Dog Training West Cornwall
Positive, practical training for real-life dogs and the people who love them.
At Love Your Paws, everything we do begins with scent.
It’s how dogs make sense of their world, how they learn, and how they find calm and confidence in everyday life.
By placing scent work at the heart of our training, we help dogs develop focus and self-assurance while strengthening the bond they share with their people.
Our approach is thoughtful and kind, centred on understanding each dog as an individual rather than asking them to fit a mould.
Training becomes less about what we want them to do and more about helping them learn how to be. When we teach through scent, we give dogs a voice and a way to succeed that feels natural to them.
Below, you’ll find our range of classes and community sessions. From relaxed training walks to focused scent and mantrailing tracking sessions, everything is designed to nurture connection, confidence and communication for both ends of the lead.
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Our Dog Training Classes
Scentwork
Foundation Scent Work (Kong or Catnip)
For dogs from 5 months upwards.
Our Foundation Scent workshops are the starting point for all scent work at Love Your Paws. You and your dog will be introduced to searching for a specific odour, either Kong or Catnip, and shown how to build a clear indication so your dog can tell you when they’ve found it.
These sessions give your dog the chance to use their nose in a focused way, helping them develop confidence, resilience and optimism whilst having fun.. They also give you the skills to understand what your dog is telling you and to work as a team
Progression Scent: Skills (Kong or Catnip)
Age Range: from 5 months
Training Level: for dogs who have completed Foundation Scent Work, Foundation Scent Workshop, or our Online Intro to Scent Work
These sessions are where your dog learns to search with focus, confidence, and clarity. Whether you are working with Kong or Catnip, we will guide you through building calm search behaviours, developing a consistent indication, and learning how to support your dog effectively.
Everything takes place in a quiet, structured setting so your dog has the best chance to succeed.
Then adventure sessions for catnip and kong in the woods.
Scent Adventures (Kong or Catnip)
Age Range: from 6 months
Training Level: confident beginners to advanced — suitable for dogs who can search for the scent of Kong and are comfortable working away from the training field
Scent Adventures take your scent work out into the real world. You and your dog will apply search skills in outdoor locations, exploring new environments and working with natural distractions.
Whether you are following the Kong or Catnip pathway, the aim is the same: to give your dog the chance to enjoy scent work in a way that is enriching, rewarding, and great fun for you both.
These sessions are open to dogs who are actively attending Scent Skills classes and have started to build confidence and consistency in their searches.
Advanced sessions are available like seasonal sessions and truffle hunting.
Mantrailing
Mantrailing Track n’ Trail sessions
For dogs from 6 months upwards.
Our version of man trailing, Track n’ Trail gives your dog the chance to follow a person’s scent in their own way.
Some dogs track with their nose to the ground, others trail using air scent. We don’t worry about which is which. What matters is letting your dog use their incredible nose, build confidence, and work in partnership with you.
Each dog works at their own level while resting in the car between turns. It is an exciting, confidence-building activity that strengthens your bond and gives your dog a real sense of purpose.
community sessions
Adventure Walks
Age Range: from 9 months
Training Level: progression to advanced
Adventure Walks are fun, sociable outings designed for dogs and owners who have attended Love Your Paws training classes or 1-2-1 sessions.
These walks are an excellent way to maintain training skills, encourage good manners, and enjoy the company of like-minded owners. Each walk includes real-life training opportunities such as recall, lead walking, and navigating natural settings, along with the chance to ask questions and discuss any challenges you are facing.
- Adventure Walk: a relaxed, steady-paced walk with easy terrain, perfect if you prefer a slower, more social outing.
- Active Adventure Walk: the same ethos but with steeper terrain, uneven ground, stiles, and a faster pace for those who enjoy more challenge.
Both walks are designed to be enjoyable and low pressure, helping you and your dog strengthen your bond, practise everyday skills, and enjoy time outdoors together.
Explorer Adventure Walks
Age Range: from 9 months
Training Level: progression to advanced
Explorer Adventure Walks are fun, sociable outings designed for dogs and owners who have attended Love Your Paws training classes or 1-2-1 sessions.
These walks are a great way to maintain training skills, encourage good manners, and enjoy the company of like-minded owners. Each outing includes real-life training opportunities such as recall, lead walking, and navigating natural settings, with time to ask questions and talk through any training challenges.
These extended walks last between 90 minutes and 2 ½ hours and often take place in locations further afield. Dogs and owners get the chance to explore varied terrains, from beaches to moorlands and woodland trails.
While no formal training is included, naturally occurring opportunities such as polite greetings, waiting when needed, and practising focus are built into the experience.
Explorer Adventure Walks are designed to be enjoyable and low pressure, helping you and your dog strengthen your bond, practise everyday skills, and share a truly enriching outdoor adventure together.
Mooch & Mingle
Age Range: all ages
Training Level: n/a — this is a social walk
Mooch & Mingle is a gentle, sociable walk of 45–60 minutes that ends with the option of a café stop.
Designed for dogs and their humans who have attended (or are attending) Love Your Paws training, these walks are a lovely way to create friendships, give dogs of all ages a relaxed social outing, and take the opportunity to ask questions or chat through any training challenges.
Please note: Walks may be on or off lead depending on the environment and are for pro-social dogs who enjoy the company of other dogs and people.
Chat 'n’ Train
Chat ‘n’ Train (often nicknamed “Dog Club” by attendees) is for owners who’ve mastered the basics and want to enjoy time with their dog in a relaxed, supportive environment.
Each session blends training and conversation, from refining lead work or exploring advanced skills to trying something fun like hoopers, alongside space to share ideas and discuss training concepts.
Every week is different, shaped by the group’s needs and interests. It’s a chance to strengthen your bond with your dog while connecting with like-minded owners.
hoopers
Foundation Hoopers
Age Range: from 5 months to adult
Training Level: foundation
Foundation Hoopers introduces you and your dog to the fun, low-impact sport of Hoopers.
It is perfect for complete beginners or for anyone wanting to try something new together.
You and your dog will learn to navigate a course made up of hoops, barrels, and tunnels, while building confidence and teamwork.
Key skills covered include:
- Moving through hoops and tunnels with confidence
- Basic handling techniques to guide your dog
- Building focus and connection while having fun
- Introducing foundational cues and movements for Hoopers courses
This class is suitable for dogs of all sizes and abilities. It offers both mental and physical stimulation in a supportive, low-impact environment and is a great way to strengthen your relationship while learning something new.
Progression Hoopers
Age Range: from 6 months to adult
Training Level: progression
Progression Hoopers builds on the skills introduced in Foundation Hoopers. These sessions focus on refining your dog’s confidence, responsiveness, and accuracy while navigating more advanced Hoopers courses.
Key skills covered include:
- Developing flow and speed between obstacles
- Strengthening handling techniques for smoother communication
- Practising more complex Hoopers courses
- Building focus and responsiveness to your cues
This class is ideal for dogs who have completed Foundation Hoopers, have a basic understanding of Hoopers equipment, or who have agility experience. It is a fun and engaging way to deepen your teamwork while continuing to challenge and stimulate your dog.
Peaceful Spaces for Calm, Confident Learning
Our training field sits on a quiet lane, bordered by Cornish hedges and surrounded by countryside.
It’s peaceful and tucked away, giving dogs and their people space to focus, breathe and learn together.
Although it isn’t fully fenced, it’s a safe and secluded environment where we can work without too many distractions.
It’s where we hold most of our scent skill sessions, along with Hoopers and Chat n’ Train, creating the perfect setting for calm, thoughtful learning.
We’re also incredibly lucky to have access to some of Cornwall’s most beautiful landscapes for our other sessions. Mantrailing Track n’ Trail, scent adventures and community walks take place in a range of locations, from Godolphin Woods and Tehidy Woods to Penrose, the Towans and beyond.
Every space offers something a little different, giving dogs the chance to explore new environments and build confidence in the real world.
a brilliant experience for us all
“We’re over the moon to find a trainer like Vicki, would not hesitate to recommend her.
Thoughtful training is a perfect description – our Working Cocker puppy is a delight, Vicki has helped us better understand him, and he loves all the fun ways that we work on to channel his endless energy & intelligence!
It has been a brilliant experience for us all, and we’re all reaping the rewards at home, loose lead walking, waggy bouncing more controlled, lovely responses to ‘this way’, ‘here’ and all the other important words we use to keep him happy & safe.
Looking forward to Hoopers and moving on to Teen Paws so that we can continue to learn & have fun together! Thank you so much!”
Emma Stevens
Let’s go!
Booking with Love Your Paws works a little differently to most systems, so I’ve explained everything below in simple steps to help guide you through it.
STEP 1
Choose your training pass
Everything in our booking system is called a training pass — even one-off courses or small bundles of sessions.
Just choose the option that suits you best from the list below.
STEP 2
Buy your sessions
Once you have chosen your training pass, you’ll complete your payment through our secure booking system. This gives you sessions to use for future classes.
STEP 3
Use your training pass
Head to the schedule and use your training pass to book the classes you want. You don’t need to book them all at once, you can use your pass at your own pace on the dates that suit you.
STEP 4
Need to reschedule?
As long as you give enough notice, you can swap or move sessions easily within the system.
Ready to explore what thoughtful, scent-led
training can do for you and your dog?
Book now or contact us with any questions.