Spring updates from The Dog Coaches

Mar 20
3 min read

Hello!

Hello, and sorry you haven’t heard from us in a while. We’ve been super busy with new jobs, house renovations, and of course helping you all with your amazing dogs! 🐶

From now on we’ll be sending one newsletter per quarter instead of monthly. These updates will keep you up to date with any news, upcoming events, and celebrate all your wonderful training achievements. So please read below our spring updates from The Dog Coaches.

Classes:

We have had so many lovely classes this year so far, it's hard to pick our favourites. Everybody has come leaps and bounds in their training and we couldn’t be prouder of all the hard work from both dogs and owners.

2025 was our first year in business, we supported 55 dogs through group classes and 20 through one-to-one sessions in the few months we’d been open. So far this year we’re already at 39 dogs in classes, and lots of new one-to-one clients. We hope to continue supporting as many Bristol dogs (and beyond!) as possible.

A happy gray dog on a leash sits on a wooden floor next to a person holding a "Certificate of Achievement." The dog wears a blue harness. — Reggie loved his classes!

This review from Katie really sums up the experience:

“We loved these puppy classes! Friendly, fun, and lots of practical tips that really helped us with our new dog, Reggie. The trainers were fantastic and made the sessions enjoyable as well as informative. I’d absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for great puppy training. Thanks again!”

What updates are Coming Up this year

We’re changing how we run Booster Club. These will now be monthly drop-in sessions for dogs who have completed one of our group courses or had a one-to-one with us.

Each session will have a different theme such as recall, loose lead walking, or tricks. They’re designed to boost your training, refresh key skills, and help troubleshoot any challenges.

Sessions will take place in a secure field near St George. Keep an eye out for the first dates coming soon.

People and dogs on a grassy field; A trainer is teaching the class what to do. Everyone is training their dogs with treats; cloudy sky and row of houses in the background. — Booster club updates coming soon!

Spring Training Challenge – Enrichment 🧠

We want to make sure our dogs’ lives are as fulfilled as possible. Enrichment helps to enhance your dog's quality of life by providing mental stimulation and physical exercise. This can help with increasing confidence, create a calmer happier dog and can help reduce behavioural issues such as barking or destruction.

Brown and white dog sniffing a green textured mat on a wooden floor. The dog wears a collar and harness, focused on exploring. — Cassie loves to sniff out her food in snuffle mats!

Our challenge this quarter is to increase your dog's enrichment. You can do this by feeding your dog their normal food allowance but feed them through enrichment instead of their bowl. Try and do this for four meals a week.

Ideas include:

Puzzle feeders
Scatter feeding
Hiding treats around the house or garden
Putting food in boxes or containers to explore

We regularly share enrichment ideas on Instagram and Facebook, and we also have a pinned highlight reel full of inspiration. Give us a follow we are @thedogcoaches

Dog Superstar 🐕✨:

Black dog with a harness lies on wooden floor, next to a certificate and orange paw-patterned mat. Door and wall in background. — Remus the Superstar!

Our Dog Superstar is Remus

We’ve been seeing Remus and his owner Abby since he was a tiny puppy, and now he’s two years old and a very good boy. Remus has joined us for both group classes and one-to-one sessions.

He does love a dramatic flop during class, but we don't blame him as learning is hard work! Abby should be incredibly proud of the progress they’ve made together, especially with reducing his jumping up (even though he still likes to try and sneak us a kiss).

Dogs for Good 🦮

A quick shout-out to the charity Dogs for Good, where Bec has recently started working as a practitioner. (Don't worry she's still with The Dog Coaches as well!)

While they’re best known as an assistance dog charity, they also do fantastic community work. Bec will be getting a community dog of her own and working with people to overcome challenges in different community settings.

If anyone would like to find out more about how you and your dog can support the charity, then please do come along to the Pop-up Cafe on 16^th April 10:30 at Hanham Community Centre. You can also find out more here: https://www.dogsforgood.org/

Black service dog in green vest reading "Dogs for Good, Dog in Training," lies by wheelchair on grass, with autumn leaves scattered. — One of the assistance dogs hard at work!

Dog First Aid Course 🚑

One of our most exciting plans for 2026 is hosting an in-person dog first aid course.

If you’ve ever worried about what you’d do in a medical emergency, this course will give you the confidence and skills to respond. It’s run by All Winds and covers topics such as cuts, burns, and dog CPR.