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We've just completed our Puppy Starters course with Joy and had a wonderful few weeks. Things have moved on since I trained up my last dog so I was eager to learn the current techniques. I chose Joy based upon her positive reward based training. Teddy Lola loved every minute and the classes have given us a great foundation to build on. I found Joy to be relaxed, friendly and welcoming and would definitely recommend.

Emily

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

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

Minnie

Having had a 1:1 training session with my 8 year old dog prior to her assessment for the Pets As Therapy charity, I had no hesitation in enrolling our new addition, Minnie, in the Joyful Dogs puppy classes. The classes are not our closest, however based on the experience I'd had with the 1;1 session, I was more than willing to travel to attend the puppy classes (even on a Sunday morning at 9am!) The classes made me aware of what I was doing with MY body language and positioning and how this is interpreted through my puppies eyes. I... Read more

Kerry & Kieran

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

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

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

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

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

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

Theo

Behaviour training to stop car and traffic chasing

Rosemarie

Freddie

After searching google and reading the positive testimonials on Joyful Dogs, we decided to book 1;1 training to help with walking Freddie. Joy taught us techniques to encourage Freddie to focus on us when out walking. This has really helped build his confidence as he used to be very timid and refuse to walk. The sessions have also really helped us understand Freddie better and made us realise how important mental stimulation is for dogs. We’ve learnt some great games like ‘hide it’ which Freddie loves to play. Would definitely recommend Joyful Dogs. Thank you for your help Joy x

Jemma & Pete

loose lead walking for anxious labrador puppy: Dog Training Cheltenham & Charlton Kings in Gloucestershire

Lola-Jane

Our anxious Labrador puppy really struggles with the chaos of walking on a lead in our neighbourhood... so many people and vehicles and loud airplanes and unexpected things. Her anxiety just stacks and she becomes unmanageable, which is tough when a 25kg dog is dragging you down the pavement. Katie has really been amazing. She is so calm and gentle and definitely understands dogs (and our specific puppy) so well. She's helping her learn how to manage and teaching us, too, how to best support and guide her. She's really connected so well with our girl, and whereas we initially... Read more

Eva

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

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

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

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

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

“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

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

Millie

“We chose Joyful Dogs having researched dog trainers in Cheltenham. Joy’s website looked professional and helpful, as well as her holding her qualifications which meant we were keen to work with her. Our 1:1 training has helped our dog Millie massively. We learnt recall techniques as well as games to keep Millie interested and having fun on our walks. Joy also taught us how to adapt our behaviour to get what we wanted from Millie. We found both our sessions very useful and have a number of techniques and games to take away with us. Millie’s behaviour has really improved and... Read more

Kate

Jarvis

I had 121 training sessions with Joy when I got my new puppy. We covered basic training, lead walking and recall. I found the training really helpful as there were no distractions for either Jarvis or myself and we covered a lot during each session. Joy also helped with the bonding process with my pup and older dog and he attended one of the sessions as well. Joy uses a variety of locations depending on what you are working on. I would fully recommend 121 sessions with Joy!

Paula Hunte

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

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

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

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

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

positive reinforcement: 1 to 1 and Recall Dog Training Cheltenham & Charlton Kings in Gloucestershire

Lottie

Our Vet recommended Joyful Dogs. We had 7 sessions with Dannyelle for our cockapoo puppy. Dannyelle was very helpful and inventive with games and techniques for training Lottie. She showed us a number of reasons for a dogs behaviour which helped us understand how dogs learn. Lottie particularly likes the licking mat - Dannyelle recommended freezing it, which makes it last longer & keeps her busy! Dannyelle is very patient and caring, we would not hesitate to recommend her.

Terry & Joy Yiend

Saveloy

We all enjoyed the "Puppy Starters" training classes and have learnt lots of useful skills. Saveloy particularly enjoyed the treats!

Abi, Mark, Tia, Lorelei & Willa

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

Casper

The Puppy Improvers course was very enjoyable for dog and owner. It has given me alternative methods and exercises to try - rather than a one-size fits all. Joy was able to tailor the course to each person's requirements and we learned how to keep our dog's focus whilst other dogs played. Particularly enjoyed the open communication style which meant we could delve deeper into specific behaviour challenges and explore new training routes.

Abii

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

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

Pippin

I was recommended Joyful Dogs by someone who was having problems with their Cocker Spaniel. Pippin, my 3.5yr cocker spaniel had started to get snappy with other dogs and would just stand still if approached from the front or behind. We decided to have 4 x One to One Training Ssessions with Dannyelle at Joyful Dogs, which have been excellent. Dannyelle taught us that Pippin was fearful and nervous in these situations, I had also become nervous walking Pippin as I was worried she might hurt another dog, but with Dannyelle's help we have learnt to build both my and... Read more

Laura B

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

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

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

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

Hudson

Joy introduced us to a large number of techniques to develop Hudson’s training. To Hudson, they were just games with a treat at the end of it (eg games for ‘find it’, ‘leave it’, ‘fetch’, ‘come here/recall’) but they created a personality that is just right. The best part is seeing how it all fits together – ie from Hudson being obedient at feeding times (not going for his food unless told), to leaving or dropping items on cue, to just being very friendly around other dogs and people. I would absolutely recommend Joy.

Pete Fletcher

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

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

Luna

We looked forward to the Puppy Starters training classes every week and found the sessions so fun and helpful. Our family grew in confidence with Luna and, having never owned a dog before, that was a big deal for us. Helen is warm, funny and knowledgeable and this came across in the sessions. I’d recommend Joyful Dogs to anyone!

Bekah

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

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

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

Pippin

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

Paul & Molly

Mabel

We did the beginners course with Joy - brilliant! And the 'Improvers' course kept us focused. Joy helped me to understand how my actions and behaviour were important when teaching my dog, and also what I can expect at her age and stage of development. We loved the games to play with her, so have lots of fun whilst training with her. The “2 toy swap” and “Find it” are our favourites! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Joy, her classes are small and calm and give your dog the best opportunity to learn. My puppy absolutely loved the classes!

Faye Slimmings

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

Buddy

Our training experience on the Puppy Starters course was excellent - the staff were very friendly and patient and we loved the agility games! All the training exercises were delivered clearly and the progression of the course was very good. 'Lead walking' and 'Leave It' were very useful.

Marcus, Julia & Molly

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

Queenie

"Joyful Dogs has exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend them. The puppy classes were small, so Helen was able to cover things which were important to each of us, making it fun and boosting our confidence with lots of reassurance and encouragement; completely approachable and making time to help us individually. Queenie quickly learnt how to relax and be polite around other dogs. We have now been doing one to one training with Joy and benefitted from her calm, kind, professional approach and wealth of knowledge - the training activities and specific techniques have been so useful in helping... Read more

Elaine

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Arlo

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

Rachel, Emmie & Lucie

Nala

"With Joy we learned fantastic, mentally challenging games for our puppy 'Nala' which were really successful. We also learnt how to use our body language to get Nala in to position and how to ‘leave’ ‘drop’ and 'fetch'. We particularly found ‘bowl and recall’ useful. We would absolutely recommend Joy."

Victoria Erskine

Oscar

Training with Joyful Dogs has been very enjoyable and extremely useful. Using the techniques and advice, Oscar is like a different dog!

Debbie & David

Ollie

We booked 1:1 sessions with Joy after seeing good reviews online. She has been nothing but lovely and helpful from the moment we met and takes a very holistic and positive approach to training. We got our rescue dog, Ollie, 10 weeks ago and there have been huge improvements with a whole range of things. This is all thanks to Joy’s knowledge and the skills that she has shared. Ollie has come on leaps and bounds and continues to improve by practicing everything Joy has taught us. She has always been so supportive and is easily available for advice and... Read more

Belinda & Ryan

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

Bonnie

We are so grateful to have found Joy when we got our Cairn Terrier puppy Bonnie. Our one to one training sessions during Covid totally put our minds at rest about missing group puppy classes. We met in secure and private spaces to start with and progressed to public parks where Bonnie became more and more confident, as did we! Joy gave us so many helpful tips and strategies and Bonnie, at six months, this morning raced around Pittville Park with us all and her recall in all situations was faultless. Joy now says ‘my job is done’, we shall... Read more

Sheena & Nigel

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aloy

We needed help to get our gorgeous, friendly and crazy rescue dog 'Aloy' to be the best she can be as we had allowed her to get into some bad habits. We discovered Joy and booked four sessions where Joy taught us training games and tactics to improve recall and how to avoid the embarrassment of Aloy jumping up excitedly at strangers on walks. We all loved the training - Joy was patient, super knowledgable and fun. The games have been easy to implement at home too so we have been able to practice and the improvement has been really... Read more

Hollie & Joel

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

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

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

“Bon”

"Our 1:1 sessions with Joy have been helpful in understanding why Bon reacts in certain ways e.g. being anxious/barking at livestock and pulling on lead to greet other dogs. Joy’s calm approach and advice has given us confidence in managing these situations with Bon. The “find it” and “flirting” games help occupy Bon and keep her engaged with us rather than on what else is going on around her. We now have more confidence in meeting Bon’s needs when outdoors and already her focus is much improved. Would definitely recommend Joyful Dogs"

Lorraine & Neil

“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

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

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

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

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

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

Florrie

Following the Puppy Starters course, Florrie is doing brilliantly she is excellent on her daily walks & now enjoying being let off her lead, she comes back once she is called & doesn't venture too far from us which is good. She also is so good when she meets & greets other dogs which I'm sure is down to tips you gave us & what she learnt at puppy classes. All three of us thoroughly enjoyed your classes & will definitely look forward to seeing you again!

Rachel & Alan

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

Luna

The "Puppy Starters" course provided a lovely, gentle and calm learning environment; we particularly enjoyed the Q&A component ... and the mini-agility course on Puppy Graduation Day!

Pippa, Rosie, Eliza, Will & Charlie

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

Dennis

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

Gill & David

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

Alfie

"Puppy Starters" has been fantastic! Joy is so calm and a great teacher and to have her Assistants supporting during class has been really helpful and made a huge difference. I have learnt so many skills and will be looking forward to building on all of it - thank you!

Kate Brett

Kipling

As new dog owners, with a boisterous puppy, we wanted support and advice. Joy's training helped enormously with Kipling's recall, in particular - the hand targeting techniques and introduction of the Clicker have been really successful. As a Cockapoo, Kipling is playful and needs lots of mental stimulation, so the games we learned (especially ‘Find It’ and other scent games) have kept him occupied and entertained. We also learned a lot from Joy’s general demeanour and body language around dogs. Kipling is much better at walking to heel now we’re using the clicker, and enjoys training sessions far more. We would... Read more

Mark & Laura

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

Coco

I was having trouble with Coco's recall: Joy explained the importance of maintaining a bond with Coco whilst we were out walking and taught me lots of activities to do just that which Coco found interesting and exciting. Coco absolutely loved her hour with Joy and I found it inspiring; Since adopting Joy's philosophy we have all seen a major improvement in Coco's behaviour – she is far quicker to respond to us and also 'checks in' with us constantly. Joy was a pleasure to work with and managed to inspire my teenagers as well as my dog - no mean feat!

Louise Arthur

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

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

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

Mabel

Thank you again for the classes, I have really enjoyed the training. You made Mabel and I feel so welcome and were very patient and tolerant. I valued your positive feedback and the way in which you engaged with every member of the class. You certainly made me feel as if we were achieving.

Cottia

For a FREE consultation about how I can help your dog

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

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Address: 17 Southcourt Cl, Cheltenham GL53 0DW, United Kingdom

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Having a new pup is wonderful, but it can be overwhelming too! Puppies chew, jump, nip and get in to everything! However, I can show you how to train your puppy - in a fun but effective way - so you can really enjoy your puppy!

Does your dog have some bad habits that make you blush? Maybe your dog has 'selective hearing' or does a ‘flyby’ when you call! I'll help you train your dog to do the right thing so your blushes can turn to smiles!

Rescue dogs are special. And, sometimes they need a little extra help adjusting to their new life. Training is a wonderful way to help your rescue dog settle in and bond with you ... and become your perfect canine companion.

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