Our story & team

Kind training, real-life results

Puppy & Friends Academy is Shropshire's first Award-Winning puppy academy - built on games, kindness and a genuine love of helping dogs and their people get it right.

Our story

Founded on a better way to train

Head Trainer and founder Siobhan Dunn built Puppy & Friends around a simple belief: training should be kind, fun and rooted in how dogs actually learn. No pain, no force, no fear - just clever games that turn good choices into happy habits.

That approach has made us one of Shropshire's most-loved academies, with hundreds of graduates, a wall of five-star reviews and five straight years of national award wins. From nervous rescue dogs to bouncy puppies, we meet every dog where they are.

And it's deeply personal. A few years ago, after a life-changing trauma left Siobhan struggling to work or even leave the house, a frightened seven-month-old Golden Retriever came into her life - rejected by his previous home and unsure of almost everything around him. His name was Ernie.

Slowly and steadily, the two of them rebuilt their confidence together. Today Ernie is Siobhan's accredited Assistance Dog - easing her anxiety and grounding her through deep-pressure therapy - and a working Therapy Dog who now brings that same comfort to others. He's the reason assistance and therapy work sits right at the heart of everything we do.

Head Trainer working one-to-one with an attentive Rottweiler

Ernie used to be frightened of everything - he backed away from doorways and panicked at the television. With patience and trust he transformed, and he transformed me with him. He's the reason I'm so passionate about helping others find that same support through their own dog. Without him, I don't know where I'd be.

Siobhan Dunn - Founder & Head Trainer

Meet the team

The people behind the paws

A friendly, fully-accredited team with specialisms across puppies, behaviour, scent, assistance and therapy dogs.

Siobhan Dunn

Head Dog Trainer

DTC Assistance Dog Specialist & Assessor
DTC Gun Dog Specialist
DTC Companion Obedience Specialist
Therapy Dog Trainer & Assessor
DTC Instructor
Animal Assisted Interventions Practitioner
PAWS School Practitioner

Siobhan is the Head Trainer of the Academy and runs our group classes. She also works around the UK as a specialist trainer for owner-trained assistance and therapy dogs, and has her own accredited Assistance Dog, Ernie - together they carry out Animal Assisted Interventions, visiting care homes and assisted-living residents across Telford.

Info@puppyandfriends.co.uk

Katie Wallace

Senior Dog Trainer

Accredited Instructor with DTC
Scent Specialist
Gun Dog Specialist
Spaniel Specialist

Katie runs our very successful Scent Club and provides 1:1 support and residential training walks. She also leads group classes and offers in-depth support for working-line puppies and dogs.

Katie@puppyandfriends.co.uk

Laura Hatfield

IMDT Dog Trainer

IMDT Dog Trainer
Therapy & Assistance Dog Specialist
Bully Breed Specialist

Laura helps support our Assistance Dog Programme alongside 1:1 training sessions for handlers, plus hands-on training guidance in our classes. She also runs our Day Training & Care programme - dedicated 1:1 train-and-care in your dog's own home while you're away.

Laura@puppyandfriends.co.uk

Issy Jackson

Care & Client Coordinator

Diploma in Canine Communications
First Aid Trained
DBS Checked
Trained & assessed by the Head Trainer

Issy is the hands-on person behind the Academy - coordinating dog walking and house-sitting care plans, supporting clients in classes, and running our marketing and social media.

Support@puppyandfriends.co.uk

In the media

As seen & heard across Shropshire and beyond

A Multi-Award-Winning academy that broadcasters trust - on Channel 4 and BBC Radio Shropshire.

As seen on

Channel 4

Our trainers and their force-free, games-based method - featured on national television.

As heard on

BBC Radio Shropshire

Talking puppies, behaviour and kind training with our local BBC station.

Come and meet us

Whether it's a first puppy or a tricky behaviour, we'd love to help.

Enquire 07860 343594