Mid Wales Dog Training

26/06/2026

Presented by Doglaw specialist solicitor Trevor Cooper, this webinar is aimed at informing owners of reactive dogs.

18/06/2026

18/06/2026

The Hard Truth: Your Dog May Be Overfed, Not Untrainable.

If I’ve ever told you that your dog is overweight, please understand that I’m not fat-shaming your dog, and I’m certainly not criticising you as an owner.

Yes, excess weight can have a significant impact on a dog’s joints, mobility, and long-term health. But there’s another reason I raise the issue that is often overlooked: training.
Food is one of the most powerful rewards we have available in dog training. When a dog is consistently overfed, food often loses value. As a result, the dog becomes less motivated to work for rewards, less engaged in training sessions, and ultimately more difficult to train.
One of the biggest mistakes owners make is relying heavily on the feeding guidelines printed on the bag. Remember, pet food companies are selling food, and those recommendations are designed to sell you more food!

They should be treated as a starting point, not a rulebook. The right amount to feed will depend on your dog’s age, breeding, activity level, metabolism, and body condition.

Motivation is the engine that drives learning. A dog that is eager to earn a reward will typically learn faster, focus better, and enjoy training more. A dog that has little interest in food can make even the simplest training exercises unnecessarily challenging.

So when I talk about your dog’s weight, it’s not about judgement. It’s about giving your dog the best opportunity to succeed—both in their health and in their training.
A healthy weight doesn’t just improve quality of life. It can improve quality of learning too.

Like and share if you agree!

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12/06/2026

Here’s the reality a lot of people don’t want to hear:

I do not owe you a puppy.
Read that again.

I. Do. Not. Owe. You. A. Puppy.

I reject people all the time, and I am completely unapologetic about it.

You are not entitled to one of my dogs because you want one.
I don’t care how long you’ve wanted one.
I don’t care how much money you have.
I don’t care how excited you are.
I don’t care how qualified you think you are.
And I don’t care if being told no hurts your feelings.

My dogs’ welfare comes before your feelings. Every single time.

These are extremely high-drive working dogs.

They are not pets you buy on impulse because they look impressive online. They require structure, consistency, training, boundaries, and an actual understanding of what you’re taking on. They are not dogs you buy, work for a few months and then shove to the back burner because you’re too busy, or you don’t want to make the commute to a club, or any other excuses not to fulfill your working dog.

I reject people who underestimate the breed.
I reject people who think love is enough.
I reject people who want the image of a working dog but not the reality.
I reject people who get defensive when asked basic questions.
I reject people who aren’t prepared to manage a working dog.
I reject people who expect a puppy to come preprogrammed with adult working skills.
I reject people who want a nasty aggressive “real dog”.
I reject people who think money should override judgment.
I reject people who think wanting a dog equals being qualified for one.
And yes—I reject people based on household environment.

If your home is chaos, if your kids are screaming nonstop, have no boundaries, and adults are doing nothing to correct it, I’m not placing a high-drive working dog into that environment. Not because I dislike kids. Because I care about the dog.

A dog is not a toy. It is not something to be grabbed, chased, climbed on, screamed at, and expected to tolerate constant disorder because adults refuse to provide structure.

If you already have multiple dogs living in kennels or crates and expect a puppy to be thrown into your kennel or crate room and aren’t prepared to give that puppy the attention, training and dedicated work it requires, I’m not placing a dog with you.

And while we’re at it if you look at my dogs and think you’re going to recreate that overnight with an 8-week-old puppy, you are not the buyer for this breed.

No, the puppy does not come with basic obedience.
No, the puppy is not house-trained.
No, the puppy is not a finished dog.
It is an 8-week-old puppy.

You are buying potential. You are buying genetics. You are buying years of work ahead of you.

If you want instant results, this is not for you.
If you want a shortcut, this is not for you.
If you are already asking what the puppy “comes with” in terms of training, you’ve already misunderstood what you’re getting into.
I am not running a puppy store.
I am not here to make people feel good.
I am not here to hand out dogs to whoever wants one badly enough.

I am here to protect the dogs I bring into this world.
So yes, I reject a lot of people.
And no, I don’t feel bad about it.

Not even a little.
I would rather hurt your feelings today than ruin a dog’s life tomorrow.

I would rather be called rude, gatekeeping, arrogant, or difficult than place a dog in the wrong home.
Because once that dog leaves me, it lives with the consequences, not you, not me.

The dog.

Always the dog.
So if I say no, the answer is no.
No debate. No negotiation. No apology. No puppy.

-Mickey Stillwell

11/06/2026

‼️FOUND‼️
This lovely little chap is currently at our Llangollen surgery. He was found this morning, tied up on Minera Moors.
Male, no collar. He is microchipped, but not currently able to get owners details. Please contact us, if you recognise him.

08/06/2026

“Adopt, don't shop"

has become a popular slogan, but slogans rarely tell the whole story.

The uncomfortable truth is that responsibly bred dogs are not filling rescue centres.

Ethical breeders carefully screen potential owners, provide lifelong support, health test their breeding stock, and will often take back any dog they have bred if circumstances change.

Their dogs rarely end up abandoned or unwanted.

The majority of dogs entering rescues come from irresponsible breeding practices:
backyard breeders,
puppy farms,
accidental litters,
and people breeding without regard for temperament, health, or long-term responsibility.

These dogs are often produced simply because there is demand, with little thought given to where they may end up years later.

Choosing a well-bred dog from a responsible breeder is not contributing to the rescue crisis.

In fact, supporting ethical breeding helps promote better health, stable temperaments, and accountability within the dog world.

Adoption is a fantastic option for many people, and giving a rescue dog a second chance is something to be celebrated.

But it should be a personal choice, not a moral obligation.

There is nothing wrong with seeking a responsibly bred dog that suits your lifestyle, experience, and goals.

Instead of "Adopt, don't shop," perhaps the message should be:

"Adopt or shop responsibly."

Because the real problem isn't responsible breeders, it's irresponsible ones.

Share this post if you agree 🥰

07/06/2026

Could your dog in the car land you a £5,000 fine? 🐶🚗