Puppy Training Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find a non exhaustive list of questions we have been asked over the years relating to our puppy training lessons / classes, and should give you the piece of mind that we are the right fit for you and your puppy in its most formative weeks.
When is the best time to start training your puppy?
The very day you get it home. You don't want to wait for classes or for problems to arise, you need to lay the groundwork / foundations from day one. Find a trainer that can offer you in-home help from day one, whether that be in the form of 121s in your own home before vaccinations are complete, or in-home self-train courses that you can work remotely with your trainer. Your puppy will soak up a great deal of information from 8 weeks to 12 weeks, so get training as soon as the puppy comes home. You will thank us further down the line when your puppy is a confident, mannered member of your family. Make no effort in the early days and it will probably bite you in the arse later.
When can I start puppy classes?
Generally as soon as your puppy has had its vaccinations.
Should I go to a class that allows off-lead socialisation?
That's your choice completely, but our advice is NO. Socialisation is not about your puppy saying hello and playing with every Tom, Dick or Fido, it's about your puppy being relaxed and confident in the same space as other people, dogs, distractions etc. So don't start teaching it you don't exist before you have even built a relationship with it. Your puppy should see you as the most important person in its life. That's got nothing to do with the pack leader crap you hear, it's about your pup wanting to be with you and listen to you IN EVERY situation!
What Commands Should I Teach My Puppy?
Here is the exact order we teach our own pups…
‘OK’ - ‘Good’ - ‘Sit’ - ‘Come’ - ‘Heal’ - All our training in the early weeks is based upon shaping the behaviour and getting pup realising what gets it a reward (praise, food (not treats), fuss or toys. Its not about nagging it to death to get it to sit.
What rewards should I use for my puppy?
Your puppy will naturally want to play, naturally want to eat, so tap into the two. Start giving it high value treats in a village hall, and you are going to struggle the moment you try and use them outside when you are competing with the scents going up their noses! Especially if you have a working bred, Lab, Cocker, Springer etc! Find what works for your dog. Not what works for you or your trainer !
What training method should I use?
That's personal choice, you will see all sorts of fad descriptions such as purely positive, force free, balanced, compulsion etc, and many trainers will label themselves as one or the other, and immediately lambast the others. Here at BDT we use the method that you can replicate easily, that you are comfortable with using the reward your dog wants! That's the art of DOG TRAINING, the instructor working out the best way for you to get what you want. Not for us to feel good that you are doing what we always do !
What do I need to bring to my session?
We have everything we could need for classes, and 121 sessions, so that just means you bringing:- Pup, Lead & Collar (with suitable ID tag), NO flexi leads, reward for your pup (no treats, if we see that your dog is not motivated by toys, simple fuss etc, then we will provide some form of edible reward, and show you how to use it correctly) Copy of vaccination certificate, water, a smile and a sense of humour.
You will also get confirmation of your session / group of lessons and a copy of our training centre rules, which are in place for the safety of our clients.
Where is training held?
Outside in our own secure training paddock located at IP25 7DB, generally regardless of weather (save for excessive rain, heat, snow or wind). Please wear suitable clothing and importantly footwear. We do not operate from a village hall or other location currently, we have 2 acres of training ground for the vast majority of training our clients need, plus access to some 3000 acres of land for more specific gundog training.
Ample on site parking is also available free of charge.
How many handlers, dogs and instructors are there?
Generally there will be no more than 6 handlers and dogs in a class, we generally have 2 instructors in each group session, one of which will probably have a dog of their own or one they are training.
Will I be judged if my dog is a pain in the arse?
Cant speak for other trainers in the area, but here NO WAY! Here we are all inclusive, unless your dog is aggressive or completely unruly, then we will suggest a different form or lesson (maybe 121, etc) You will not be left without help.
I have heard I can't say NO to or correct my dog, is that the same in your training?
Absolutely NOT, we will show you, if it's needed, how to correct your dog's unwanted behaviour, and help you with rewarding the required behaviour. We in no way make you feel ashamed or embarrassed. We are here to help you with all aspects of owning and training your dog, not to force our opinions. Yes we have opinions we are happy to share them, but you are more than welcome to come to your own conclusions on what works for you and your dog, and we will STILL help you.
What qualifications do you have ?
Firstly the industry does not recognise any particular qualification, so those trainers having certificates etc will have obtained them from all manner of sources, long term study and appraisal, or online multiple choice tests. Steve is a Graduate Level Instructor through the BIPDT, has Level 2, Level 3 Canine training & Behaviour Qualifications, as well as others. You won't hear him go on about them, simply because you can have all the theory in the world, but that is not always applicable with every scenario (there is never a one size fits all approach to dog training). Yes we as a business have the desire and capacity to learn, and continue to do so through training with those that know more than us, we keep a very OPEN MINDED approach to all our training. In short, our clients tell us if we can do the job properly, our paperwork tells our clients we are willing to learn and take on new information.
Do you use Prong Collars, E Collars etc?
We dont, but we will never rule out any piece of dog training equipment being needed in a particular situation, yes even a harness has its place in dog training!, BUT we will put you in touch with a trainer that is more experienced and familiar with any equipment / method / problem that we are not. In our opinion it's not the training equipment that is the problem it's the way the HUMAN applies it that causes the issues.
I want a trainer that is going to tell me what I need to hear.
Then you are most definitely in the right place! If you are not the sort of person that is happy being told the truth, then we are probably not going to be a good fit with your training.
What breeds of dogs do you train?
We train the owner,we train the Humans rather than their dogs! We help you get the dog you want. That said, we do an enormous amount of work with Gundog Breed Owners, but have many clients with a variety of breeds, and cross breeds.
Those dogs we are not best placed to help you with include Terriers, GSD’s, Rottweilers, or Fur Babies!!
Are you behaviourists?
No, and we don't tell people we are either. We are trainers first and foremost, and have a great ability to ensure that behaviour problems do not manifest in the first place. Our training enables our clients to avoid separation anxiety, aggression, resource guarding, etc. It's only when we fail to set the dog up for success in the first place, through proper training, responsible socialisation and habituation do we need behaviourist input.
What lead and collar should I get before classes?
Hold fire on that one, let's see your pup first, and really come up with the best solution based upon a number of factors, you, your pup, expected size, etc. We will help you with the right equipment once we know more about you and your pup. To advise without meeting you both first, is somewhat naive
What if I don't like your classes or method of training?
We will simply give you a full refund! But still remain available should you need help in the future. The one thing we do not expect to be is everyones cup of tea. So we do expect people not to like us, but we don't take it personally, and will happily wish you well with your training elsewhere.
