Dog Training and Workshops at Paws in Wales
The companionship of a well-trained dog is a great joy, and sharing your life with a dog should be enjoyable and fun. Reliable dogs with good social skills enjoy active and varied lives, and are welcomed in the wider community.
Training at PiW has at its core building your relationship, using fun activities and easy to follow exercises that build mutual trust and respect in a relaxed and convivial setting. Training is open to all dogs, from adolescents to older canine citizens, regardless of their background or previous training.
Whether you want to improve your dog’s basic skills, or try a completely new sport or activity, PiW has lots to offer to help you share more time with your dog.
Dog Training and Workshops at Paws in Wales
The companionship of a well-trained dog is a great joy, and sharing your life with a dog should be enjoyable and fun. Reliable dogs with good social skills enjoy active and varied lives, and are welcomed in the wider community.
Training at Paws in Wales has at its core developing your relationship with your dog, using activities and easy to follow exercises to build trust and respect in a relaxed and convivial setting. Training is open to all dogs, from young puppies to older canine citizens, regardless of their background or previous training.
Whether you want to improve your dog’s basic skills, or try a completely new sport or activity, PiW has lots to offer to help you share more time with your dog.
Classes and 1-2-1 Training
Classes are kept small, generally 4-6 dogs to allow individual attention within the social setting of a group.
Heather also specialises in 1-2-1 training sessions; an ideal situation to concentrate on specific areas of your own dog’s training.
This may be attention, recall or loose lead walking to help your dog become an easier companion out and about, or in preparation to join a class or workshop; such situations can be over-whelming for your dog until these techniques are in place. Some owners feel anxious or a little intimidated in a class setting and prefer to learn in a personally tailored environment.1-2-1 is the perfect environment for stress-free learning.
1-2-1 sessions are the appropriate setting for dogs who are uncomfortable in the presence of other people or dog, and allows these dogs to fully enjoy all the activities offered by Paws in Wales.
1-2-1 training can also overcome training issues that are maybe interfering with your dog’s normal activities or ability to join classes.
For dogs training for competition or specific activities 1-2-1 training provides the opportunity to work in depth with your dog, practice techniques and exercises and thereby gain the most from your training.
Please note these sessions are for training matters, not behavioural issues. Please see the Problem Behaviour page if you are experiencing difficulties with your dog’s behaviour.
Classes £10 per dog 1 hour 1-2-1 £30.00 ¾ hour (£40.00 per hour pro rata)
Initial assessment/training session £50.00 1 hour for more complex/multiple issue training
Training 1-2-1 at your location £75.00 first visit 1 hour
£60.00 ¾ hour thereafter including travel within 20 miles SY235LN.
50p/ mile plus £20.00/hour pro rata thereafter (Googlemaps)
Pre-Dog Ownership Home Consultation
Bringing a dog into your home is a life changing decision, and it can be valuable to have someone from outside your family and friends to talk through the many options open to you. It is my job to ask the questions you are maybe avoiding!
During a Pre-Dog Ownership Consultation we can discuss;
- Is this really the right time for you to have a dog?
- Are the breed characteristics of the dog you are considering appropriate for your circumstances?
- Is a puppy or adult dog the better choice for your present circumstances?
- Whether to give a rescue dog a home or buy from a reputable breeder. The pros and cons of each
- Pros and cons of rescue dogs from abroad
- What is actually involved in welcoming a dog into your home?
- Making your house and garden safe
- Exercise, play and training requirements of your chosen breed
- Any other concerns you may have
1 hour £50 if booked with a LS.
£60 as stand alone.
Travel included to 20 miles of SY235LN
50p per mile thereafter
Life Skills Workshops
These workshops are for dogs who have not yet achieved ‘Perfect Paws Status,’ the teenagers, the rescues and re-homes and any dog who would benefit from a bit more work on the basic skills necessary to be a fully integrated member of their family. These workshops will incorporate many of the facilities at Paws in Wales, making them fun and engaging, the ideal preparation for other activities available at Paws in Wales. You will be given homework exercise, and encouraged to take videos of your dog’s training to share during the half time break.
- Focus and attention
- Simple Impulse control
- Loose lead walking
- Recall
- Meeting and greeting manners
- Appropriate play
- Teaching your dog to settle
2 hours x 3 weeks £60 including handouts and goodie bag (when available)
6 dogs max
Start dates for next Life Skills workshops:
Competitive Obedience
Competitive Obedience is one of the most exacting of all canine activities, building a relationship so close and intense that to an outsider dog and handler appear to be as one, with the dog effortlessly moving through the exercises.
To reach the highest level takes a great deal of training, but the exercises are accessible to dogs and handlers of all abilities. Competitive Obedience has the advantage of needing minimal equipment, so is a good activity for those who enjoy training at home between classes. The concentration and attention to detail are necessary for Competitive Obedience, so dogs need a reasonable level of basic training before attending Competitive Obedience classes.
The exercises include Heelwork, Recalls, Retrieve, Sendaway, Distant Control, Scent Discrimination and Stays
Half day workshop £30
1 hour group lesson £10
¾ hour 1-2-1 £30.
Classes 6.30pm every Tuesday and 10.00am every Thursday
Dates for next Competitive Obedience workshops:
Activity Workshops
Canine Dressage
As a member of the Association of British Canine Dressage I am excited to bring this new sport to PiW which is being developed by Kay Laurence of Wagmore.
The aim of Canine Dressage is “to develop the individual dog’s natural movement and athleticism for their long term benefit…and soundness” by enhancing each dog’s natural paces, improving balance, core strength and suppleness.
It is not an esoteric activity for high class dogs – it is accessible to dogs of all breeds, ages and abilities, and is not physically demanding for the owner.
It is a thoughtful and relaxing way of spending quality time with your dog, with the benefit of also improving their physique for a long and active life.
As with equine dressage, there is the option of training for set tests, requiring the dogs to perform certain movements at prescribed paces. Dogs can progress through various levels, and their performance is assessed by a judge. The judge awards points based on the abilities of each individual dog, so it is a very inclusive non-competitive sport.
Platforms Training
Boxes and platforms have been used in dog training for a long time, and are a fun and accessible way to teach dogs basic positions.
Dogs enjoy climbing on things from early puppyhood, and the platform training offered at PiW helps dogs improve their core strength, body awareness and self-control.
Platform training naturally translates into daily life as dogs learn to stay, settle and go to a place as a natural progression from the basic platform training.
For dogs training in other activities platforms help teach Obedience stays and Agility startline waits.
For the more experienced dogs platform work can help with distant control, proprioception, send away, hind-end awareness, balance and stretching.
Dog Parkour and the Obstacle Courses
Dog Parkour is a fun physical activity which teaches your dog to interact with the environment, balancing, jumping, climbing on under and through various natural and man-made obstacles. It is suitable for dogs of all ages and abilities; you can make the exercises gentle or challenging to suit you and your dog.
Paws in wales has a purpose built Obstacle Course and lots of interesting challenges throughout the grounds. Parkour is a non-competitive activity, but there are achievement levels to work towards if you wish. All the Parkour exercises build your relationship and your dog’s confidence and physical co-ordination, making it an ideal activity for dogs preparing for competition as well as keeping pet dogs fit and active for long, healthy lives.
Trick Training
Dogs love learning tricks! These classes and workshops are full of fun and laughter as we (loosely) work our way through the Doghouse Trick Dogs levels, adding our own twist as we go.
Some people have tricks they have already taught their dog, and I love it when they share them with the group.
Trick Training is a relaxed and light-hearted class, suitable for dogs and owners of all ages and abilities, and especially good for those wet days when it is hard to take the dogs out, for dogs or people with restricted mobility, as well as being a great way to stimulate your dog’s mind and encourage their engagement with you. Trick training is an excellent stress-buster for dogs and humans alike.
No Need For Speed Obstacle Courses and Pre-Agility
These workshops and classes are aimed at young dogs and those who are not tempted by the speed and running involved in agility, but would still enjoy to train their dog to negotiate a course of obstacles. These include, hoops, wobble boards, tunnels, and bridges, tables ladders and much more.
The emphasis is very much on working as a team with your dog, learning to perform each section before tackling the whole course, with no emphasis on speed at all.
Obstacle games are accessible to dogs and handlers of every age and ability.
Treibball/Ball Herding Games
I am looking forward very much to introducing ball herding games into the PiW programme. Most dogs enjoy playing football, and ball herding uses this enthusiasm to teach our dogs to push a gym ball round a course and into the goal. This challenge needs great teamwork and communication between dog and handler.
While some breeds may have a natural aptitude for herding, all dogs can learn to push a ball, and turn left and right. I think it is going to be a great deal of fun.
Show Jumping and Hurdling Lane
With an eye to accuracy rather than speed Paws in Wales show jumping and hurdling teaches the dogs to jump fences of varying heights and spreads, some with fillers. The poles are light, so the slightest touch will bring them down.
The Hurdling Lane(under construction) is purpose built in the style of equestrian hurdles, but with soft heather brush. It is some 25m long, and while it is great fun and excellent recall training to race down it, there is a skilful element too requiring accuracy and control rather than speed.
The Costs of all these activity workshops are:
- Half day workshop £30
- 1 hour group lesson £10
- ¾ hour 1-2-1 £30