The Story of Love Your Paws
Helping dogs and their people find calm, confidence and connection.
Love Your Paws exists to help thoughtful dog owners build stronger relationships with their dogs through scent-led training, mantrailing and community support.
I work with puppies, adolescents and adult dogs across West Cornwall, offering classes, workshops and walks that focus on connection and understanding.
Many people come to me because life with their dog feels harder than they expected.
Pulling on the lead, not coming back when called, adolescent challenges or a dog who feels anxious and unsure. My role is to show them that by working in ways that make sense to their dog, everything becomes easier.
When we enrich dogs’ lives in ways that are meaningful to them, so many everyday struggles naturally start to ease.
Love Your Paws exists to give dogs a voice, to help owners feel confident, and to create safe, supportive spaces where dogs and people can learn and thrive together.
Our mission
My mission is to put scent and understanding at the heart of training.
By giving dogs the chance to meet their natural needs and express the behaviours that come naturally to them, we create happier, more fulfilled dogs and stronger partnerships with their people.
Our approach
At Love Your Paws, everything begins with scent. When dogs are given the chance to use their noses and express natural behaviours, they feel calmer, more confident and more fulfilled.
I want dogs to feel safe, understood and motivated, and to enjoy learning in a way that makes sense to them.
I want their people to feel supported, capable and reassured, knowing they can communicate clearly with their dog without pressure or confusion.
Training with me is practical, kind and thoughtful.
Every step is designed to build skills in a way that strengthens the bond you share, so both you and your dog leave feeling connected and positive.
Our values
Kindness
Understanding
When we look at the world through our dogs’ eyes and their nose, we start to understand why they do what they do and how best to help them.
Connection
Training should bring you and your dog closer together. Every session is about building a bond that feels strong, trusting and enjoyable.
Consistency
Real progress comes from simple steps repeated often. I make training achievable so it becomes part of everyday life, not just something you do in class.
Fun
Training should feel rewarding for both ends of the lead. When it’s enjoyable, you and your dog both want to keep coming back for more.
Meet Vicki
Ness, my first dog as an adult, came home with me from America and became my partner in adventure. Together we climbed mountains, canoed rivers and explored Europe, and she taught me the joy of living side by side with a dog who was part of everything I did.
When life took a new direction and I moved to Cornwall, I began studying people and behaviour and soon realised how naturally those ideas applied to dogs. A role in rescue confirmed what I already knew: my future had to be with dogs and the people who love them.
My rescue collie, Sam, has been my biggest teacher. The world can feel overwhelming for him, but scent work gave him purpose and calm. Watching him choose to work around people he once feared changed how I saw training forever.
My young spaniel, Lochy, brings balance. Working with her keeps me grounded in how naturally dogs thrive when given the chance to do what they are made for, and how capable and intuitive they are when trusted to use their incredible noses.
These experiences shaped Love Your Paws into what it is today: scent-led training that helps people understand their dogs and build kind, connected relationships based on trust and empathy.
Ongoing learning and qualifications include:
✅ Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT): Membership Assessment (Merit), Advanced Training & Behaviour, Pain & Behaviour, Pet Gundog.
✅ OCN Level 3 Principles of Dog Training & Behaviour.
✅ The School of Canine Science: Puppy Lab, 30 Days of Canine Science, Scent for Six, Behaviour Bible (ongoing).
✅ UK Sniffer Dogs: Bronze and Silver Instructor Courses.
✅ Family Dog Mediator -L.E.G.S.® Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation® Professional Course
✅ Specialist Study: Separation Anxiety Pro with Julie Naismith, Puppy Power with Amber Batson, Teaching Scentwork with Sally Gutteridge.
✅ Canine Hoopers World: Level 1 Instructor.
✅ Canine Principles: Dog Trainer Business Booster, Canine Anatomy & Physiology, Level 5 Canine Behaviour Management (ongoing).
✅ Aggression in Dogs Master Course, Michael Shikashio
I also volunteer with Cornwall Search Dogs, where Lochy and I are now an operational trailing team, putting scent skills to work in the real world.
In the Love Your Paws family own words
“Vicki is a truly dedicated dog trainer who keeps herself well up to date on all the current thinking on behaviour and training kindly.
Her training is always “dog led” and emphasis is on building a good relationship with your dog which makes it all fun.
She is patient and understanding and ready to adapt to ensure every dog and owner gets the best out of the classes.
I’ve had dogs for over 50yrs now but can honestly say I’ve never encountered a better training class.
My 9yr old granddaughter has enjoyed the hoopers training and young handlers with Coco ,who she joint owns with my husband. He enjoys scentwork and adventure walks with her and I, having mobility issues these days, have managed to do the beginners Sniffer Dog with my little Jemmy.
We all happily recommend Love Your Paws to anyone looking for a dog training club.”
Mary Elks
“Vicki’s classes are fun and engaging, both for the dogs and the humans!
Vicki teaches in a way that questions what we do with our dogs and why, and makes us really think about what we do as owners and how best to effectively communicate with our dogs as individuals, as they are all different breeds, temperaments etc – she also breaks training exercises right down into small, manageable stages, which is a very effective way of teaching, and rewarding for all.
The results speak for themselves, very happy dogs and owners! 😊”
Claire Carter
“Vicki goes above and beyond for all our dogs providing the most up to date knowledge and advice from puppies to our challenging teens and our lovely elderly pups.
Life time training makes for a better and more loving relationship with your dog which is what I feel owning a dog is all about.
We ensure their life is filled with enrichment and enjoyment. By providing a chance to build connection and partnership during Love Your Paws sessions we are then giving our dogs the best life. I’ve never felt this deep of a connection to lady than I ever have and never have I understood a dog more.
You will find you learn so much and build great friendships along the way.
Five class service is all you can expect from love your paws. I’m proud to say we’re apart of it. I’ve never seen a dog in the way I do now and I feel this is truly something special to be apart of. 🐾 ❤️”
Molly Collins
DOG TRAINING
PAWS FOR FOUR
THE SCENT JOURNAL
Ready to explore what thoughtful, scent-led training can do for you and your dog?
Take a look at our services and find the right next step for you both.
