Residential Training.

The big advantage with residential training is that we can of course work with the Dog and Puppy constantly through the day and evening in short effective bursts. In reality someone will be with the Dog or Puppy almost constantly. This is the method we use with the UK Assistant Dogs and Puppies. Being able to pick up quickly on both the Dogs and Puppies strong and weak areas. Spending 15-20 minutes every hour or so keeps the Dog and Puppy active and interested and keen to learn. On top of this it’s very productive to be able to get a Dog or Puppy to ‘Come’ or simply ‘Sit’ at random times. Toileting is easier and the Dog or Puppy will soon learn to go to the toilet on command. Of course every Dog and Puppy is different and some learn certain skills quicker than others so nothing is guaranteed.

A 2 week course is generally enough to teach the Dog or Puppy basics to a good level. This would include basic lead work such as Walking to Heel. Sitting, Laying Down, Waiting, Re-call, Not Jumping Up, Leaving Items on Command, Toilet Training. Being left alone in a Dog crate without excessive barking.

A 4 week course would of course assert the above to a much greater level. Dos and Puppies will be taught to respond to Voice Commands, Hand Signals & a Dog Whistle. The hand & whistle commands can be extremely useful. Rather than shouting across a field for example a short blast on the whistle will re-call the dog to you. Remember that once the Dog or Puppy is back with you it requires you to MAINTAIN the commands it has learnt. We will of course provide you with the support and information to enable you to continue this successfully and offer any future advice as required.

Visiting 1 to 1 Training.

A great way to start training a Dog or Puppy is within the environment it is used to. This would normally be the family home/garden/local park. Training at home has both an advantage and a disadvantage. The advantage is that very often the owner can be trained as well! This is often more important than training the Dog or Puppy. The disadvantage is that any Dog or Puppy can quickly become bored with learning a new task.

The secret of Dog and Puppy training is really little and often. The Dog or Puppy needs to feel the lessons are an exciting fun game for which there are rewards. A bored or tired Dog or Puppy is not eager to follow your instructions. For this reason it is important that we need to ask details when we visit of any previous training under-taken, so part of our visit is spent teaching the owners the correct approach and method. We will ask the owners to demonstrate the procedures they have been using and the Dog or Puppies normal routine. The time starts from arrival and not when we need to start travelling. However, our fees are based upon your Home or Nearby Park (Suitable only for puppies FULLY VACCINATED) etc being WITHIN 5 MILES of Chesham. Further distances are subject to an additional mileage charge as laid out in our current price list.

When training a Dog or Puppy it is important to keep things EXCITING & FUN. Reward with lots of cheerful voice and stroking, it’s not just about food treats. Most importantly be patient! Things may be new and strange to a Dog or Puppy. Make it feel secure; NEVER SHOUT or HIT a Dog or Puppy, there really is no need. Don’t be impatient, good training takes time. Hopefully you’re Dog or Puppy will be with you for the rest of its life, a little time and effort spent now will be more than reaped later.

Top up Training.

We understand that many Dogs or Puppies are generally very well behaved. However they may need a little more work on certain aspects of their training. This may include things like Heel Work, Recall and Jumping Up for example. These issues can often be resolved with excellent results over a short period of time. We offer ‘Top up Training’ for Dogs and Puppies who are staying for Holiday cover or Day car. After our initial assessment we will advise on level of obedience expected and time span required to obtain the desired results.

Behaviour Problems.

We believe many Dog and Puppy behavioural problems can simply be corrected by our training methods as supported by our outstanding success record. We are happy to offer advice and consultations as required. We have been trouble shooting UK ASSISTANCE DOGS for over the last 18 months whose regular socialisers were having some problems with the Dog or Puppy. These can include such things as Heelwork, Recall, Jumping up, Toileting, Stealing Food, separation Anxiety, Excessive Barking, Toileting, Aggression, Unable to Socialise with other Dogs etc.

Phobias.

A surprising number of Dogs and Puppies can suffer from various phobias. This can be as a result of a previous bad experience. A Phobia can be of almost anything. The most common are noise related like Thunder Storms, Fireworks, and Gunfire. Other noise related Phobias include household appliances like Vacuum Cleaners, Washing Machines etc. Other fear issues include fear of other animals, People, Motorbikes and Cars, whether moving or not. Phobias can be treated very successfully using a very gentle, loving and patient approach. 

Remember that by using the correct methods and approach nearly all dogs and breeds can be re-trained regardless of age. We have experience in training all types of breeds and ages from Toy breeds to Large Mountain Dogs, from a few weeks of age to those over 10 years of age! Remember that in most instances it is the owners who need training and not the dog! Most behaviour problems for example can be rectified by using the correct approach and method.

Please note: You should ALWAYS seek professional advice before tackling behaviour issues.