WHERE ARE THE CLASSES HELD?
Classes are held on Saturdays at Catchgate, Stanley, and Chester-le-Street and Sundays at Lanchester.
CAN I PAY FOR THE COURSE ON A WEEK-BY-WEEK ATTENDANCE BASIS?
We request payment for the course in advance.
CAN I BRING THE FAMILY, AND WE ALL TRAIN OUR DOG IN THE CLASS?
Absolutely. All the family are welcome to attend and take turns training their dog during the class. To avoid confusing your dog, we ask that only one person trains your dog on the training floor at any time.
I WANT TO TRAIN MY OTHER DOGS AT THE SAME TIME. CAN I BRING MY OTHER DOG/S TO THE CLASS AND TRAIN THEM TOGETHER?
No, we have a one handler/one dog policy for the training class. We recommend separate classes for dogs from the same household. If you wish to bring dogs from the same household to the class with separate handlers, that is fine, although it may inhibit learning if they are in the same lesson.
MY DOG IS AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS OTHER PEOPLE/DOGS. SHOULD I BRING THEM TO TRAINING CLASSES?
If your dog has already learned to behave aggressively around other people and dogs, it is unlikely that a class will solve this type of problem. You could be inadvertently putting your dog into a situation that they find stressful, and this can make the problem worse. They will be very close to other dogs and people they do not know. A very anxious dog in a class is unlikely to learn anything constructive. It would help if you taught your dog to relax and focus on yourself around dogs and people away from the class. You would need to book a behaviour consultation.
We must consider your pet’s safety and well-being and other pet owners in the class. If your dog is behaving aggressively, we must arrange a behaviour consultation.
HOW QUICKLY CAN I EXPECT MY DOGS BEHAVIOUR PROBLEM TO BE SORTED OUT?
Canine behaviour can be extremely complex, and there is no quick fix. You can see results early on, but you must work on your dog’s daily training for real long-term benefits. There are so many factors to take into consideration when working on behaviour problems, and some of these are mentioned below:
- Your dog may be genetically predisposed to behave a certain way. Are you aware of this, and do you know how to channel your dog’s behaviour into acceptable activities that meet their needs?
- How long has the problem behaviour been going on?
- Your dog’s early experiences (or lack of them) at under 16 weeks of age will greatly influence their behaviour as an adult.
- Has it escalated or developed into other problem behaviours?
- What has your dog already learned from exhibiting this behaviour?
- Have you inadvertently rewarded the problem behaviour in the past?
- How has the problem behaviour been dealt with in the past?
- What is the underlying reason for your dog’s behaviour? For example, your dog may have a medical condition, or their diet may be causing or contributing to the problem.
How much time and effort you can put into helping your dog is also crucial to behaviour modification. Behaviour modification can take many months, so are you willing to change your daily routine to help your dog? Are you able to commit to an intensive training programme? Is your dog in an environment where you feel you can improve things? Can you ensure that the training is delivered consistently? Can you increase your dog’s mental and physical exercise as a key programme part? We are here to help you, guide you, and offer the best advice, but you must put work and commitment into your dog.
WHY DO YOU DO BEHAVIOUR CONSULTATIONS ON VET REFERRALS ONLY?
Behaviour problems in dogs may arise directly or indirectly from concurrent or previous medical problems. Therefore, veterinary involvement is essential in eliminating organic causes of the problem and prioritising the diagnostic and treatment strategy to be used in any given case. Some Pet Insurance Policies will cover fees for behavioural consultations referred by your vet, so check your policy. The referral is required because your pet must receive a full medical check-up to rule out the many other medical problems that can cause behavioural changes (liver disease, neurological disease, chronic pain, to name just a few).
CAN I TURN UP TO A CLASS EVEN IF I HAVEN’T ENROLLED?
Class sizes are limited. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and is done before course commencement. If you have not registered, you should not attend with your dog. If you want to come along and watch a class without participating, perhaps because you haven’t decided whether to enrol, we would be happy to see you, but please do not bring your dog.
MY DOG IS NOT WELL. SHOULD I STILL COME TO CLASS?
You should seek veterinary advice regarding bringing your dog to class if they are unwell. Your dog cannot attend if not fully vaccinated, in season, or have a contagious illness or parasites, i.e. Kennel Cough, Fleas.
WHAT IS YOUR VACCINATION POLICY?
Our policy is that all dogs attending classes should have up-to-date vaccinations. Vaccinations can help protect your dog against potentially fatal diseases, such as parvovirus, canine distemper, leptospirosis and infectious canine hepatitis. Vaccinating your dog also stops them from catching and spreading deadly diseases to other dogs.
We accept proof of titre testing – For certain diseases, some vets offer blood tests called ‘titre testing’ to check the level of immunity. Titre testing can give you an idea of how well-protected your dog is from vaccinations they’ve had; however, it isn’t available for every disease.
Your vet might recommend a titre test if your dog’s immune system isn’t working properly.
We do not insist on the kennel cough vaccine but remind clients that the risk of transmitting and catching kennel cough may increase in groups of dogs.
IS MY DOG ALLOWED TO PLAY WITH OTHER DOGS IN THE CLASS?
The answer to this is no. We want to teach your pet to focus on you, not other dogs. The class environment allows them to learn around other dogs, but physical interaction is limited. Any play sessions in the class are between owner and dog, not dog and dog! However, your dog will be meeting many other dogs coming in and out of the class, so it’s important that your dog is sociable and happy to meet other dogs if you want to attend classes.
WILL MY DOG BE OFF THE LEAD IN CLASS?
All the training exercises are done on leads and training lines except for recalls.
I HAVE JUST GOT A RESCUE DOG, AND DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOUR, SO I DON’T KNOW WHAT SERVICE I NEED.
The first few weeks in a new home are a critical period. Adjustments can be difficult. If you have just adopted a dog, allow a few weeks for them to settle in.
