In the case of potential dog aggression or poor social ‘etiquette’ it is always best to start with an individual training lesson.
From there (after some discussion about your dogs history and observation of general training and behaviour) we would either suggest people try further individual training, group training or referral to an animal behaviourist for behaviour modification.
He is not really suited for individual training as it wouldn’t be enough to solve your problem. Individual training can assist with some training issues but you are best to consult with a behaviourist for a home visit for more serious problems.
If you are unsure how serious your problem may be and can’t afford to see a behaviourist then book an individual lesson and we can help assess the situation and advise you of your options. Sometimes individual training will be enough, especially when family members need more consistency with training techniques, but it can be hard to advise until we have seen the dog.
If your dog has shown aggression in the past you must book in for an individual lesson first. Most dogs that come to group classes are puppies, and it is not suitable to have an aggressive or reactive dog in a group class. It may be that the dog just needs one or two individual lessons first. And at least if you have had an individual lesson then we can let you know if your dog is ready, and how to manage the dogs behaviour for when you do find yourself in a multiple dog environment.
It’s not uncommon for people to miss a class or two in a 6 weeks course.Of course the maximum benefit will be obtained by attending for 6 weeks, however you will still benefit from attending.
It is a set 6 week course and so signing up will sign you up for 6 weeks as we take limited numbers. We cannot run private lessons if people miss a class.The alternative option is individual training. Group training is focussed on general obedience, therefore limited time would be spent on behaviour issues such as chewing and digging etc, therefore individual training may be more flexible for you as you can discuss those things at the time. Perhaps you may wish to start with 1 or 2 individual training lessons and see how you go.
The stage 1 course is most appropriate for your dogs level of training. See information on our dog training page for details of the stage 1 course. We also have a FAQ page with a bit more information.
The stage 1 covers most of these things and is always the best place to start with a dog that has only completed puppy classes. You then have the option to attend higher level (stage 2) if its needed at a later stage. If a dog is not sociable with other dogs then individual training would be the best place to start.
YES! It is very common for a dog between 5 & 12 months to pull on the lead and not come when they are called around other dogs and people as they are ‘teenagers’ at this stage and can really be quite challenging at times. The group training is perfect for dogs at this age as long as they are sociable. If the dog is unsociable or aggressive toward other dogs you would need to try an individual training lesson first and see how you go.