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!

  • The Lead trainer and owner of Dogs Naturally is qualified and registered with APDT(Association of Pet Dogs Training) and a trainer registered with ABTC(Animal Behaviour and Training Council). The APDT are a founding member of the  UK Dog Behaviour and Training Council so you can be assured that we work with and teach to a strict code of conduct and ethics.
  • We run 7 week terms so you know how long you are signing up for without constantly changing groups of dogs.
  • For our entry level classes (running on Monday evenings) the course cost includes face to face classes but also materials emailed to you each week to help you teach your dog at home. This also means that what you have learnt can be shared with other family members to have a consistent approach to teaching your dog.
  • 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 use barriers and distance in our classes to ensure that dogs can feel safe in a new environment so they are able to learn. We also have use of a stage space in the hall which we use for dogs who need more space and reduced visual/sounds of other dogs and people. This means we can successfully support many dogs who have struggled previously in other classes.
  • We have NEVER asked someone to leave classes as their dog is too difficult or untrainable – in fact we enjoy having these dogs in our classes as our setup supports them to settle and learn.
  • We believe that dogs of all ages can start and continue to learn – the oldest dog’s we had start working with us were 12 years old and were amazing!

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.

Who can come to the classes?

We welcome family members to come to classes with their 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.