LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING CLASSES

FOR TEENS/ ADULTS (5 months +)

Teach your dog new (and useful) skills, have fun, strengthen your bond and help them to be a happy member of the family with a course of Teen/ Adult Training Classes ​by A Different Dog. 
If you are looking for puppy classes (aged up to 20 weeks at the start of the course),
​please view information on our popular puppy training classes instead.

WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT

Good dog training is more than just teaching your dog obedience cues.  If you want to have a well-behaved, well-adjusted, confident and happy dog, it's vital to teach them ​appropriate life skills, such as self control, just as we do with children.  

The days of stuffy instructors, over-crowded classes, out-dated curricula and stressful assessments are over (or, at least they should be!).  We believe that dog training should be fun, bond-building and useful to real life.

People tell us that they love our online content almost as much as the classes themselves - the videos and downloadable skill builder sheets which accompany the courses are the perfect way to remind yourself of what to do and catch up with anything you might have missed.  

CURRICULUM THEMES

Self Control​: ​Don't become a nag - develop your dog's own self control to make everyone's lives easier!
Recall and Engagement​: ​​An outdoor session taking trainer secrets, tips and tricks into the 'real world'.
Confidence and Consent: ​​Building your dog's confidence and trust through a variety of activities.
Lovely Lead Walking: ​​Lots of tips and practical exercises to develop (or perfect) those lead walking skills.
Fun: ​​In this session, we put the learning into different contexts through games and fun competitions.
​The above themes are taught across 5 hour-long group classes (with no more than 6 dogs per class).
​The sessions all include fun activities to engage you and your dog, whilst building your skills.
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​So that we can work in a real-life environment, the recall session takes place outside (weather dependent) and some of the other classes may include some outdoor learning. ​The 5 week course includes free access to online content to support your learning, with over 40 videos and downloadable skill-builder sheets.

​A personalised certificate and the coveted 'A Different Dog' rosette is awarded on completion of the course.
If you would like to start at this level (ie. your dog did not attend our puppy classes), you will need to come to a Trial Class first.  This one-off session covers some basic skills and is an opportunity to check whether your dog is suitable for a group class environment.  The hour-long session costs £25 and includes free access to our entire puppy course online so you can practise some skills before you start your Teen/ Adult course.  You can book your trial class here.

PRAISE FOR OUR DOG TRAINING CLASSES

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Each skill was well taught: precise, easy to understand, clearly-demonstrated and followed up after the session.  We would absolutely recommend A Different Dog and have met lots of other dog owners who also said the same. 

Liz

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We thoroughly enjoyed the classes and found them very helpful indeed.  
You have brought a refreshing approach to training.  ​Thank you!

Maggie

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​We decided to try the Training Classes... they have been good to focus our training, reinforce some skills and learn new techniques. The biggest difference has been loose-lead walking which has improved dramatically. Our dog loved the classes!

Clare

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Great socialisation, clear instructions for each technique,
​something new to learn each week and very inclusive for children.  
We have already recommended A Different Dog to others.

Alison

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​Our dog learned skills that seemed impossible at home!
 Gretta was skillful and approachable - it has been enjoyable for us and our dog.
I would definitely recommend A Different Dog.

Rebecca

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Thank you for another set of really enjoyable classes, they have really improved our confidence as dog owners. It has been lovely to learn that Poppy can focus and show self control; we wouldn't have been able to achieve that without the classes. 

Jenny

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​Working with A Different Dog has helped to build a stronger, fantastic relationship
and a two-way understanding between us and our dog. 
​The classes were full of fun and useful activities – we wouldn’t change a thing.

Sue

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​Simply outstanding!  We received excellent personal attention and
recommendations from Claire and Gretta in the classes. 
Positive, reward-based training with excellent results!

Stephen

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The challenges and activities in this course have been really enjoyable for all of us.....
In fact, as we got nearby our dog started yelping with excitement
and couldn't leap out of the car quick enough to start the class!!

Jenny

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This has been a fun, interactive and valuable course. 
All of the advice given has been really positive and we loved
​the online video tutorials included in the Training Course.  

Deirdre

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​Fun-packed and informative...
We couldn't recommend the training more. 
Fantastic!

Olivia and Bobby

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I can honestly say going to these classes has been the best investment I could have made.  The positive training techniques really get results, making for a good relationship between dog and owner.  We have learnt so much.  Thank you!

Louise

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Both Claire and Gretta are very friendly and helpful.  The classes have been a good mix of theory and practise in a very safe environment.  We were given 1:1 help on exercises and the training techniques really work!  This has been a fantastic learning opportunity for us and the dogs and is far better than any training experience in the past.

Rob and Stephen

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A Different Dog has an excellent reputation and, having completed the puppy course, we chose to continue with the next level.  We have learned more about how dogs think and would summarise our overall experience as 'brilliant'!

Andy

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Thank you so much for the training classes.  We have been to training elsewhere before but what we’ve learnt with you just in these few weeks has been really invaluable.  You’ve been brilliant so I just wanted to say thank you!

Karen

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I chose A Different Dog because of the APDT and Victoria Stilwell accreditations.  There was a lovely, positive atmosphere at the classes and we really enjoyed it.  The online aspect was very useful and the social element with the other owners was fun!  

Valerie

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Worth every penny!

Chrissie

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GOOD TO KNOW

A Different Dog's Training Classes for Teens/ Adults usually take place at:​
Colney Heath Village Hall (Colney Heath) - Sunday afternoons (various times)
Park Hall (Harpenden) - Friday afternoons (various times)

Check here to find out the next available start date suitable for your dog.
Further information about A Different Dog's Training Classes can be found on our FAQ page.
To book or discuss your needs, please contact us or click on 'book now'

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