Training and Behaviour

I believe that dog training should be kind, fair, effective and fun for both dogs and owners. I adhere to the CAPBT code of practice in my work as a dog trainer and behaviourist - click here for further information. Animals (and humans) learn best in a positive learning environment. Reward based training allows you to teach your dog while continuing to build on the bond between you. When I am training my own dogs, I want them to be willing participants and enjoy what we are doing together.  I am a member of the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) (membership no. 01112).


Tig tracking a pre-laid traill

Teaching a dog takes time and patience. Understanding how dogs learn, teaching in a way that your dog can understand and motivationg your dog to want to learn will allow you and your dog to make noticable progress, while also having fun.

Training opens up comunication with your dog so that your dog understands and gets into the habit of complying with your wishes. A well trained dog is a happy dog. There are certain things that it is useful for all dogs to understand - for example sit, lie down, stay, loose-lead walking, coming back when called. Then there is the fun stuff - tricks, agility, finding games, throwing games, tugging games. Every dog is individual in what makes him/her tick. Individual training allows you the opportunity to use the techniques best suited to your dog. Successful training harnesses/utilises your dog's innate skills and inclinations, as a training "tool", resulting in a dog that wants to do training.

Training and Behaviour Sessions are supported with information sheets and help at the end of the telephone if needed.

 

 

Dog Training Classes

 

Training classes usually take place in Brandesburton Parish Hall,. on Saturday mornings.  The emphasis is on making training enjoyable as well as "educational" for your dog.  We look at how dogs learn so that you can be an effective dog trainer. I will show you how to use a clicker and you can use clicker training with your dog if you wish to. 

  • Maximum 6 dogs per class - allowing plenty of individual attention, not one size fits all dog training
  • Positive motivation training techniques - no choke chains, yanking, pushing and shoving etc.
  • 8 week course 
  • One hour sessions
  • Sociable dogs only  - ensuring that all dogs coming to class are happy in a class situation.
  • Full course information sheets - a reminder of what has been covered in class to help you practise at home

 The class will cover the basics - 

Sit                     Lie Down                      Loose Lead Walking                      Recall                       Stay                    Leave. 

Exercises that are useful for dogs to understand.  Your dog will also have fun with a bit of Agility  learning to go through the tunnel, go over a dog walk (like Chester below) and weave, as well as learn some basic  Rally Obedience moves.   Contact me for more information, dates etc,  and feel free to come and watch a class in action.  Dogs mus be fully vaccinated.  

 


Chester having fun on the Dogwalk

One to One Training

Would you like help training your dog?  Your dog could surprise in what you can achieve together.   Are you struggling with one or two training issues such as:

  • Pulling on the lead
  • Jumping up
  • Unreliable recall
  • General lack of training and obedience

Your training sesssion will focus on the problem you have, at a time and place to suit you.

 
Taking my owner for a walk

Puppy Start Right Sessions

 Give your puppy the ideal start. The experiences your puppy has in the first 3 months of life have a huge influence on your dog's adult behaviour and outlook on life. Understanding of how this works will allow you to maximise your puppy's potential to be confident with people, other dogs and unfamiliar situations. During a Start Right Session, I give advice on:

Socialisation Tips - allowing you to maximise your puppy's social potential.

Bite Inhibition Help - all that biting your puppy does has a purpose. This is the time your puppy learns how hard he is biting - with your assistance. Puppies are never too young for toys.

Training Advice - Why not exploit your young puppy's willingness to please, to build a solid foundation for future training. Would you rather teach a five year old child or a teenager that complying with your requests is a good idea?

House Training Advice - Understanding how your dog learns where to "go" makes effective house training easy.

Training Help - Walking nicely on the lead and coming back when called as well as prevention of potential behaviour problems, all begin here.

 Avoiding Behaviour Problems - Provide your puppy with the opportunity to learn such skills as coping when left alone and coping with loud noises - fireworks, thunder etc.

Rescue Dog Start Right Sessions

Give the dog that you have given a new life to, the best start by ensuring that he/she settles into your life as smoothly as possible. During a Start Right Session I will give advice on

Training Help - Together we will assess where to begin training your dog.  Rescue dogs may come with "baggage" ,and have learned habits that we would prefer not to have to deal with.  It is the ultimate reward to see your dog begin to understand what you want and respond .

Behaviour Advice -  We will discuss the early signs of potential behaviour problems to watch for. The earlier work is done to prevent behaviour problems the better. Ideally this session should be undertaken within the first couple of weeks of re-homing for maximum benefit. However it is never too late and you can teach an old dog new tricks and new ways of behaving.

Behaviour Modification Consultations
If your dog suffers from any of the following behaviour problems (or anything that does not fall into the categories below but is a problem to you) I would be happy to help.

               Attention seeking behaviours
                                                                               Compulsive behaviours
               Destructive behaviours
                                                                               Dog to dog problems
               Chewing
                                                                               Excitability
               Over exuberance
                                                                               Fears and phobias
               House training problems
                                                                               Separation related behaviours
              Stealing food, toys or other items
                                                                               Guarding behaviours

A dog that is "behaving badly" can be embarassing, destructive, disruptive, difficult and upsetting to live with. The relationship between you and your dog can fall into a negative downward spiral. Understanding why your dog acts the way he/she does is the first step to mending the relationship and making changes for the better. The sooner a behaviour problem is addressed the easier it is to change. I take a holistic approach to you and your dog, and consider all the factors that may be contributing to how your dog behaves, how your dog feels day to day, what emotions he/she experiences when the problem behaviour occurrs, and what makes the problem behaviour continue (or get worse).

 


A priceless antique and a bit of firewood
are equally satisfying for a dog to chew!

I will work with you and support you to provide a strategy, using reward based techniques, to change the unwanted problem behaviour. Changing a dogs behaviour takes time and comittment. Suppression of problem behaviours using punishment can produce a short term improvement. Changing how a dog feels will lead to long term improvement and a happy dog rather than a dog unable to display his feelings for fear of the consequences.

To ensure that there is no medical reason for your dog's behaviour I need a referral from your vet before meeting you. I can email or post you a form for your vet to complete before booking a consultation.