A goody bag worth £15 is included FREE on all courses.
All of our classes are run by an approved instructor of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) with class sizes limited to just 5 to 6 dogs. This ensures that you get plenty of one to one attention and enables us to monitor your progress within the class.
All of our training is based on using positive reinforcement without an emphasis on using food. Our unique club builds on your relationship with your dog, ensuring that your dog responds to you reliably and confidently every time when it matters most (with distractions). The importance of play is never overlooked - dog training should always be fun for dog and owner.
The Beginners Classes are a good starting point for:
Puppies after 1st vaccinations.Older dogs who have had little or no trainingDogs that require a refresher in the basics.Rescue DogsNaughty dogs are to be expected, but no aggression problems please.
If bringing a puppy to class before his 2nd vaccinations, it is done so at your own risk. However, we feel that the risk of under socialising your puppy is far greater than any risk of infection. (which we feel is no different to what you bring into your own home on your feet anyway). Please carry your puppy from the car into the hall.
Group classes carry the benefit of being able to introduce the distraction of other dogs and people to your dogs training. We aim to teach your dog to listen to you even when there are other dogs around. If during or after the course you feel that you need some extra help at home or out on a walk with your dogs training, you can always book a one to one lesson with your instructor for that extra guidance.
Each six week course follows a structured syllabus and each member is given a comprehensive manual with progress charts to track your dogs development. All dogs and owners are treated as individuals and are encouraged to progress at their own rate. Children over the age of 6 are welcome to the class. Your child can also join in with training as long as he/she is physically capable of handling the dog.
The Beginners class will teach your dog to:
Come when called
Walk on a loose lead (outside)
Drop any object (toy/socks/remote etc)
Leave It - prevent dog from taking something
Lie Down on cue without food
Sit, first time
Stay - 5 paces, 30 seconds
Wait patiently at doorways/getting out of car
Greet people without jumping up
Accept being groomed and handled
Introducing voice commands & hand signals
Pay attention to you, even with other dogs close by.
Socialisation:
Teaching your dog good social skills with other dogs is critical for his development both now and later in life. We encourage all socialisation to take place in a safe, outdoor environment so that your puppy or older dog can learn positive social skills in a more open and less intimidating environment. We discourage indoor socialisation as it can lead to shy and sensitive pups being bullied and set upon by more confident puppies. All dogs need to be socialised with both puppies and older dogs so that they can learn how to safely interact with big and small dogs. It is no use socialising a puppy only with other puppies because he will never learn how to cope when a bigger dog in the park approaches him. As part of the 6 week course, you will receive two free visits to our Socialisation Walk which is designed only for friendly dogs. We reccommend you continue to join us on these Socialisation Walks on a weekly basis. Please see our Socialisation Page for more details.
As well as covering important topics such as:
Dogs and the Law
Setting house rules and boundaries
Building the bond without food
The effect of diet on behaviour.
Choosing the right food for your dog.
Toilet training
Play biting
Over excitability
If your dog is comfortable around other dogs and you are willing to put the effort in, then the friendly team atmosphere along with small classes creates the ideal environment to teach you and your dog. If you have any concerns about your dog, please contact us and we will arrange a One-to-One consultation to assess your dogs suitability for classes and provide support where needed. Dogs aggressive to people or other dogs cannot be accepted on a course as the class environment will only make the problem worse.
Our classes are very popular and book up very quickly. Enrolments are accepted on a first come/first served basis, so early booking is a must.
For details on the next course start dates and to enrol, please see below.
If you are unsure if classes are right for you or you would like some information and guidance on the courses we offer, please contact the Head Instructor Jenny Trigg for an informal chat about your requirements on 07734 034 563.
COURSE AVAILABILITY & BOOKING
No classes run on Bank Holiday Mondays
For future upcoming course dates not shown below, please contact Jenny on 07734 034 563.
Beginners Classes at Baden Hall, Farncombe.
Monday 1st June 8.30pm to 9.15pm Not including 22nd June Enrollment Form
£70 for 6 week course (inc 2 free Social Walks) COURSE FULL
Mon 8th June 7pm 7.45pm Not including 22nd June Enrollment Form
£70 for 6 week course. (+ 2 free social walks) COURSE FULL
Mon 29th June 7.45pm to 8.30pm Enrollment Form
£70 for 6 week course. COURSE FULL
Mon 27th July 7pm to 7.45pm (Not including 17th August) Enrollment Form
£70 for 6 week course. (+ 2 free social walks) 1 space left
Mon 10th August 7.45pm to 8.30pm (not including 17th August) Enrollment Form
£70 for 6 week course. (+ 2 free social walks) 2 spaces
Beginners Classes at Park Barn Community Centre, Guildford.
Wed 3rd June 7.45pm to 8.30pm(not including 24th June)Enrollment Form
£70 for 6 week course. (+ 2 free social walk) COURSE FULL
Wed 17th June 7pm to 7.45pm (not including 24th June) Enrollment Form
£70 for 6 week course. (+ 2 free social walks) COURSE FULL
Wed 8th July 6.15pm to 7pm Enrollment Form
£70 for 6 week course. (+ 2 free social walk) 1 space
Wed 22nd July 7.45pm to 8.30pm (not inc 19th August) Enrollment Form
£70 for 6 week course. (+ 2 free social walks) 1 space left
Wed 5th August 7pm to 7.45pm Enrollment Form
£70 for 6 week course. (+ 2 free social walks) 2 spaces
Recommended courses to take alongside the class:
Social Walks. Ideal for building your dogs social skills with other friendly dogs.
Mixed Ability Class A pay as you go class which is ideal for helping you to take your dogs indoor training to a realistic, outdoor environment.
Dog Agility. Great fun and a brilliant way to build a good relationship with your dog. Join with your dog from 12 weeks old.
What to bring to the Beginners Class.
Your dog on a well fitted collar (no choke chains and we prefer no harnesses unless needed for medical reasons).A standard length lead. (No retractable leads please)Your dogs vaccination certificate (we will need to see this on the first night of class)Spare poo bagsYour dogs favourite toy (put this away when you are not using it for training as it will increase the value of the toy.
RULES
Exercise your dog before the class so that he has a chance to relieve himself and drain excess energy.We recommend you do not feed your dog up to 1 hour before the class as feeding too close to training time can put your dog at risk of gastric torsion.Please aim to arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of the class. Regular late comers will be asked to leave the course with no refund.Please wait to be invited into the hall as it's likely there will already be another class in the hall before you.If your dog is ill for whatever reason or comes into season, please leave your dog at home and come to the class by yourself. You will still learn the necessary exercises for that week to practise at home.If you are going to miss a session for whatever reason, please let us know as soon as possible. (dont just not show up). We may recommend you book a one to one session (at cost) to catch up on missed classes.We encourage all of the family to attend classes and children are more than welcome to come to class, but they MUST be well behaved. We reserve the right to remove anyone from the class if their children are being a nuisance. Children running around the class out of control is dangerous for both themselves and the dogs around them.