Frequently Asked Questions
We know that joining a training class — particularly if you are worried about your dog's behaviour — can sometimes feel a little daunting.
Our aim is to make things as straightforward, friendly and supportive as possible. If you cannot find the answer you need below, please get in touch with the team. We are always happy to help you work out the right starting point for you and your dog.
Where do you hold your training classes?
Our group training classes are held at Manor Farm.
We use a training environment that gives us the space to work with small groups and to adapt exercises to the dogs attending.
Full arrival information and anything you need to know for your particular course will be sent to you when you book.
What do I need to bring to class?
For most classes, we recommend bringing:
Your dog's usual harness and lead, or a well-fitting flat collar
Plenty of small, tasty food rewards
A favourite toy if your dog enjoys playing
Water for your dog
Any other equipment mentioned in your course information
A comfortable harness is often particularly useful for training.
We do not use equipment designed to cause pain, fear or discomfort in training. Please do not bring choke chains, e-collars or other aversive training equipment to our classes.
Does my dog need to be well trained before coming to a class?
Absolutely not.
Many of our courses are designed for dogs and owners who are learning skills from the beginning.
Life Skills Basics and Pet Gundog Training Basics are both entry-level courses, and our Loose Lead Walking course starts from the foundations too.
For some of our more specialist courses, such as Recall, we may recommend that your dog has some foundation skills first.
If you are unsure, just ask us.
My dog has been described as reactive. Can we still come to class?
Possibly — but we would like you to talk to us first.
Being described as reactive does not automatically mean that your dog cannot attend group training.
We need to understand what your dog struggles with, how they respond to other dogs and people, and whether they are currently able to learn comfortably in a class environment.
Sometimes they may be ready to join straight away. Sometimes we may recommend doing a little preparation first.
It isn't automatically a no. We simply want your dog to come into class when both you and your dog have the best possible opportunity to feel comfortable, learn and succeed.
My dog is very nervous. Are classes suitable?
They may be, but it depends on the individual dog.
Some nervous dogs benefit enormously from carefully managed group training. Others may initially find the environment too difficult.
If your dog is extremely worried by new places, unfamiliar people, other dogs or busy environments, please contact us before booking.
We may recommend some one-to-one work first so that we can prepare your dog gradually and build towards joining a class successfully.
How do I know whether I need training or a behaviour consultation?
Training is generally about teaching and developing skills.
Behaviour work looks more deeply at why behaviour is happening, particularly where fear, anxiety, aggression, distress or other emotional factors may be involved.
You may want to speak to our behaviour team if your dog is struggling with things such as:
Aggression towards people or dogs
Significant fear or anxiety
Reactivity
Severe noise fears
Separation-related distress
Behaviour that has changed suddenly or significantly
Behaviour that is affecting your dog's quality of life or your ability to manage them safely
You do not have to work out for yourself whether you need a trainer or a behaviourist.
Tell us what is happening and we can help you decide on the most appropriate next step.
Would one-to-one training help before joining a class?
Sometimes it can make an enormous difference.
A small amount of individual work can help your dog develop the skills they need before being asked to use them around several other dogs.
One-to-one sessions can also give you the opportunity to practise handling, understand some of the exercises and build your own confidence before joining a group.
Needing some preparation does not mean your dog cannot be a class dog.
It simply means we are setting them up properly before asking them to work in a more challenging environment.
Should I contact you before booking if my dog has behavioural problems?
Yes, please.
We would much rather have a conversation with you before you book than have you arrive and discover that the environment is too difficult for your dog.
It does not automatically mean that a class isn't possible.
We may recommend a different course, some one-to-one preparation or a more in-depth behavioural consultation first.
Our aim is always to find the most appropriate starting point for the individual dog and owner.
What is the difference between a dog trainer and a behaviourist?
There is some overlap, but broadly speaking, dog training focuses on teaching and developing skills, while behaviour work looks more deeply at the emotions and motivations influencing behaviour.
For example, teaching a dog the mechanics of loose lead walking is largely a training task.
If a dog is lunging on the lead because they are frightened of other dogs, we need to look at much more than the lead-walking behaviour. We need to understand the emotional reason behind what the dog is doing as well as helping them develop new skills.
Having behaviourists within our training team means that behavioural knowledge can inform the way we teach our classes too.
How big are your classes?
We deliberately keep our classes small.
Most of our courses have a maximum of six dogs.
This means we can get to know the individual dogs and owners in the group and offer much more individual support.
Many of our courses are written and led by a qualified behaviourist, with support from a qualified or professional training assistant.
What if my dog struggles during class?
That's okay.
Dogs are not machines and they will not behave in exactly the same way every week.
They may be tired, distracted, excited, worried or simply finding a particular exercise difficult.
Our classes are supportive and non-judgmental. If something isn't working, we adapt it.
That might mean increasing distance, making an exercise easier, changing the reward, giving your dog a break or approaching the skill in a completely different way.
The purpose of coming to a training class is to learn — not to prove that you already have a perfectly trained dog.
Can older dogs come to training?
Absolutely. We love having older dogs in our classes.
Older dogs should not be left out of training simply because of their age.
They still love using their brains, learning new things and spending focused time doing something enjoyable with their person. Keeping them mentally active can be an important part of supporting cognitive health, motivation and quality of life as they age.
Owners are often genuinely surprised by just how much their older dog enjoys coming back to training.
Learning a new behaviour, playing a simple training game or revisiting skills they haven't practised for years can bring out a wonderful enthusiasm in an older dog.
We can adapt exercises to suit an individual dog's age and physical abilities, so there is no expectation that an older dog should work in exactly the same way as a younger one.
Learning is not just for puppies. We want our older dogs using their brains, having fun and continuing to learn too.
When can my puppy start training?
Our Puppy Training course is suitable from around 12 weeks old, once your puppy has had their vaccinations and is ready to begin exploring the wider world.
Starting early gives us an opportunity to help you understand your puppy, build useful skills and support their development right from the beginning.
What happens when my puppy becomes an adolescent?
Adolescence can be one of the more challenging stages of living with a young dog.
Dogs can become more independent, more interested in their environment and sometimes less reliable in skills they appeared to know perfectly well as puppies.
Our Puppy Intermediate course is specifically designed for dogs aged between 6 and 12 months.
It combines practical training with behavioural insight into adolescence, helping you understand what is happening as your young dog moves towards adulthood and how you can support them through it.
What if I am embarrassed about my dog's behaviour?
Please don't be.
We work with real dogs and real owners.
Dogs bark. Dogs pull. Dogs get distracted. Puppies jump up. Adolescents appear to forget things. Some dogs become worried, frustrated or overexcited.
Our classes are designed to be friendly, supportive and non-judgmental.
If something is difficult, that gives us useful information about what your dog needs help with.
You should always feel comfortable asking questions.
What training methods do you use?
Our approach is kind, evidence-led and focused on helping dogs learn without causing unnecessary fear, pain or distress.
Both behaviourists at The Canine Behaviour Practice are COAPE-qualified, and our professional practice works within the standards of the UK Dog Behaviour & Training Charter.
The Charter sets clear professional standards around animal welfare, ethics, conduct and training methodology. We adhere strictly to those standards in the work we do with both training and behaviour clients.
That means we use modern, ethical and reward-based approaches to training. We do not use equipment or methods designed to cause pain, fear or a startle response.
We use things dogs value — including food, toys, play, movement and access to activities they enjoy — to help them learn.
We also place a strong emphasis on understanding why behaviour is happening.
Training isn't simply about asking, “How do we stop this behaviour?” We are interested in what the individual dog is communicating, what is driving the behaviour, what skills may be missing and how we can help that dog succeed.
Good management is also an important part of our approach. Sometimes preventing a dog from repeatedly practising an unwanted or unsafe behaviour while we build new skills is every bit as important as the training itself.
Our goal is not simply a dog who follows instructions.
We want dogs who are able to learn successfully, owners who understand their dogs better, and training that supports the dog's emotional and behavioural wellbeing as well as developing useful real-world skills.
Will training in class automatically fix the problem?
Training classes give you the knowledge, exercises and support, but much of the learning happens through practice between sessions.
We deliberately give you exercises that can be repeated in short, manageable pieces at home and in the real world.
Some skills develop quickly. Others — particularly recall, loose lead walking and behaviours involving significant distractions — need much more repetition and time.
We will help you understand what to practise, why you are practising it and how to progress it, rather than simply sending you away to “work harder”.
I'm still not sure which course is right for my dog. What should I do?
Please contact us.
You do not need to diagnose your dog's behaviour or know which course you need before speaking to us.
Tell us a little about your dog, their age, what you are currently finding difficult and what you would like to achieve.
One of the team can then help you decide whether a group course, one-to-one training or more in-depth behavioural support is the best place to start.
Sometimes the most important first step is simply having a conversation.
I think that methods section now does a much better job of showing that your approach isn't simply a preference for a particular style of dog training — it sits within your qualifications, professional standards and accountability.