How are classes run?
We run a range of different classes, depending on the age of your dog and any particular issues you may wish to address.
Puppy class
Young dogs class
Higher level classes
Why are our classes different?
At many other training classes, people join and leave classes all the time, dogs are barking and throwing themselves around, and frequently the trainer stands in the middle of the room shouting out instructions in the chaos…..
We believe that this doesn’t help dogs to learn, makes owners feel uncomfortable and is very stressful for both dog and human!
We run 7 week terms so you know how long you are signing up for.
We have limited class sizes – our maximum class number is 8 dogs per class, and in classes where we have dogs and handlers needing more support, class numbers are kept smaller. We generally have 2 trainers in each class who will both work alongside you to teach and support you.
We are very careful in placing dogs in a class so that they can cope and learn. Any dog displaying stressed behaviour (barking, lunging or hiding) will be moved to a stage place where available, since they are unable to learn in this mental and emotional state.
When you come to see our classes you will rarely see a barking dog!
What do we teach?
We teach real life skills, through our mastery curriculum. This introduces various strands that we work our way through, ensuring that the dog has mastered each step before we make it harder. These strands are:
- calm behaviour and calm greetings
- foundation skills
- survival skills
- control skills
- problem solving
- targeting
- behaviour
Each week, we work with some of the strands, slowly building secure learning and then adding distractions. We teach FOR a situation and not IN the situation!
Although we teach you as a class, we work with you all as individuals – providing alternative solutions or teaching methods and giving you all individual targets to work on each week.
The Puppy class and Young Dog class also have a lesson and handouts sent after the class each week to help you teach at home – these are usually sent on a Wednesday.
Higher level classes may have some handouts emailed out depending on the content since these are generally custom built around the needs of the class and will therefore vary each term.
Who can come to the classes?
In these times, we continue to keep numbers attending as low as possible, so 2 people from a family can attend with 1 dog.
Children can attend but they will need another adult with them if they are under 10 – its just too hard working with a dog AND minding a child at the same time! Children are welcome to join in but again those under 10 will need an adult holding the end of the lead at the same time – for safety.
