Barkshire Dog Training wins Theo Paphitis (Small Business Sunday) award
- Sarah at Barkshire Dog Training
- Feb 13
- 4 min read
Summary
Barkshire Dog Training wins Theo Paphitis (Small Business Sunday) award
Each week, thousands of small businesses across the UK put themselves forward for SBS, and just six are selected. Being one of them feels incredibly special – not just as a business owner, but as someone who genuinely cares about doing things properly, ethically, and with kindness at the heart of everything I do.
Theo shares SBS winners across Instagram, LinkedIn and X, which meant Barkshire Dog Training was suddenly seen by hundreds of thousands of people. For someone who's worked tirelessly to be the best dog trainer I can be while genuinely caring for every client, this recognition felt incredible. My patience had finally paid off.
In this post, you'll learn what SBS is, how I went about winning, and why this recognition matters for you and your dog.
What is Small Business Sunday?
Small Business Sunday was launched by Theo Paphitis in 2010 and now has a network of over 4,500 winners. Each Sunday, small businesses across the UK can apply by sharing a post on social media using the hashtag #SBS between 5pm and 7.30pm. Six winners are chosen and announced by Theo every Monday night.
Winning SBS means:
Your business is shared directly by Theo on Linked In, Instagram and X.
You join a community of over 4,500 SBS winners – great networking opportunity.
You receive third-party recognition that can genuinely open doors
How I won the Small Business award
SBS doesn't judge businesses on how long they've been trading, how big their audience is on socials are, or how glossy their branding looks which meant we are on an equal standing.
I didn't win on my first attempt. my second or my fifth, each time I entered, I made sure that my post was different, current, and reflected on what I was currently working, my value patience was definitely required.
The post that won focused on collaboration – supporting an event with my friend Clare from Insight Hounds, showing up for others and supporting them really matters. Looking back, it was great to win when I shared how important collaborating is as I believe it was that authenticity and connection that really mattered.
I won’t be alone – Clare won last year too!
What makes this even more special is that my brilliant "Live" buddy and friend Clare Ware from Insight Hounds won SBS too last year!
We've been doing Facebook Lives together for over three years, collaborating on all kinds of projects, and supporting each other as we've grown our businesses. We have had Tug-E-Nuff, Pet Blood, The Sleep Vet and so many more that help dog owners understand more about supporting their own dogs at home.
To both be recognised by Theo feels incredibly special, we are determined to get a photo of the two of us together at the annual conference.
Looking forward to February
Later this month, I'll be travelling to Birmingham to collect my award in person. It's going to be a wonderful opportunity to meet other small business owners from across the UK, all of whom share the same commitment to doing things properly and building something meaningful. I also know that Theo is a dog owner himself. He has a Cocker Spaniel called Gladys. If I get the chance, I'm looking forward to chatting with him about his dog when I meet him!
What this means for you and your dog?
Where's the most important part: I believe that you and your dog deserve the best.
That means:
A trainer who uses kind, effective methods
Someone who sees you and your dog as individuals, not problems to fix
A professional committed to high standards
A safe, supportive environment where you can learn and grow together — because we’re a team after all
Winning SBS is reassurance that I’m delivering on those promises.
I’ve worked hard to build Barkshire Dog Training into something sustainable, ethical, and genuinely helpful. Winning SBS tells me that effort hasn’t gone unnoticed.
When you choose a dog trainer, you're not just choosing someone to teach commands. You're choosing someone to help shape your relationship with your dog, to guide you through challenges, and to be there when things feel overwhelming.
This award is a reminder that the way I do business – with patience, collaboration, and care – matters.
What's next?
Winning SBS isn't a finish line. It's given me a moment to pause, reflect, and keep moving forward.
For me, this recognition reinforces why I do what I do:
To support dogs and their humans with kind, force-free training
To keep learning, improving, and holding myself to high standards
To build a business based on trust, transparency, and care
If you've been thinking about working with me, or if you've been following along and wondering whether Barkshire Dog Training is right for you and your dog, I hope this gives you confidence in what I do here.
Because at the end of the day, awards are wonderful – but what really matters is the difference we make together, one dog at a time.
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