Founder

Just Paws owner Helen Merrett, set up Just Paws in 2008 after leaving Veterinary Nursing. Helen enjoys riding her horses and playing French Horn outside of her Just Paws Life!

Alongside 20 years of experience working with animals, Helen has a Diploma in Canine Behaviour Training and is constantly updating her knowledge with CPD, and higher learning – in both canine and human psychology sectors to keep her knowledge and skill set current when offering training and behavioural modification.

Helen trains, aims and competes her spaniels and labrador in working tests and trials, alongside enjoying days off in the field working the dogs, both beating and picking up.

Helens son Ralph is now an active young dog handler and loves spending time at the weekends walking the boarding dogs and is developing an interest in the working dogs too.

Dottie (granny dog) Olive (granddaughter) Bella the border terrier and baby dog Margot the Labrador complete the dream team dog training and socialising team!!

Regularly introducing new dogs to the mad house, it is their role to check out the new dogs’ socialising credentials to make sure they are ready for ‘school’, or to help teach 1-2-1 training dogs ‘how to be a dog’.

Dottie is the Queen when it comes to her job as a stooge for dogs that struggle to ‘dog’!! Olive  is a regular beating dog in the local shoots out with me on my days off competing at trials and tests, and it is her most favourite time of year! Bella came to live with us in 2022 needing a more country lifestyle and has slotted in like a comfy sock! And Margot the baby of the group will be heading towards working dog competitions also, alongside sofa surfing and stealing my shoes!

Caitlin has worked with us at Just Paws since 2019, and completed her level 3 Apprenticeship here  in Animal Management.

Caitlin is now primarily working for herself as a groomer running her business ‘A Tail of Two Dogs’ in Arlingham and often comes to pick up the daycare dogs and home boarders for their groomers and pre-home time baths!! Caitlin still works here part time just because she loves nothing more than being covered in dogs on the patio being cuddled!

Lottie started with Just Paws at the beginning of 2024 and has settled like a duck to water!

Lottie has worked with animals in previous jobs and has a keen interest in working gun dogs, training and behaviour. Lottie will be pursuing industry qualifications at Just Paws, in between smooshing all the daycare and boarding dogs as much as she can!

In her spare time she likes long walks with her family dogs, festivals, music and spending time with her friends