Debbie Potter

Dog Trainer & Canine Coach

As well as living alongside three retrievers, Debbie also shares life with two teenage daughters and her husband - so has experience of welcoming both children and puppies into a household and all the many tribulations this brings!

Debbie is the Founder, Director and Head Trainer at Potter Paws, an independent family run business specialising in Family Dog Training. She is the host of a weekly podcast The Dynamic Dog Owner and has written a book to support owners whilst they overcome their first challenge - puppy biting!

Her passions include puppies, loose-lead training and scent detection. She is passionate about coaching families to be successful in their dog-parenting role and helping create confident, skilled humans and dogs to make every day life a little easier - ensuring you and your best friend have the best life together.

When dog owners are looking for the perfect family dog, the first breeds they think of are normally Labradors or Golden Retrievers, because they’re laid-back and easy to fit in to family life. They have a reputation for being great with kids and you often see labs and goldies as the quintessential family dog as portrayed in film and tv.
 
But the reality can be quite different.
 
Like any dog, it takes dedication and consistency to train even the most laid back Labrador and create a happy, well-adjusted family pet. Even the best of breeds can end up being in a nightmare situation if not understood and managed correctly.
 
That’s where I can help! I specialise in helping families create a consistent, positive environment for their dog to grow and flourish, working with the characteristics of retrieving breeds to help them become the much-loved member of their family, that they’ve always dreamed of.

Debbie's top three training areas for retrievers

Scent Detection

Enables pet dogs to use their nose to its full potential. As well as providing essential mental stimulation, it will also improve your dog's confidence, focus, general happiness and optimism in life

Find out more

Lead Skills

We always expect walks to be the most enjoyable part of the day, but often they can be quite stressful and challenging. Reducing pulling and increasing focus puts the fun back into life with your favourite friend

Find out more

Puppies

When you first introduce a puppy to your family, it can be a little overwhelming and pretty scary at times. They're learning every minute of the day, we just need to make sure we're teaching them good things

Find out more

What is family dog training?

Your dog makes your family whole, with a ready wag of the tail and a lick to tell you how much he loves you. You share so many adventures together - snuggles at home, family holidays at the beach, weekend walks in the woods

There are many different jobs and roles for dogs. Family dog training helps to prepare them for life as a treasured member of your family, creating the perfect companion for you and your children. We teach real-life skills and practical techniques to make sure you have a happy, fulfilled and healthy dog who makes your family complete.

My ethos is that training is for life, not just for puppies! That's why I provide ongoing support from before puppy first comes home, during those early days as he settles in and throughout his life as part of your family.
Luna loved going to Pawsome Puppies each week, where she did amazing and we saw her confidence and ours grow! As a first time dog owner, this course was perfect!  Debbie was amazing, she is so informative and happy to answer any questions and provide advice 

Emma & Luna
Sniffing...who would have thought it was so engrossing and tiring (for us both). Focus isn't my boy's greatest asset but even he managed it!! Debbie is there with loads of encouragement and support. Great course and now we have loads of games to play at home!

Lynne & Ted
We really enjoyed the Lovely Leads course, Debbie is a great trainer and gives plenty of time for training and answers to general questions, which we found very helpful. I really looked forward to classes, unlike my experience with other trainers, We both learned a lot and would highly recommend.

Sarah & Daisy

Discover how Debbie can help you lead the best life with your four-legged pal!

Let me give you a hand with a 15minute Discovery Call - it's absolutely FREE with no obligation to book if I'm not the right trainer for you!


During your call we'll talk about
 
  • you and your dog to make sure we're a good fit for you
  • the challenges facing you in your dog training right now
  • what you would like to achieve from your training programme
 
At the end of the call, you'll have received some useful information and have guidance as to which of my training options is most suitable for you and your dog.

[email protected]

                    07737 506587