Case Study: Flora — Miniature Poodle Training in Swaffham for a Tiny Pup with Big Character

Background

Flora joined a household with another dog — Daphne, a spirited diva who wasn’t quite convinced her new little sister was a good idea. The early focus was on ensuring a smooth introduction between the two dogs, while laying foundations for key behaviours like recall and impulse control.

Given Flora’s age and size, we opted for in-home puppy training. This setup allowed us to keep things calm, safe and structured, especially important while she was still unvaccinated and adjusting to her new environment.

Methods Used

Our sessions with Flora have used shaping and capturing techniques — ideal for young pups who benefit from mentally stimulating tasks and plenty of positive feedback.

• Shaping Recall: Flora is already responding beautifully to recall cues in controlled settings. Her confidence is growing, and she's learning that coming when called is always a good thing. We make sure each recall ends positively — no snatching away favourite toys or leaves!
  
  
• Capturing Heel Position: We’ve begun introducing heel work by rewarding her when she naturally moves into the correct position. This lays the groundwork for future lead training in a way that’s low-pressure and highly rewarding.
  
  
• Attention without Pressure: During a garden session, Flora had picked up a leaf. Instead of diving in and creating a confrontation, we simply encouraged her to come to us. She dropped the leaf voluntarily — a perfect example of reinforcing recall without risking negative associations.
  
  
• House Training Guidance: We discussed toileting routines and how to reduce accidents in a way that suits Flora’s stage of development and her owner's daily schedule.
  
  
• Daphne & Flora Dynamics: Social integration sessions focused on calm, managed interactions. Daphne has begun to soften towards Flora, and their relationship is becoming more balanced and accepting.