Puppy Training Cheltenham

So, you've got a puppy!

Your world's been turned upside down!

Joyful Dogs can show you how to use kind but effective puppy training techniques (positive reinforcement).

The result? A well behaved puppy you'll enjoy spending time with.

Puppy training

Your puppy is learning every single moment of the day - yikes! So, it's important to get things off to a good start. We’ll help you tackle all your puppy training challenges including;
play biting / puppy mouthing
toilet training,
chewing,
socialisation,
any much more!

Choose Your Puppy Training in Cheltenham:

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Group Courses
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“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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Theo

Behaviour training to stop car and traffic chasing

Rosemarie

Pippin

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

Paul & Molly

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

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

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

“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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tuc

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

Emily & Simon

Indie

We took our puppy Indie to the Joyful Dogs puppy classes, Helen was our trainer, the classes were recommended to me by a friend. From the beginning we liked everything about the classes, they were small which enabled everyone to have time with Helen and get to know each other and all the pups. Helen was extremely patient and always had time to explain or show the exercise a second time if required. I felt the sessions taught us how to build a connection with our pup which has made our bond with her really strong. I can’t recommend these... Read more

Anne Marie Taylor

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

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

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

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

Clifford

The Solo Training Walks with Katie have been wonderful with our anxious Bosnian rescue "Clifford". He really struggles to trust people, but absolutely adores Katie and is so excited when she comes to the door. There is nobody else outside of me and my partner who has even come close to achieving this with him and we really value the bond she's built with him and appreciate the time and effort that this has taken. Clifford isn't an easy dog to walk - having lived on the streets he is always on high alert and is reactive to other dogs.... Read more

Amber Watts

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

Dennis

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

Gill & David

one to one puppy training sessions in cheltenham

Snoopy

"We had a couple of 1:1 puppy sessions with Joy which we have really enjoyed and found super useful. We had some specific areas that we wanted to work on and Joy showed us how to deal with these with positive reinforcement methods and the results have been amazing. We have learnt so much and gained lots of confidence in each 1:1 training session, would highly recommend :)"

Angela

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

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

Arlo

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

Rachel, Emmie & Lucie

Red

"Joy came highly recommended as a gentle and rewards-based Dog Trainer. Our 1;1 training sessions have been a wonderful experience. Joy is highly knowledgeable and was able to meet our exact needs for helping our puppy gain confidence around other people. We learnt lots of games to increase her pride and sense of wellbeing and unlearned lots of rubbish we had previously read on the internet! Would absolutely recommend Joy"

Tara & Tim

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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

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

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

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

Indy

"Joy was absolutely fantastic helping us with our whippet Indy. He was getting nervous/unsure in some situations and on walks would reactive bark towards other dogs. We didn’t know how to help him but Joy showed us how to better read his body language, understand situational awareness which could trigger him and apply positive reinforcement to help him. Indy is now so much better and a more confident happy dog- which makes our walks much more enjoyable and less stressful! A sincere pleasure working with Joy who is very patient and clearly a real dog expert! Thanks from Matt, Ems... Read more

Matt & Ems

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

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

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

“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

Juke

Joy is an excellent trainer, she has such great knowledge and lots of time for you. Our dog, Juke suffers from separation anxiety, and was very upset every time we left him in the house. After 2 training sessions with Joy we have noticed such a difference in him. All the great tricks and advice that Joy has given us, mean we now have a much happier dog. The training sessions are brilliant, plus Juke very much enjoys the sausages!

Sam Day

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

Freddie

Thank you so much for the one to one training sessions with Freddie I feel we have learned so much from you, Joy. I needed some help in a few areas with my 20 month old Cavapoo. Joy was so knowledgeable and gave me some great ideas for Freddie. We now have so much more fun on our walks, I have cracked distracting Freddie when we have visitors, and we have even managed to get him sleeping outside the bedroom! If I need any help with issues in the future, I would definitely book some more sessions with Joy.

Julia Ibbitson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Otillie

Joy helped me really enjoy training Ottilie. She's knowledgeable and straight forward with her advice using kindness and fun in training sessions. I loved her lessons as did Ottilie. One of my favourites being when we just sat on a blanket training Ottilie to be calm and not react in a park situation. I had 7 private lessons and it was such good value. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Joy. She's fab.

Sarah Watkins

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

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

Puppy Training Cheltenham

So, you've got a puppy!

Your world's been turned upside down!

Puppy training

Your puppy is learning every single moment of the day - yikes! So, it's important to get things off to a good start. We’ll help you tackle all your puppy training challenges including;play biting / puppy mouthingtoilet training,chewing, socialisation, any much more!

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Your puppy is learning every single moment of the day - yikes! So, it's important to get things off to a good start. We’ll help you tackle all your puppy training challenges including;
play biting / puppy mouthing
toilet training,
chewing,
socialisation,
any much more!