Get to Know Us
Our Story
Puppy Steps North Somerset was founded by Carly and Amelia, united by a shared passion for every stage of puppyhood—from the exciting anticipation before bringing your new friend home to navigating the whirlwind of adolescence.
We were fortunate to meet through our work with Julie at 4 Happy Paws, one of Somerset’s top-rated trainers, while running and supporting Puppy School classes together over the years.
When Julie decided to take a well-earned step back, we were delighted to take over Puppy School classes and continue nurturing puppies in our local community.
Our commitment remains the same: to deliver exceptional, compassionate training that helps you build a joyful, lasting bond with your puppy—one rooted in trust, fun, and plenty of wagging tails.
Want to find out more?
About Amelia
I’m a Practitioner Member of the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) and have been a Puppy School Associate Tutor since 2020.
Now I’m a full Tutor for the local area and am currently working towards my Animal Training Instructor (ABTC ATI) qualification. To better support clients, I regularly pursue a wide range of continued professional development, detailed below.
I’m passionate about helping you and your puppy build a strong, lasting bond from day one using reward-based methods. Having faced the ups and downs myself — including over-excitement, recall, socialisation, anxiety, and reactivity — all while navigating a busy family life, I truly understand how game-changing expert support can be.
My journey began with learning to connect with my sweet and complex Rottweiler. That experience sparked a theoretical and practical deep dive into canine behaviour, leading to hands-on learning by shadowing local trainers and behaviourists, and eventually earning my Puppy School accreditation.
These days, I share life with my fiancé, lively toddler, and our scentwork-loving Stabyhoun (gundog) teen.
About Carly
My journey into puppy training began in 2017, but my passion for dogs has been with me since the moment I could talk!
After shadowing several puppy trainers, I had the pleasure of meeting Julie, a puppy school tutor who took me under her wing, leading to my own qualification as an Associate Puppy School Tutor in 2019.
Over the past five years, I have had the invaluable opportunity to learn from some of the country’s leading behaviourists and dog trainers and being part of the puppy school family allows me to stay updated with the latest training methods in the industry. It also gives me access to a treasure trove of knowledge and specialised courses and I’m excited to keep exploring them. Positive reinforcement and happy puppies have always been my priority, and I'm very excited to embark on the puppy steps journey with Amelia.
My experience working with young people, many of whom have faced complex trauma, ignited my desire to explore the field of dog training. I have always been fascinated by animal-assisted therapy and sought to combine these two passions. This interest also influenced my choice of breed for my own dog, Capone, a Dorset Old Tyme Bulldog, a breed that can often get a bad rep but are big softies at heart - I have always loved an underdog!
As a busy mother with three young children, a university student, a dog owner, and a puppy trainer, I completely understand the chaos of everyday life and the challenges that come with puppy ownership. However, we are always available to provide guidance and support, and I'm excited to accompany you on your own puppy adventure! Remember, it all starts with a few puppy steps!
Learning & Development
We’re committed to continually expanding our knowledge and skills, so focus on a wide range of professional development opportunities across courses, webinars, and seminars.
Here are just a few highlights from our ongoing learning journey:
Courses
- Puppy School Tutor Qualification (Correspondence Course & Practical) — Puppy School
- Puppy Lab — School of Canine Science
- Behaviour Bible (Part One) — School of Canine Science
- Aggression for Professionals — Dr Amber Batson
- 30 Days of Canine Science — School of Canine Science
- Scent for Six — School of Canine Science
Webinars
- TTouch With ACE for Dogs with Janet Finlay (spectator spot at a day session)
- Troublesome Teens seminar — Dr Amber Batson
- Cavorting Canines webinar — Dr Amber Batson
- Matters of Motivation! One Day Online — Various presenters, Fenzi Dog Sport Academy
- Unraveling Frustration: Understanding High Drive Dogs — Crystal Wing, Fenzi Dog Sport Academy
Get in touch
Got a question? Simply complete the form or contact us using one of the options below - we’ll be happy to help!
📞 Prefer to Chat?
We’d love to hear from you! Just get in touch using any of the options above, and we’ll happily arrange a call at a time that suits you.
Email: puppyschoolnorthsomerset@gmail.com