AN OSWESTRY-based dog training business that covers north Shropshire and North East Wales is celebrating 15 years of success.

Beastly Thoughts Professional Dog Service (BTPDS) was founded by Oswestry-raised Karen Boyce, now living in Froncysyllte, has been helping families and their pets for more than 20 years, but the business officially celebrates its 15th year this week.

Karen, 59, explained that the business came from turning her hobby into a profession when she was left with a new future in 2007.

She said: “With two under-fives to provide for and not wanting to become a 9am till 5pm working mum I took the plunge to turn my hobby into a business.

“We obviously started small with a few classes a week. But I also had the behavioural side I had already trained in, particularly reactive dogs, to build on.”

The BTPDS business covers Wrexham and Oswestry for classes and further afield for behavioural problems, with venues used including Coedpoeth, Black Park, Weston Rhyn, Trefonen and Knockin.

Beastly Thoughts started with Karen and one assistant in class and now includes three qualified Puppy School UK tutors, and six assistant instructors, plus an administrator.

Instructors also have additional skills as specialists in reactive dogs, agility and areas such as nutrition.

Karen added: “With 250 puppies through the doors last year we are almost certainly the biggest puppy training organisation in Wales.

"And our work and commitment was recently recognised by the Secretary of State for Wales with an invitation to a meeting in Whitehall for successful Welsh female entrepreneurs.

“We just continue to be extremely humbled that so many owners place their trust in us and see us as the go-to dog training provider.”

As part of the celebrations BTPDS ran a 15th anniversary dog show and a photo competition and a recent anniversary party.

She said: "We just had a nice time catching up with all the news; doggy and non-doggy. Some of the dogs that have been with us for training came too.”

Karen has been a Puppy School tutor for more than a decade and is also regional manager for other puppy school tutors across North Wales, Shropshire, Cheshire and Lancashire.

Karen was also winner of the Animal Star Awards Dog Trainer/Behaviourist of the Year 2019.

If you’d like to find out more about Karen, visit www.beastlythoughts.co.uk or check out www.facebook.com/beastlythoughts or call direct on 07970 488395.