What happens and when

Private training is tailored to suit your needs and the needs of your dog.

To get training started you need to fill in my application form.

If there are no fear or aggression issues we will organise our first private session.

If it appears that there could be such issues involved, I will send you another form to get further details.

Then either we will begin training or I will recommend that you see a vet or veterinary behaviourist before we start any training.

See the application form here

The package

The initial package consists of 2 sessions: the first is at your home and the second is at a suitable location, depending on the issue. For instance, if the problem is toilet training, the second session will be at your home. If the problem is lead walking, the second session will be in a place where you would like to walk your dog.

For dogs with more common issues

We will begin with skills work. I'll demonstrate the necessary activities and get you to practise them. We will discuss reinforcement and how and when to use it. If clicker training is appropriate, I will explain the principles and introduce clicker conditioning. I will give you some clicker exercises to do.

Over the next 4 weeks I will email you with further activities.

You will be free to contact me for support during this time.

The second consultation will take place on week 5 unless further work is needed.

For dogs with aggression or fear issues

The most important first step with these dogs is to identify the situations or events that trigger the response you want to correct.

Once we know the triggers, we will put safety and re-direction in place. As with more common issues, I will introduce skills, reinforcement ad possibly clicker training.

I might also recommend that you see your vet to discuss temporary medication.

Over the next 4 weeksI will email you with further activities.

You will be free to contact me for support during this time.

The second consultation will take place on week 5 unless further work is needed.

Aggressive or just frightened?

Barking and lunging at people or other dogs

If these behaviours usually occur when your dog is on lead, then fear is the most likely cause. However, if it happens when the dog is off lead, then we might be looking at an aggression problem. I will look for signs to indicate which of these might be the cause.

Toileting inside

This is mostly a simple problem to fix and can usually be done in 2 sessions. However, simple does not always mean easy! The fix is simple as long as you follow my instructions consistently and completely.

Sadly, not all cases of inside toileting can be fixed. If I believe that your dog's problem is close to impossible to fix, I will tell you so, and not take your money.

Fighting between 2 dogs in the same household

As with toilet training, this can often be solved in 2 sessions, provided you follow my instructions. In rare cases, the dog that is the aggressor might need to see a vet for medication. In many cases, the problem can be fixed with a change of diet. In most cases, crating correctly will be needed.

General failure to respond to your commands

I'm sorry to have to say it but this is almost always our fault when our dogs don't respond to us! But that doesn't mean that the problem can't be fixed.

I will be able to give you some very simple exercises that will help you fix this problem

How do most problem behaviours arise?

Problem dogs are usually confused dogs.

They are confused because we try to communicate with them in human language. By improving our understanding of how dogs communicate we can sort out the confusion

So, let me show you how to communicate in dog - not just in spoken words.