In the Press: A week of recognition for A Pawsitive Step
If you’d told me a few years ago that in the press, my dog training work would be featured across three different media outlets – online and in print – I’d probably have laughed and gone back to stuffing a Kong. But here we are.
Last week, I was shopping in my local supermarket when a Lady came approached me and said”..wasnt I that dog trainer in the paper?” I opened the local newspaper and saw my name in actual ink. In Wiltshire and Gloucestershire regional news platforms, both online and in their printed editions. Yes, it’s all the same parent company (as is often the case these days), but the reach? Still surreal.
Animal Star Awards – Dog Trainer of the Year – Southern Region
I have been named Dog Trainer of the Year (Southern Region) at the Animal Star Awards. This coverage followed a win that means a great deal to me: What makes this award different? It wasn’t about public votes or marketing campaigns. It was judged by professional peers; Trainers, Vets, Groomers and Behaviourists who understand what it means to work ethically, patiently, and evidence-first. even more amazing is that the Southern region really does cover the south. From Essex and Kent all the way round to Devon on the south Coast so a big area of great Trainers to pick from. It made me think for a minute!
To be recognised by them – people whose work I admire – was quietly overwhelming.
What the Papers Say
“…The Animal Star Awards recognise individuals who are working for the benefit of animals. The winners are those who are deemed to have made an outstanding contribution.” It’s a strong statement but by leaning into my approach via my autistic ability, I feel what animals are doing and then show people how that translates into human language. They can learn to do the same thing by just observing more. This is very powerful. It’s different but it’s still rooted in the science that I have studied, the information I have been shown, the accreditations and qualifications I have earned but with my own twist.
Behind the Scenes of A Pawsitive Step
As many of you know, I’m not one for big, flashy self-promotion. My work is about dogs and their humans. It’s about building trust, transforming relationships, and sometimes just surviving adolescence with your sanity intact.
So, this blog post that talks about content in the press isn’t just about sharing a shiny moment. It’s about honouring the years of quiet graft that led here. The cold training fields. The bites and scratches that were totally understandable. The behaviour cases that broke my heart a little before they started to heal. The incredible dogs and people I’ve had the privilege to walk alongside.
Rooted in the South West
I work across Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, especially around Stroud, Malmesbury, Cirencester, Swindon, and Chippenham. This regional recognition is meaningful because these are my communities. These are the families I support, the dogs I train, the fields I walk.
If you’ve trained with me, followed my work, or cheered me on quietly from the sidelines – thank you. Scout and I are grateful beyond words.
💬 Want to read the full articles?
You can find the online press coverage here:
(If you’re local, you might still find the print version in your newsagent 5th June 2025 – it’s currently on the fridge in our kitchen.)