooper

The 'Puppy Starters' training course was very good, really enjoyable for dogs and owners alike - great that there were lots of staff on hand to help.

Tim & Jenny

Twiglet

Since our first lesson with Joy we have been practising hard all that we were taught, and whilst still not perfect, we have enjoyed some of the best walks we have ever had with Twiglet (who is nearly 4 years old)! Joy is calm with Twiglet and very clear and informative about what I need to do to achieve the best results. We are both looking forward to our next lesson and can’t recommend her highly enough.

Sara Mitchell

Puppy training cheltenham: Dog Training Cheltenham & Charlton Kings in Gloucestershire

Buddy

Having spent six weeks on Joy's Puppy Starters course, my Jack Russell - Buddy - has definitely improved his obedience, along with his ability to zone out distractions and concentrate on me a lot more. Buddy is a very active puppy and has bags of energy and is into everything; the variety of games and exercises Joy taught gave him lots of new skills that I can continue to work on. I would recommend Joy highly! I will be signing up for her Puppy Improvers course soon!

Dan

Nel

Joy is very calm and has a great nature. Joy taught patience, to allow the dog time to absorb and think about what is happening. We worked on what was needed but we had a lot of fun doing it too! We've now put in the ground work but I will continue lessons with Joy on an ad hoc basis. Thank you for everything, we have learnt a lot and had great fun doing it :)

Lara Stokes

Beagle puppy school: dog walking, training dogs pet behaviour counsellors, behaviour consultations

Pepper

Using positive reinforcement gave me confidence to work with Pepper. I loved our puppy training experience and would definitely recommend Joyful Dogs. Calm and happy dog and owner!

Mel

dog behaviour training: 1 to 1 and Recall Dog Training

Peggy

I had 6 training sessions with Dannyelle who I highly recommend. She is very patient and extremely knowledgeable and has a genuine love of dogs. She is really encouraging and I have noticed a huge improvement in my puppy’s behaviour.

Jane, Cheltenham

Lexi

"Joy has a lovely way with her: It reminds me of the type of primary school teacher who is adored by her young pupils. Joy’s puppy school classes were fun, informative and helpful.”

Tutti Borsdorf

Bertie

"We chose Joyful dogs after extensive search via Google; many schools didn’t cater for our then, crazy Lurcher’s reactive tendencies. Joy answered our emails and questions promptly, unlike a couple of other places we have contacted, and provided us with a solution to our misbehaving canine! From the start, Joy was able to help. She listened to the problems we were having, and gave us solutions to counter them. Joy understood our dog and taught us how he learns and what would benefit him. We started with recall exercises and then “Find- it” to help our dog keep his nose to... Read more

Fiona & Josh

Rocky

With so many great reviews, a detailed website and the option of an in-home visit as well as training out and about, Joyful Dogs was the obvious choice. As well as being quick on communication, Joy was lovely in person and immediately put us at ease. One-to-one training was not only super helpful for Rocky but for us owners too! Games like ‘Find It’ are so good at engaging Rocky’s brain and making him work for his reward. We also learned the importance of body language and tone which has made us much more confident when giving cues. After our one-to-one sessions... Read more

Amy & Hit

Jasper

When I first had Jasper, a 4 month old cocker-jack, he was terrified of people and was too frightened to go on a walk. I found Joy on an internet search and was immediately drawn to her principles of dog training, giving choices and approaching their problems in a force-free way. From our first 1:1 meeting I was not disappointed. Joys methods were proactive, allowing Jasper to get to know her in a calm yet effective way, with games, play and food. By our third session we were walking in the park which is something I never thought we would... Read more

Elaine

Buddy Bear

We did Joy's Puppy Starters course with our puppy, Buddy Bear, and thought it was excellent, we all learned a lot.

Tony

Puppy Improvers cheltenham: training plan: Recall or one to one Dog Training skills for rescue dogs

Sherlock

We thought the Puppy Improvers course was excellent! Our dog Sherlock loved it! The course was really informative and helps build a base to work on at home; the 'Behaviour 101' exercises were particularly useful.

Elliot

Bertie

We are the first time dog owners. Although we previously attended puppy classes with out 1 yo Boston terrier, we were struggling with recall and "selective " hearing . We are also not sure how to deal with an overexcited dog. Google directed me to Joy's web page and links to her videos. Lots of useful information, advice and examples. We had a very productive phone consultation - I felt I was listened to and reassured that our concerns could be "fixed". Joy identified our main problems, set the plan, advised what to buy ( in our case it was... Read more

Lydia

Noodle

Many thanks for your fab doggy training. Lauren noodle and I have really loved it! And, it’s been very helpful in guiding us with our new family member too.

Julia & Lauren

Recall training and lead walking training sessions cheltenham

Lola

One on one training sessions with our 18 month old French bulldog "Lola." The main issues were: pulling on the lead and not engaging with me whilst walking; bullying my old Labrador; attacking the TV when dogs or footballs on and no recall. The first thing our Trainer, Katie realised is that Lola struggled with loud, busy roads. By teaching us how to engage Lola, Lola has calmed down a lot on walks and doesn’t pull all the time. In our first recall training session - in a perfectly chosen location by Katie - it was a great success. I... Read more

Coco

The Puppy Starters course has been really useful for understanding what Coco is thinking and to communicate with her more effectively. The exercises all help to bed in the behaviours really well. Particularly enjoyed the 'Vet' games, Q&A sessions and the mini agility course in Week 6.

Alison & Matt

Brody

You've taught me everything I wanted to learn! Plus, last week's "settle down" lesson has been a success too! Brody now settles on the floor beside the sofa while I work or read ... then he comes up beside me for a nap or a cuddle when I'm ready. You are an amazing teacher. Thank you for helping me to get to know how dogs tick.

Christina Harlin

Arlo

Just completed the "Puppy Starters" course - thank you Joyful Dogs!

Rachel, Emmie & Lucie

Dylan

A fun course - Joy was fantastic! Our puppy Dylan really enjoyed it and it was good for us to learn the background behind training. We particularly enjoyed the scent games and outside games!

Charlotte & Rob

121 puppy training cheltenham: Dog Training: dog walking, training dogs pet behaviour counsellors, behaviour consultations

Margot

As a first-time dog owner, I was incredibly nervous about training Margot, especially as I’d read that the first three months were so critical in a dog’s behavioural development. However, I need not have worried! Joy, with her calm, caring and common sense approach, gave me the confidence to enjoy the process and both Margot and I have hugely benefitted from our 1:1 sessions with her. Lead-walking (not as straightforward as it may sound!), recall and general behaviour have all been enhanced by Joy’s excellent tuition. Joy is also extremely organised and efficient and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her.

Kirstie

Leo

We chose Joyful Dogs based on a recommendation of a friend, to help out our dog Leo who was becoming more intolerant of other dogs and had decided squirrels were more fun than recall! With our 1:1 sessions we learnt how to read Leo’s body language and understand how he was talking to other dogs without saying a word! We used techniques to reward Leo for his positive responses to other dogs and built our trust in him again. Whilst Leo’s recall will always be a challenge when his favourite rodents around we are really glad for Katie’s help and... Read more

Charlotte

Noodles

Anyone looking for support with dog training in Cheltenham - definitely get in touch with Joy! After adopting my first dog in 2019 I booked in some sessions with Joyful Dogs for support with training and support with understanding my pup. Joy has an amazing understanding of dogs and how to work with them; Noodles has really come out of her shell and is so much happier and more confident for being able to enjoy her walks off lead, work on recall, learn to stay, and more. Her games-based approach means that Noodles absolutely loves her sessions and wants to... Read more

Lizzie

“Blue”

Our rescue dog Blue was pulling on lead, jumping at people and could be destructive when left alone. Joy showed us many useful training techniques to make the training fun for our dog. The important thing I have learnt from Joy is 'timing' - ie treating Blue at the right time. Joy showed us Blue’s potential - and she is a different dog now. Joy is a very good trainer and it has been a pleasure to work with her.

Jiejun Ma

Skye

We really enjoyed the Puppy Improvers training course with Joyful Dogs. We use the knowledge we learned every day both at home and out on walks, thank you so much!

Alice & Mark

Phoenix

The "Puppy Starters" socialisation & training classes were very well organised and Helen progressed the skills at an appropriate speed for the puppies in class. Phoenix has come a long way! We particularly enjoyed the outdoor skills, especially focus work around other dogs.

Steph & Russell

Nala – 5yrs on!

Remember Nala the Vizsler? We had individual training sessions with Joy 5yrs ago; I’m grateful for the ‘human’ training you gave is every single day. We get compliments constantly on how well trained Nala is, and its down to the things you taught us: Respect, time ... and sausages! Thank you – because we are so proud and lucky to have Nala. Our dog daycare provider – Tim at Forest Dogs – insists Nala is the best trained and most adaptable dog; and welcome in his home any time.

Victoria

Rafferty

Joyful Dogs - and the training lives up to the name! Joy was recommended to us by a colleague who'd trained their puppy as a family and therapy dog. We booked 7 sessions with Joy. There are specific techniques and activities that have made a big difference to Rafferty’s development and our learning - such as scentwork "Find it” games; loose lead walking, putting on his harness, coping with distractions, and meeting and greeting other dogs and people in our local park. It has been great to have Joy with us on these outings to learn in situ. Most of all, we... Read more

Moira & Graham

dog walking: Puppy classes in Cheltenham

Rocky

We really enjoyed the interactive encounters with other puppies in the "Puppy Starters" group training course at Joyful Dogs. Rocky's recall has massively improved. We found the course to be very informative and helpful.

Chloe

Henri

We chose Joyful Dogs due to the reviews they had online and we are glad we did! Dannyelle has been great tutor, teaching us what we need to do to improve on the areas we needed with our pooch, Henri. From the get go we delve into training on lead walking, which was a big issue, obsessive behaviour and dog mentality. The training has made a night and day difference to both our lives and that of our pooch. Dannyelle gives an insight into how a dogs mind ticks and the behaviours that they display. We would recommend Dannyelle to... Read more

Samantha P

Lilo

I genuinely can't reccomend Joyful Dogs enough! Since getting our first puppy, Helen has been incredibly helpful, caring and supportive both during the sessions and generally by being available to offer help and advice. We have had two 1:1 sessions so far and they have been brilliant. Helen listens to your specific needs and is incredibly knowledgeable. We also found that by being in our own home meant we could really work on the specific things we need help with and build confidence. We have definitely seen an improvement in our lovely pup's behaviour (and feel much happier/relaxed!) We can't... Read more

Demi

George

George’s recall was non-existent! Consequently, I never let him off the lead. Then I had some 1:1 training with Joy; she gave me confidence and loads of useful ideas to keep George focused on me. George loved the different activities and I can now take him to the park - even in daylight when other dogs are around! He doesn't tend to jump up and comes back when called. I highly recommend Joy for any behaviour problems you have with your dog. She's so patient and kind, and she just makes you feel good!

Christine Adlem

Lexi

I chose Joyful Dogs 1:1 sessions as these were convenient for me. I was having trouble with Lexi travelling in the car. The training sessions wit Dannyelle helped me to strengthen communication with my puppy. I learned a lot through a couple of sessions - it was a big eye opener. It will definitely affect how I am with my dog in the future. I had heard about Kongs and Enrichment games but I had no idea how important they were. I have definitely seen a calmer side to my pup in just a few weeks. I am impressed with... Read more

Daisy

Geralt

Geralt had a great time! And we picked up so much that we were able to use outside class too - which has helped us both as well as our puppy. We particularly enjoyed the recall, agility and scent games.

Katy & Jordan

dog behaviourist cheltenham: Dog Training

Bryn

Having recently welcomed Bryn, a Boxweiler pup, into my home I was keen to provide him with the best start, given the size he will become. I was pointed towards Joy by a fellow dog owner near me and couldn’t be more grateful for the recommendation. During just the first 121 session I felt confident that I would be able to “speak” Bryn. We had 4 sessions in total, ending with an off lead country walk and a ‘picnic’ with Bryn just pottering about. Joy shared many techniques, games and exercises to keep this ‘little’ bundle of physical and mental... Read more

Helen Jones

Baxter

Baxter is our Romanian rescue puppy. Although he has settled well, we noticed that he was very nervous around visitors to our house and towards other dogs when we walked him. (barking and lunging at other dogs when they came too close.) I heard about Joy via recommendation and I am so glad she has been able to help Baxter. Joy explained Baxter’s behaviour really clearly and worked with us on distraction techniques whilst we are out with him (recall, finding treats and the ‘flirt pole’-he loves this!), as well as how to welcome guests into our home with minimal... Read more

Alison

Pippin

Joy and the 'Puppy Starters Course' team have been absolutely amazing! They gave such clear instructions and were very supportive even if things went wrong. Pippin has learned a lot - as have I - and I would definitely recommend the Puppy Starters course to any new puppy-parent.

Grainne

puppy starters training course cheltenham

Toto

We have really enjoyed our Puppy Starters training course and have learned a lot. We would definitely recommend it! Loved the agility games too.

Molly, Poppy, Rosie, Colin & Patrick

Betty

Highly recommend for anyone with a puppy. We did the 6week Starters course with our (then) 3 mos German Shorthaired Pointer, Betty. Joy & the team were so welcoming and knowledgeable, our hour long sessions always flew by. We and Betty learnt so much and we have taken away lots of hints and tips which we're still using now.

Becca & Alistair

Belle

I contacted Joyful Dogs because I wished to train Belle as a therapy dog and I needed some help in reducing unacceptable behaviours such as jumping up. Joy helped me understand the process with easy, step-by-step methods and responded to all my requests and queries. The training was fun and Belle is learning new behaviours fast ... including some cute tricks! I would recommend Joy, she is friendly, fun and knowledgeable.

Melanie Gummer

Pippin

Thank you for such an enjoyable experience over the past 2 months at Puppy School; we have learnt so much, and I know Pippin has enjoyed himself and learnt a lot of important life skills! Looking forward to the Puppy Improvers course.

Mike & Carole

Frankie

We loved the Puppy Starters course - especially enjoyed the Lead Walking and Recall training as they were the most useful skills for us to learn. The team was really helpful, knowledgeable and always checking in if we had particular questions.

Charlotte & Mark

Nellie

We found Joy through personal recommendation. We have learned so much about how our rescue dog’s reactive behaviour can be helped through the stimulus of training. We’ve learned basic commands like down and stand as well as search and retrieve techniques. We’ve also learned to use positive reinforcement to help her not be overly concerned when people visit the house. Nellie is now calmer and has learned behaviours that help her cope when people visit the house ... she has also become more playful!

Maxine & Brian

“Bear”

Training with Joy has been so helpful for me and great fun for Bear too. Joy is a very kind, knowledgeable trainer and worth every penny!

Lissa Crowe

Pie

"Joy has been an amazing help with my nervous rescue dog, Pie; he's a different dog now. When I first contacted Joy I was really struggling and wasn't sure I could cope. Pie was reacting badly to everything, and I was particularly concerned about his fear of strange men. I used to dread walking him because it was so stressful. Joy gave me lots of brilliant advice and was really supportive. I can't thank her enough"

Susan

Bella

We acquired a Cockapoo from a rescue organisation. "Bella" has a lovely character and is quite compliant, but we needed some help with leash walking and recall control. Joy was very patient and very kind, and did a wonderful job of training us (the humans!) whilst showing us how to train Bella. Bella is now great at coming back with the whistle and even without, so much so that we can now let her run loose in the fields when we go walking. Bella has improved on lead walking too and we have no doubt she will end up doing it... Read more

Fabienne & John

training plan 1:1 dog training cheltenham: dog training skills for rescue dog

Ruby

I was recommended to Joy by a friend and was immediately impressed by her friendliness, responsiveness and flexibility. I signed up our 6-month old Cockapoo, Ruby, for a series of four 1:1 sessions at our family home and within the course of a month have witnessed dramatic changes in her behaviour. Joy spent some time before the sessions gathering information about Ruby so that she was prepared and focused when it came to training. Initially we worked on various games and exercises to improve Ruby’s recall, along with stimulating her mentally. Over time we moved to working on various other... Read more

Robert

Lilah & Bonnie

Lilah and Bonnie are super-bright Collie/Springer crossbreeds. What Joy brings to our house is a calm, patient attitude that has rubbed off on us all. We watch the way Joy interacts with our dogs and listen to her advice. It works. We have made extraordinary progress in a short time and we feel so encouraged by Joy. Lilah and Bonnie, who are generally nervous of people outside the family, love her!

Olwynne Goodrich

Elstub

We did a couple of ‘one to ones’ with Joy - dealing with our puppy’s fear of walking outside and were so impressed with her we decided to do the Puppy Starters training course. We were very pleased with all the training and help she gave us, but, most of all, it was the confidence that the training has given us in moving forward with our dog; We have also booked onto Joy's Puppy Improvers Course.

Sue & Gray

Yogi

“Where do I start.....Joys puppy training was simply brilliant. Although we have an older dog and I have had dogs my whole life I thought this time I would do things properly! From lesson 1 we got stuck straight in with the basics, we went away learning new things every lesson (some we have used with our older dog too!) Joy has such a caring & friendly nature and has such a calming gentle way when working with both puppies and owners. I think even the craziest of puppies would respond to her positive training techniques. Joy was so informative and... Read more

Amy, Matt & Yogi xx

dog walking: 1 to 1 dog training course GL50

Alby

Puppy Starters course: We really enjoyed learning about dog behaviour and interactions. Joyful Dogs gave us good practical information on this and effective training techniques.

Erin & Alex

Bubble

Our puppy, Bubble, is now 2yrs old and she is 'adorabubble'. The training we did with Joyful Dogs was priceless and I continue to look to Joy's "Dog Blog!" for ideas and inspiration, thank you.

Debbie

Finn

We came across Joyful Dogs via an internet search whilst looking for a local Trainer to help us with some issues with our rescue puppy being fearful of strangers in our home. We were recommended the expertise of Danyelle to come and work with us on this problem. She was great, very experienced and amazing at explaining Finn's body language and why he reacts the way he does. Over a few sessions we built up from Finn being uncomfortable with Danyelle in the house to not reacting, learning to relax and eventually gaining the confidence to interact in a positive... Read more

Stuart & Amy

Mylo

"A well planned course. We learned new exercises and techniques and Mylo loved it. When I got our 'training bag' out at home Mylo got very excited! I recommend Joyful Dogs to all puppy owners"

Christine

Bramble

We chose Joyful Dogs on personal recommendations, availability, location - and a positive experience when arranging classes with Joy. The course helped us to ‘read’ Bramble's doggy cues and change our approach accordingly; focussing on the smallest positive steps has been really helpful, as is understanding that puppy’s get tired sometimes! Bramble is now a much more relaxed puppy and more confident in the wider world. I would recommend Joy without a doubt - the classes were great fun and well managed.

Richard & Jane

Nula

Really enjoyed the course, thank you! Loved the Snuffle Bowl game – we use it at home now too. And also the mini-agility. The focus games and desensitization games also really helpful.

Gemma

Rosa

Puppy School was great fun. I went along hoping to learn some basic skills to help me manage my very bouncy Vizla puppy, Rosa. I was not disappointed, we learnt together in a happy, fun environment and came away with the tools to develop a responsive, safe and fulfilling relationship. Rosa gets bigger by the day but thanks to Puppy School she and I know how to play and work together without frustration or aggression. She is growing into a lovely, well mannered dog.

Julie Mitchell

Roo

I joined 'Puppy Improvers' because of how much we enjoyed the original puppy classes with Joy. The Improvers course helped Roo focus on me - the Platform exercises were really helpful, as was the introduction of clicker training! I now have a better understanding of how my body language affects Roo understanding a cue, and how I can place myself to set Roo for success! Previously, my partner struggled to walk Roo off lead but now, my partner can comfortably walk him without the stress of wondering if he'll come back. Joy offers a calm and patient guiding hand throughout... Read more

Hannah Apperley-Sheppard

Behaviour training fear of traffic: Dog Training Cheltenham & Charlton Kings in Gloucestershire

Theo

Behaviour training to stop car and traffic chasing

Rosemarie

Barley

A huge thank you to Joy for all of her help and support training our golden retriever, Barley. After 3 very informative sessions, Barley is already showing amazing progress with his lead walking. Most importantly, Joy’s sessions taught us how to have more fun on our walks. We can tell how much Barley has changed in so many ways. He loves training on our walks and we are enjoying walking with a calmer dog too. We still have a bit more work to do on recall, but all of Joy’s advice and support is helping tremendously with this. Joy’s professional, calm and fun... Read more

Aishling

Giant Snuffle Bowl for puppies: Dog Training Cheltenham & Charlton Kings in Gloucestershire

Haru

Puppy Training at Joyful Dogs: We liked that all the exercises were small, direct and easy to understand. The team were friendly, helpful and happy to answer any questions. Here's Haru playing in the Giant Snuffle Bowl!

V&C Brown

Pepper

Joy has a lovely gentle way with both people and dogs. She put things across in a sensitive but straightforward manner and Pepper's behaviour has definitely improved. Joy restored my faith in puppy training.

Julia & Barry Allen

Noodle

I wanted to say thank you for your help and advice with training Noodle. We have much more confidence with handling her unwanted behaviours and she is making progress. It's up to us to continue with the positive reinforcement but you definitely helped us to speak her language! She will miss you :)

Katerina

Dennis

The training was very useful to get us started as new dog owners. Now we need to practise, practise, practise!

Gill & David

Recall Dog Training : lead walking training

Sybil

Joy has really helped us with our French Bulldog puppy Sybil. Walks used to be our biggest challenge - Sybil would sit and refuse to move but with Joy’s help she is now clearly engaged and walks happily next to us. Joy also helped us with road crossing skills, dropping items Sybil shouldn’t be chewing, understanding her cues and generally communicating with her more effectively. Sybil’s mealtimes are more interesting now too, Joy showed us how to put kibble in/on cartons & containers so Sybil has to work to get it, which she clearly enjoys. Our training experience with Joy... Read more

Rachael Watkins

Bruce

After bringing our beautiful puppy, Bruce, home it quickly became clear that we would need a little bit of extra help in managing some of his more ‘over the top’ behaviour/general spaniel madness. Following a recommendation from a friend and reading some of Joy’s blog posts, it was Joyful Dogs’ calm, rewards-based approach to training that encouraged us to sign up for both a 1-2-1 session and group puppy class. Joy was brilliant with Bruce and he was immediately calmer in her presence, we learned a lot about how we act around and communicate with him- less is definitely more!... Read more

Hannah & Josh

Puppy Starters training course cheltenham : good dog trainer & individual training plan

Tilly

The Puppy Starters course was a brilliant introduction to training our puppy with long lasting results. The instruction was clear and fully explained and the first lesson gave a great overview, full of useful tips that the course then built upon. The course was also interesting in that it made us consider the dog's perspective! We really enjoyed the lead walking exercises especially. Great techniques that we found helpful when out and about and lots of fun!

Lyndsey & James

Daisy

I just wanted to say a big thank you for the puppy training classes. Daisy has really flourished since attending classes and we couldn’t imagine our lives without her. We both had Dogs growing up, but she is our first together as a couple. We always came away from classes feeling that both Daisy and we had learnt something that would benefit us moving forward and we still use exercises and tips we picked up from Joy – who was a very patient and understanding teacher.

Liz & Chris

Patti

Patti jumped up at people, pulled on the lead and was not responding to commands. Joy's manner was very helpful, always calm and in control, she rapidly connected with Patti and kept her concentrating. We have seen significant improvement in Patti’s behaviour - she is calmer, more obedient and walks much better on the lead. We would definitely recommend Joy to others.

John & Vivien Milner

Hugo

Exceeded our expectations - We had one to one training sessions with Joy, it was very fun and our Cavapoo Hugo loved Joy and every second of the training. Joy is very knowledgable, professional, engaging and an extremely calm/ kind trainer. Joy has taught us some great techniques on how our body language impacts Hugo's understanding. Hugo was constantly rewarded with treats for his positive behaviour to the learning. We had some Home Visits and some Park Walks to learn recall, find it/ snuffle box games, loose lead walking, distraction techniques. We have definitely seen an improvement in Hugo -... Read more

Amanda

Ivie

"We are firm believers in positive reinforcement training - after a quick chat with Joy we knew we'd be in good hands - and we absolutely were! In just 3 sessions Joy showed us lots of fantastic techniques and games to help us and our pup Ivie with her ability to be on her own and recall - especially when distracted. Joy's knowledge is fantastic and her kind and fun approach meant Ivie was a fan from the off. Ivie has come on leaps and bounds and we have new skills to help her grow and enjoy her time both... Read more

Sara & Charlie

Pippin

Training with Joyful Dogs - it's been fab! Thoughtful, impactful training.

Paul & Molly

Tiggy

Really enjoyed our sessions with Joy and the team. There is no doubt Tiggy has learned a huge amount – with plenty of fun and stimulation - she is always exhausted after class so that must be a good sign! Thank you for all your advice and support

Jessamy

Amber

Joyful Dogs were recommended to us; the training classes were a mix of fun, "a-ha!" moments - and stress as our puppy is full of beans and every session she took a long time to settle down but Joy and her assistants were infinitely patient in helping us ground our dog into our space. Besides the standard puppy training exercises (recall, loose lead, sit etc) - Joy helped us understand the ‘psychology’ of our puppy. It became clear to us — myself, my wife and two daughters — that our puppy was doing her best to understand us based on... Read more

Amber's Humans

puppy & dog training course: dog walking, training dogs pet behaviour counsellors, behaviour consultations

Ziggy

The Puppy Starters course was brilliant and gave us confidence in how to deal with most situations we have faced using positive reinforcement and encouragement. I really liked the social interactions between the pups. Ziggy started off nervous but ended up very happy to mix with the other puppies. Helen is a brilliant trainer - thank you!

Jan W

Morty

I had an amazing experience with Joyful dogs. I’m a new dog owner and started with puppy classes which gave a very useful base and taught me how to understand and train my pup. All the techniques I learned in class really helped to bond with my dog, and made it so much easier to manage him. I have also took additional one-to-one sessions later on once we hit the teenage phase with my pup. The one-to-one sessions were a great investment - very effective as it’s tailored specifically to my dog, and to our environment. The one-to-one sessions helped... Read more

Olena

Puppy Improvers Training course: 121 dog training skills for rescue dog

Timm

Thank you. The Puppy Improvers course has been brilliant for both of us. It’s given me confidence and Timm new challenges and purpose. The major breakthrough has been the ‘bounce’ which has been a revelation and really brought the two of us together as a team.

Ann Lock

River

We were recommended Joy from the breeder we got River from, he spoke very highly of her working with his Portuguese Water Dog so we looked her up online. We found the training very useful, her knowledge and incite was priceless to us being new to having a puppy. Particularly helpful with re-call and lead training, and the use of positive reinforcement using treats. Joy was also brilliant with our two young boys, involving them perfectly when they attended the sessions. River has come on a lot, even after just 3 1:1 sessions ... as has our understanding of him... Read more

Tom & Edith

“Wally”

Wally is adorable but needed training quickly. A whippet's characteristic is to see and run..... I needed Wally to respond to recall and stay at heel before I could dare let him off lead. At 4 months he comes when I call him and walks beautifully (mostly). Joy was clear and concise in her teaching and helped me understand how my dog's brain works. Once I grasped this, I understood how to give instructions so he could respond in the right way. It's ongoing and practice is key, but I am confident that with Joy's help I'm going to have a well... Read more

Hazel Symington

Sadie

I signed up for puppy training including a home visit and I have to say that it exceeded my expectations. Helen was so helpful and also extended the service to several phone calls and messages regarding some issues with our puppy. Highly recommend Joyful dogs for puppy classes and especially Helen - also for 1-1 training sessions. I chose Joyful Dogs because they use only positive reinforcement methods. I wasn’t disappointed and I think that the exercises we did in the classes increased the engagement between my puppy and I. I definitely saw improvement in her behavior especially with the... Read more

Tina

“Mash”

Dannyelle at Joyful Dogs was amazing from even before our first session began. After a search on Google, Joyful Dogs’ website really stood out from the rest and we had confidence they would be able to help us with our miniature dachshund called Mash. The 1 to 1 sessions were extremely helpful, we had Dannyelle come to our house to help us with the issues we were experiencing which included; excessive barking when someone is at the door, barking at visitors in the house, nervous behaviours on walks which would result in him barking/growling at people or wanting to chase... Read more

Steph & Josh

positive reinforcement puppy training: One to One and Recall Dog Training Cheltenham

Rupert

We found Joyful Dogs through a Google search, luckily we picked the best one! Joy's 1:1 sessions were extremely helpful, especially as we haven’t been able to attend puppy classes due to COVID. We did our first sessions not long after bringing Rupert home, so it was great to start when he was young, and also importantly to train us too. We worked on all sorts of techniques based around game playing, recall, dog socialising, walking on and off lead, distractions from prey chasing etc. Joy was happy to help us with anything that we needed or had questions about.... Read more

Dave & Pete

Tuc

The 'Puppy Life Skills: Starters' course with Joyful Dogs was enjoyable, informative and fun - well taught.

Emily & Simon

Dog Behaviour and Training in Cheltenham

Arlo

I had used a Dog Trainer before with my rescue dog but something wasn’t clicking, so I decided to try Joyful Dogs. They had come highly recommended on local dog forums. Dannyelle was our Trainer and she was attentive, understanding and incredibly knowledgeable. She has helped my rescue dog grow in confidence in only 4 sessions! I can see a visible difference in my dog and taking her for walks is now a pleasure, not a chore. I would highly recommend Dannyelle to anyone who is looking for a kind and attentive trainer who understands and loves dogs completely. Thank... Read more

Esme

rescue dog training: dog walking, training dogs pet behaviour counsellors, behaviour consultations

Flo

I chose Joyful Dogs because my dog Flo has been looked after by one of the team (Helen) previously; so, Helen knew Flo’s background and I knew Helen’s feel for and love of dogs. I was easily able to explain the challenging situation and to discuss Flo’s growing anxiety around other dogs. Helen recommended working with Katie in 1:1 sessions. The 1:1 sessions with Katie are working really well with Katie’s clear demonstrations of counter-conditioning ‘in action’ and clear explanations of what we were aiming for. The use of positive encouragement during managed encounters with other dogs was carefully explained... Read more

Lorraine

Murphy

Training with Joy has been terrific and it’s been great to be able to tailor the sessions to what we wanted to learn or practice – both at home and out walking – and Murphy has loved it and soaked it up like a sponge! Joy has made it so easy for us to understand what we need to do to train Murphy, and taught us loads of tricks and games to make it fun for him and us! We would definitely recommend Joy to everyone, she is so lovely, calm and patient (with Murphy and us!) and has a wealth... Read more

Stacey & Ben

dog walking: Puppy Starters training course

Rudy

We really enjoyed every single lesson of the Puppy Starters course with Joyful Dogs! There was a lovely learning environment, highly supportive, great pace and very useful. We have far more confidence as first time dogs owners now!

Kate & Dan

Poppy

Puppy Starters with Joyful Dogs is an excellent training experience. Really nice friendly Trainer and Assistants - would definitely reccommend. Loved the outdoor activities and the Q&A with Joy.

Amy & Mike

Skye

I chose Joyful dogs because there was link with our dog walker Muddy Buddies. The 121 sessions with Joyful Dogs have made a huge difference to Skye who is a reactive dog. We learned games and strategies to keep her calm when out walking, meeting people and when visitors arrive at the house. Katie taught me a lot about counter conditioning and that if prepared I can help Skye to see things positively rather than as a threat- we can now walk past individual men and she doesn’t lunge or bark which is great. Skye is better on lead walks no... Read more

Jo Shire

For a FREE consultation about how I can help your dog

call 07717 894414 or email joy@joyfuldogs.co.uk

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