There are lots of schools of thought on dog training and it is important that you find the right approach for you and your dog. However, attending dog training classes will help you to ensure that you meet the ethical and moral responsibilities that come with dog ownership, as well as helping your dog to have a happy relationship with you and the wider community.

Puppy socialisation & Training

Socialise your puppy

Puppies need to meet and have pleasant encounters with a wide variety of adults, children and other animals. Begin when they are very young, taking care not to overwhelm them with too much. Do a little every day, especially during the early weeks. Attending a well-run puppy training class will help keep your puppy sociable with other dogs. However, please remember that your puppy could be unprotected from some canine diseases if it has not been fully vaccinated – speak to your vet for more information.

Educate and teach good manners

Puppies need to know where their boundaries lie just as children do. Teach them gently but firmly what is acceptable and what is not.

Use positive, effective training

Reward based training can begin as soon as your puppy has settled into the household. Use positive methods for all education, from house-training to coming back when called.

Help your puppy find its place in the hierarchy

Puppies need to learn their place in the human pack. Strong-willed puppies need to learn that they cannot have their own way all the time and what you want must come first.

Teach your puppy to be left alone

Pack animals like to be with others and our pet dogs need to be taught to tolerate being alone. Begin with short sessions when your puppy is young and build up to longer absences gradually.

Cope with chewing

Puppies chew while teething and during adolescence. Provide plenty of suitable chews and change them often. Teach your puppy what to chew and what to leave alone. Try not to leave your puppy in a place where it can damage your things or itself. Prevention is better than cure.

Be prepared for adolescence

Adolescence can be a difficult time during which your puppy’s behaviour may deteriorate considerably. Try not to worry – it soon passes!

Don’t be afraid to ask

If you are experiencing difficulties, ask your vet or other experienced people for advice. Problems with puppies are usually easily solved so ask for advice sooner rather than later.

Finally it is vital that you are patient with your puppy – don’t expect too much too quickly as all young animals need time to learn what we expect of them.

Finding a dog training club

Dog training classes are great places to help train and socialise your dog, as well as to meet other dog owners and share your different dog experiences.

All dogs will benefit from training classes, whether they are pets or going on to develop skills in different canine activities.

Training clubs that run the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme – the largest dog training programme in the UK – are a great place to start, as these clubs will cover every aspect of dog ownership, from Puppy Foundation level through to Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme can provide you with a list of classes in your local area. Telephone 0870 606 6750 or email gcds@thekennelclub.org.uk to find out more.

Who should you ask?

The Kennel Club provides a membership scheme for Instructors and Advisors, which enables us to register and offer accreditation to individuals for their personal expertise in training & behaviour. All members of the scheme are subject to our Code of Practice and committed to help you get the right help. For more information visit www.kcai.org.uk or telephone 0870 606 6750 ext 225.

Advice on dog training

Before enrolling with a dog training club it can be beneficial to attend a session without your dog and decide whether this is the right environment for you and your dog. Things you may wish to consider include:

• Do you like what you see – are the trainers friendly, are people happy and enjoying training their dogs?
• Are the dogs happily focused on their human family?
• Are the instructors giving lots of encouragement and information to all attendees?
• Are the instructors maintaining a controlled, safe environment for all?
•  Are instructors treating everyone fairly and meeting the needs of the whole group?

When you have selected your training club you will need to enrol in their training programme which will help you to enjoy a happy and rewarding relationship with your dog.

Remember that dog training classes are a great way to socialise your dog but play with other dogs should only be allowed (as a reward) if your dog is happy to respond immediately to your command.

Some training tips:

• Always be consistent to avoid confusing your dog.
• Be patient. If you find yourself getting annoyed with your dog during training, stop what you are doing, walk away and do something different. Try training later on in a different frame of mind.
• Train for short spells on a regular basis. This will help to keep your dog interested.
• Your dog needs to know its name so that you can gain its attention. This is essential learning for the dog before you can expect it to respond to commands and signals.
• Start as you mean to go on. Don’t allow your dog to develop bad habits.
• Dogs respond to body movements and different voice tones, which can all be used in training.
• Understand your dog and learn to anticipate its next move.
• Handle and stroke your dog gently every day with constant praise so that it gets used to being handled.
• Play adds an extra dimension to a dog’s life and makes training fun.
• Remember that a trained dog is a happy dog so persevere!
•  Never judge yourself or your dog by anybody else’s speed of achievement – every dog is different.

Dog owners have an obligation to their dog and to their community to ensure that their pet is a happy, socialised, well trained animal.

Last updated – February 2008

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