Frequently Asked Questions

What age does my dog need to be before I may bring him to classes?

If he is a puppy, he may come along one week after his final vaccinations.  All other ages are welcome, once vaccinated.  Most of our courses are between six and eight weeks duration.  It will not be possible to join a class after week two, although you are most welcome to come along with your dog to socialise him and observe the classes.

What do I need to bring to the classes?

» Your dog should have a collar with ID disc.
» A fabric or leather lead – not an extension lead, slip lead or chain lead please.
» Soft soled shoes – hard, noisy shoes can be a distraction.
» Poo bags (just in case!).
» One of your dog’s toys as we often include games and retrieves in lessons.
» You will need to bring your dog’s vaccination certificate to the first lesson please.

How many courses will I need to attend before my dog is fully trained?

That depends on you!  Remember that we are teaching you, and you teach your dog.  You should therefore aim to spend a little time each day to train your dog and not simply rely on one lesson a week.  Try training on your walk – practising the recall; and/or ten minutes just before you feed your dog – their attention will be fully on you if they know their dinner is on its way!

Do you teach to competition standard?

Our lessons are geared towards obedience but do contain elements of fun such as retrieves; small jumps and tunnels for play and, for the more advanced classes, basic scent work.  Our training will be valuable if you wish to progress to something like agility or flyball.  It is a very good stepping stone.

Can my dog progress after the beginners’ class?

Yes.  We run an intermediate and an invitation class too.  If you enjoy the classes you can eventually move up to quite advanced work such as off lead work, silent work, scent work and basic agility courses.