A DOG trainer from Wrexham is celebrating training a record number of puppies in 2021.

Karen Boyce, originally from Shrewsbury but now living in Froncysyllte, has been helping families and their pets for more than 20 years.

Her Beastly Thoughts Professional Dog Service (BTPDS) business welcomed 250 puppies and their owners into her classes in 2021.

It's been a year-on-year increase in numbers for the business over the past few years and last year was no different despite the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Karen, 58, said: "In 2019, we had 170 puppies sign up to our Puppy School programme. For 2020 we reached the awesome total of 220. We are now flabbergasted to have signed up 250 puppies in 2021!

“I am absolutely stunned that we have managed to continue training so many puppies during this global pandemic, and it was unbelievable when we increased on our 2019 numbers during the 2020 lockdowns. Now I am stunned once again.

“We just continue to be extremely humbled that so many owners place their trust in us.”

The Beastly Thoughts Professional Dog Services puppy classes cover North-East Wales and North Shropshire.

Wrexham classes are always available at Coedpoeth Parish Hall.

Karen said: "2020 was a very stressful time with the vast majority of puppy classes being held via Zoom. It was great to get back in the halls early on in 2021 and to slowly have the regulations relaxed. For the classes leading up to Christmas we even went as far as reintroducing a cuppa and a mince pie.

“BTPDS has never stopped providing training for puppies, older dogs and problem dogs throughout the whole pandemic and we will endeavour to keep training no matter what. Dog’s are a huge part of the local community and having them happy, obedient and under control makes life so much easier.

“And as we head into 2022, it is a real highlight to receive all the thank you messages and Christmas puppy photos from our owners. We love to see them.”

Karen has been a Puppy School tutor for over a decade and is also Regional Manager for other Puppy School tutors across North Wales, Shropshire, Cheshire and Lancashire.

Puppy School is the UK’s leading puppy training organisation with over 160 tutors across the UK.

Mum-of-two Karen has a team of ten instructors and assistant instructors to take and help run her weekly classes for puppies. BTPDS has clubs, walks, workshops and online courses and webinars; all for puppies as part of the Advanced Puppy Path system.