Home - Dog Training and Behaviour

A trained dog is a happy dog!There are very few well trained dogs found in canine rescue centres. A lot of dogs end up in rescue for genuine reasons, however, many dogs end up in rescue because of training or behaviour problems.But dog training should be fun for both you and your dog! Using today's techniques there is no need to use harsh techniques or for the trainer's bark to be worse than the dog's! Using rewards enables you to have fun watching your dog enjoy and respond to training! Why should you train using fair, kind and effective techniques? Well, because if you use punishment you risk damaging your relationship with your dog which will impact the effectiveness of training given. Also, if a dog is fearful they cannot learn. The same applies to humans. So it's important that both dog and owner are happy with the environment and the techniques used in order to ensure that effective and enjoyable dog training is possible.

Puppy socialisation is such an important part of how well a dog grows up, do read "Want to get a puppy" as this contains essential information for you. Please make sure you especially read the bottom section on puppy socialisation as this contains information which is extremely important.

A client once asked why she should use food rewards when the farmers of old never used food rewards to train sheep dogs. My response was that in the old days dogs lived fuller and more active lives than they do today (due to cars as transport, people working longer hours etc) and their feeding was different. For a Border Collie there is nothing more rewarding than herding anyway, so the basic training for this breed is inherently rewarding. We need to bear in mind that if a farmer had a sheep dog that could not be trained the dog was inevitably drowned! There is no argument that the harsh techniques can be successful but not for all dogs! Dogs which are trained using punishment are often soulless as they have had their spirit broken and punishment can make behaviours worse or produce more problems. If you want to feel good about your dog, use an approach that is extremely successful and if you want your dog to enjoy life and have a spirit, then find a trainer who uses kind techniques.

As a member of the APDT I run dog training classes (including aggressive dog rehabilitation) and outdoor training classes using fair, kind and effective techniques and I have been assessed in action.  I deliver one to one dog training in Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire and no travel charges for one to one dog training in Ferndown, Bournemouth, Wimborne, Ringwood, Kinson, Alderney, Poole, Parkstone, Branksome, St Leonards, St Ives, West Parley, West Moors, Three Legged Cross, Verwood, Holt. I also travel to Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Blandford and many more locations. If I travel more than 20 miles return I charge .35p per mile over this distance to cover the cost of fuel.  I run dog and puppy training and socialisation classes in Ferndown, Stapehill Wimborne, Poole and St Leonards within easy reach of West Moors, Wimborne, Kinson, Longham, Bournemouth, Alderney, Parkstone,Three Legged Cross, St. Ives, St Leonards, West Parley, Corfe Mullen, Ringwood, Broadstone, Blandford and Verwood. For full details please see "book a class" for more information about all the classes we run and to book. 

I am also a qualified dog behaviourist B.SC (Hons) Applied Animal Behaviour and Dip CABT (Coape). I am an affiliate of COAPE (Centre of Applied Pet Ethology) and a provisional member of the APBC(Association of Behaviour Counsellors). Please see About us for more about what this means. I take referrals from Battersea Dogs Home, Waggy Tails Dog Rescue charity and numerous vets in the area. For more information about behaviour counselling please see the Dog Behaviour counselling section. If you are looking at this site you have already decided you want to or need to train your puppy/ dog! That's great news and I welcome you. Welcome to a fantastic relationship with your puppy/dog using effective and kind training techniques and I wish you many years of fun and walks with your friend!

I do hope you find the information on this site useful. If there is something you would like to see which isn't there, please Contact me with your suggestions!