– To increase your dog’s attentiveness and advance your obedience commands
Held on Wednesdays at 8.15 – 9.15 pm at Upton Grey Village Hall, Basingstoke, RG25 2RA
Cost is £68.00
Aim…To ensure your dog is well-behaved and well-trained.
Many dogs learn obedience commands relatively easily, it is their compliance that is the tricky part. This course provides the missing link. It teaches the handlers different ways of reacting in situations so that the dog chooses to behave appropriately rather than being instructed. We will be teaching you how to advance the obedience commands but the focus will be on using a behavioural approach so that you do not need to continually tell your dog how to behave. You will learn to use behaviour techniques to modify undesired behaviours and to use the obedience training to provide fun, stimulation and structure. The combination of these techniques will result in a more fulfilling relationship with your dog.
For example, modifying your dog’s behaviour to follow you and stay close on a walk nullifies the need for a “come here” command.
How many sessions are needed?… The aim is to only need 4 sessions.
These sessions will teach you how to encourage good behaviour from your dog at home and on walks. For that reason you do not need to keep coming and paying out money each week for years. Once you have tweaked the handling of a situation and seen its effectiveness it is simply a case of carrying it out at home. This means that we will teach you what to do so that you can competently manage your dog’s behaviours outside the session.
Positive Reward Based Methods…The Behaviour Clinic uses positive techniques that people of all ages and abilities can carry out.
Using techniques bespoke to your individual situation, behaviours are shaped rather than using obedience commands to tell the dog to stop the behaviour. For example, the dog doesn’t bother jumping up as opposed to the dog being told to “get down” when it does jump up.
No Roll On Roll Off… Unlike the Puppy Lifeskills Course, this course requires attendance in sequence.
Each class builds on the skills learnt the previous week. This means that all dogs start and finish at the same time. The individual level of each dog is assessed and bespoke challenges are set for them so that all abilities are catered for.
Age limit… Dogs need to be 16 weeks of age or older (if younger can attend the Puppy Lifeskills Course).
There is no age limit so it is possible to have a break after the puppy course if you want. Dogs can learn new things and re-learn behaviours at any age. The only thing to note is that the more a dog carries out certain behaviours it then becomes a habit and may take longer to turn around.
On lead or off lead?… During the classes it is possible to work with your dog on lead, on a trailing lead or off lead depending upon the dog.
You will be advised if you are unsure. It may change depending on the situation and the command. The aim is to have them off lead and under control but you may need to use the lead so as not to distract other dogs.
How many dogs in a class?… The number of dogs is kept to less than 8 dogs.
This is to ensure the owners and dogs have sufficient attention and there is enough space for the dogs to work happily.
Does this class help problem dogs?… This class does help to improve the behaviour and obedience of your dog but this is not the place for anti-social dogs and dogs with disruptive behaviour problems such as barking and aggressive behaviour..
We are happy to help with such dogs but they may require a 1:1 Behaviour Consultation first. If you are unsure please Contact Us to discuss.
Note: Please ensure your dogs are well and have been treated for fleas and worms using products from your veterinarian before attending the classes.
Private group sessions can be arranged, please contact us.