13/01/2026 - Training
Ten years. A decade of growth, challenges, dreams realised, and a community built on a shared love of dogs. It's almost impossible to believe that Potter Paws, the business behind this podcast, has reached its tenth birthday. What started as a casual conversation on a New Year's Day walk has evolved into something far beyond the original vision—a thriving training community supporting over 110 families every single week.
The Accidental Beginning
Potter Paws was never intended to be a full-time business employing staff and training hundreds of people. The idea emerged on 1st January 2016 during a family walk. After five years as a stay-at-home mum, the question arose: what next? A simple suggestion from Mum "Why don't you do dog walking?" sparked something unexpected.
Within 18 days of that conversation, the business launched. Insurance sorted, website built, first client booked. By the end of that first week, 14 dogs had been walked. What seemed like a flexible job fitting around school holidays gradually grew into something more substantial, with 50 to 60 dogs being walked weekly within a couple of years.
The Turning Point
But dog walking alone wasn't enough. There was growing frustration at being just one part of someone's life, seeing dogs that needed more support and owners who could benefit from additional help. The natural next step seemed simple: do some training courses to enhance the dog walking service.
A four-day practical course seemed perfect for learning fun activities with dogs. Except it wasn't what it appeared to be. Upon arrival, the realisation hit… this was a course teaching people how to teach other people to train dogs. Complete deep end territory. The first day brought discomfort and doubt, but by day four, something had shifted. The response to "Do you think I could do this?" was a resounding yes.
That was nine years ago. What was supposed to be personal development for dog walking became the foundation of an entirely different business direction.
From Walking to Training
The transition happened gradually. More dog training clients meant less dog walking. Then COVID arrived, providing a natural breaking point. Dog walking stopped completely, and Potter Paws became fully focused on training. It was, in hindsight, a happy accident, discovering an unexpected talent and genuine passion for teaching people and improving dogs' lives.
Building the Dream
Early business courses posed the question: what's your goal? The answer was clear - create something different. Not just six-week courses where clients disappear after fixing a problem, but a genuine community. A membership. A place where people come to train their dogs every week simply because they love it, like children attending drama classes. Dog training as a hobby, not just a fix.
Achieving that vision proved harder than anticipated. It's not the norm. Most training follows the traditional model: attend for six weeks, problem solved, goodbye. Convincing people of a different approach took time.
It started with one client who came every Wednesday. Then two on an evening session. Then back to one. Then two again. Slowly, steadily, the numbers grew. Three became four, became five, became a full class of six. The Wednesday evening slot wasn't working, so it shifted to Saturday mornings at nine o'clock. Those six people came every single week, reliably, enthusiastically, simply because they enjoyed it.
The Team Grows
Six years ago, a phone call changed everything again. Someone completing dog training qualifications needed practical experience. Despite the self-doubt "What will she learn from me? I don't know what I'm doing" the answer was yes. That "yes" brought Tasha into the business, and six years later, she remains the right-hand woman whose support has been invaluable.
The principle of "say yes, figure it out later" learned from business networking proved transformative. Say yes to opportunities, then work out the how afterwards.
The Reality Today
Fast forward to now. Potter Paws runs 15 weekly membership classes. Over 110 people come every single week, not to fix problems, not because it's mandatory, but because they genuinely enjoy training their dogs. Some members have been attending for seven and a half years. In that time, the business has been part of their lives through births, deaths, marriages, children, and countless other life changes.
The team now includes four trainers, a behaviour counsellor, office staff, and virtual assistants. It's evolved far beyond that little New Year's Day idea.
The Emotional Reality
The annual Christmas dinner for members brings everything into perspective. Over 110 people gathering together, award ceremonies recognising progress and achievements, the warmth of community. Coming home from that event brought tears - not from sadness, but from the overwhelming realisation that the dream from nine years ago had become reality.
These aren't just clients. They're known individuals, part of an extended family. Some have been on this journey for over seven years. They've made the dream real by showing up, week after week.
Challenges and Growth
Ten years hasn't been without difficulties. Juggling motherhood with running a business that was never supposed to exist brought hard days. COVID presented its own challenges, yet paradoxically helped the business through pivoting to Zoom training and recorded sessions. The journey mirrors dog training itself - you start with a dream, realise it won't be straightforward, put in consistent effort, and eventually reach something wonderful. It might take years, but you get there.
Looking Forward
The next ten years hold exciting possibilities. Everything that currently works will continue. New focuses include expanding pet bereavement counselling services and growing online training through the Potter Paws Academy hub.
Ten years of Potter Paws represents more than business growth. It represents community, connection, and the realisation that sometimes the best things in life are the ones you never planned for. Here's to the next decade of supporting dog parents in their journeys, one training session at a time.