There is no minimum or maximum age criteria for these classes, nor is there an experience criteria as such. 

Providing your dog can settle and relax in a group training environment, and as long as they can pay attention to you for the practical training exercises, they are welcome to attend classes. 

We welcome all dogs from puppies that have missed the puppy training cut-off up to any age of adult dog. 

Contrary to the saying ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’…. you absolutely can!!

These classes cater for all abilities of dogs, from complete beginners to people wanting to improve on their more advanced training skills. 

Training exercises are tailored to each individual dog’s skill level so that everyone can get maximum progression out of each class.

For dogs that haven’t attended any group classes before, we do insist on having a 1:1 session first.

This helps us to ensure that you have all of the relevant foundation training skills in place ready to hit the ground running on your first class.  It also gives us chance to discuss what you need to bring with you, and to talk you through arrival instructions, the class format etc.

It also means we can assess your dog prior to putting them in the class environment to make sure they should be comfortable whilst in attendance.  We will also discuss how to best manage your dog during the classes to ensure you get the best out of them.

No.  The socialisation window for a dog closes at 16 weeks of age.  After this cutoff, you are in the realms of developing training skills for the long term.

If your dog lacks confidence around other dogs but isn't reactive, building on training skills in a controlled group environment can help to develop confidence so our Life Skills classes may potentially be suitable.  Providing they can settle in their own space with other dogs in the room a short distance away, and providing they can concentrate on you and comfortably take food during training exercises, they may be a good candidate for the classes.

If your dog gets very excited around other dogs when out in public, they probably won't be able to concentrate and therefore train in a group environment.  A low level of excitement/distraction is ok providing your dog can still pay attention to you and can take food during the practical training exercises.  They do need to be able to relax and settle in the group training environment though.  A super giddy dog simply cannot concentrate!

Group classes are only suited for dogs that have a reasonable level of confidence and can focus on their owners in a group setting.

If your dog is particularly anxious and struggles to cope around other dogs, or is very nervous, sound sensitive or barky, 1:1 training is the best approach.

For all group classes, dogs must be comfortable training in a group environment.  If your dog is reactive (barks at other dogs or people) or very excitable, group classes are not suitable for them.

Think of it as if you were taking an introvert to a nightclub; it wouldn’t be a pleasant experience for them and would likely exacerbate their problems.  Dogs are just the same.  If they are going to attend classes and start to feel overwhelmed, it will just compound the problem.  For dogs such as these, 1:1 training is the better approach.

All are welcome providing everyone can pay attention during the classes. 

Often, having more than one set of ears attending can mean you have better consistency with your training going forwards.  

Yes, absolutely.

We love watching the young children getting involved with the training!

Sometimes it can be difficult trying to manage a puppy and a young child at the same time, especially if both are distracting each other.  Having two adults attend can help to manage things for some families. 

If children are attending and watching videos/playing games on electronic devices, please ensure that the volume is off during the class.  Children should remain seated during the sessions if they are not actively helping during the practical training exercises.  No climbing on furniture or running around as this can scare the other puppies.

We still welcome bitches in heat providing they are wearing a dog nappy.

Although there may be unneutered males attending, because we have strict 'no greetings on lead' rules in place before, during and after classes, we can manage attendees to ensure all are safe and comfortable.

Yes, absolutely.  We do cover lead walking skills during these classes, but in addition to this we also look at many other training skills.

Often problem behaviours like pulling on the lead develop as a result of a dog becoming too switched on to the environment and not interested enough in their human!  Much of the training we cover helps to build focus and engagement from dog to human, so much of our other training will help to improve responsiveness on the lead, as well as our specific heelwork skills.

Yes, although we don’t cover recall in great detail as we are training indoors most of the time so have limited space for dogs to be running about.  When the weather allows, we do go outside to work on certain skills which includes recall, but it is of course weather (and light!) dependant!

We cover lots of other skills which help to build responsiveness and attentiveness in a group training environment,so you should see an improvement with your recall, but that is just one training topic amongst many other general topics.

If it is recall training that you specifically want to address, you would probably be better looking at our three-session reliable recall course.

Yes, we have full business insurance covering us for public liability and professional indemnity.

Yes, absolutely. 

On the class registration forms we ask people if they have any special requirements, whether it be medically related/any special access requirements or any special learning requirements. 

Please do notify us beforehand so we can make sure we have catered for you appropriately. 

We want everyone to be comfortable during classes and to get the most out of the sessions.

The building does have wheelchair/mobility scooter access, blue badge parking spaces and accessible toilets.