Drop In Classes and IMDT Partnership Grades
At times, life can become a bit hectic, and it may be challenging to commit to a set schedule of dog training classes, especially if your work involves irregular shifts. However, you still want the best for your furry companion. That's where our drop-in classes come into play, offering you the flexibility to train your dog whenever it fits your busy life.
We understand your desire to bring out the best in your dog, and training plays a vital role in ensuring their happiness and well-being. Consistent training is a cornerstone of a content and healthy dog's life. It not only encourages problem-solving but also helps them relax and enjoy the process of learning new skills and revisiting old ones. Just like athletes who continue training even after achieving their goals, dogs benefit from ongoing practice.
Book your follow on Classes. You can choose to pay for a single class, 4 classes or 8 classes. Buy your tickets, drop in when you can. Buy your book of tickets here.
These classes work on a drop in basis. You can either book and pay as you go or you could buy a book of 4 tickets and make savings!
Our dogs don't instinctively know how to behave; it's our responsibility to teach them and remind them of our expectations regularly. Without consistent reinforcement and positive reinforcement, even the simplest commands can slip from their memory, leading to unwanted behaviors.
How to book:
Our follow-on classes provide an excellent opportunity to acquire new tricks and techniques while honing existing ones. These classes offer a laid-back atmosphere, focusing on the enjoyment of training alongside your dog and fellow dog owners. Additionally, you can work toward earning IMDT Partnership Grades to mark your progress.
The individual class fee is £16, or you can purchase a book of 4 tickets for £60 (reducing the per-class cost to £15) or 8 tickets for £114 (bringing it down to just £14.25 per class). When you purchase tickets, you'll receive a unique code to use when booking classes online, or you can simply inform us, and we'll handle the technical aspects for you.
IMDT Partnership Grade Awards
The Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT) is a reputable organization comprising certified and accredited trainers and behaviorists who uphold a stringent code of ethics. This commitment ensures that only contemporary, positive-reinforcement methods are endorsed.
The IMDT Partnership Grades program offers a range of training assessments that evaluate the relationship between a dog and its owner. These assessments also consider the progress made throughout the training journey in pursuit of these goals.
Achieving the partnership grades can be accomplished through personalized one-on-one sessions, participation in group classes, or by attending our informative workshops.
Exercise | Criteria |
Loose lead walking. | 100 metres, incl 1 left turn, 1 right turn, 1 about turn and x2 sits On a loose lead |
Sit | No lure, Dog to sit, Handler to step 5 paces away, return to dog after 60 seconds |
Down | No lure, Dog to Down, Handler to step 5 paces away, return to dog after 60 seconds |
Recall | Handler to place 5 treats on the floor and walk 10 paces away as the dog eats, when ready, handler to recall the dog. Longline on for safety |
Inspection | Dog to comfortably be inspected by IMDT trainer with no distress from dog. Areas to inspect are ears, eye, paw |
Chin Rest | With no lure, Handler to sit on chair and cue chin rest. Dog to maintain position as handler mimics eye-drop application for 5 secs |
Exercise | Criteria |
Loose lead walking. No treats or toys on the course | 200 metres, incl 1 left turn, 1 right turn, 1 about turn and x1 sits On a loose lead to include 50 metres fast pace and 50 metres slow pace |
Sit | No lure, Dog to sit, Handler to step 10 paces away to ‘poo pick’ a waiting Kong from the floor into a poo bag, return to dog after 60 seconds |
Down | No lure, Dog to Down, Handler to step 20 paces away, untie and retie shoelaces and return to dog after 60 seconds |
Recall | Handler to leave dog in a Sit or Down, walk 20 paces away, then recall the dog into a sit front present. |
Clear Jump | On or off-lead. Dog to clear jump a height designated safe by the trainer. |
Bow, Spin, Twist | With no lure, Handler to cue Bow, then spin, then Twist x 3 in succession |
Exercise | Criteria |
Loose lead walking. No treats or toys on the course | 300 metres, incl 1 left turn, 1 right turn, 1 about turn and x1 sit, x1 Down Off Lead To include 50 metres fast pace and 50 metres slow pace. Include a Sit, Handler walks 20 metres away and then call dog to them to complete the course |
Search | Dog to find and retrieve toy hidden 10 metres away amongst cones or similar |
Emergency Stop | Handler to recall dog from +20 metres and Stop dog when 10 metres |
Meet a Friendly Stranger | Handler and dog (off lead) to approach an excited and friendly stranger. Handler to shake hands with stranger. Dog not to jump at stranger |
Clear Jump | Off lead. Handler leaves the dog in a stationary position and goes to stand level with the jump and cue the dog to jump |
Bow, Spin, Twist | With the dog stationary 5 metres away from handler, with no lure in hand, handler to cue Bow, then spin, then Twist, x3 times in succession |
Exercise | Criteria |
Loose lead walking. No treats or toys on the course | 400 metres, incl 1 left turn, 1 right turn, 1 about turn and x1 sit, x1 Down. To include 50 metres fast pace and 50 metres slow pace. Include a Sit, Handler swaps sides and completes the last 20 metres |
Search | Dog to find irretrievable toy (hidden too high or under heavy object so the dog cannot access) and to clearly indicate the ‘find’ to handler with a freeze, sit or down |
Down | Dog in Down, handler to go out of site (min 10 metres away) for 2 minutes. Dog to remain in down until Hander returns |
Meet a Friendly Stranger with a dog | Handler and dog (off lead) to approach an excited and friendly stranger who also has a dog (on lead). Handler to shake hands with stranger. Dog not to jump at stranger or interfere with stranger’s dog |
Boomerangs | Handler to send the dog around a pole/cone placed 10 metres away |
Sendaway | Handler to send dog to a target. 10 metres away. Dog to sit or down on the target |
Exercise | Criteria |
Loose lead walking. No treats or toys on the course | 250 metres ‘fast pace’ dog on left hand side of Handler incl 1 left turn, 1 right turn, 1 about turn and x1 sit, x1 Down. Repeat with dog on other side of the handler |
Search | Find and retrieve 4 Individual items hidden under 20+ cones/hides, placed at least 2 metres apart from each other. Each item to be found, retrieved to Handler, then resent for next item. |
Canine Knowledge | Handler to answer 5 general knowledge questions about dogs, (questions to be designed by trainer) |
Sit | Dog in Sit, Handler to go out of sight (min 10 metres away) for 2 minutes. Dog to remain in sit until handler returns |
Boomerangs | Handler to send the dog around a series of 6 poles/cones all placed 10 metres away. (e.g., line of 3 one side, line of 3 other side, making a rectangle) Handler not to get closer than 5 metres from any pole/cone. |
Send away | Handler to send dog to a target (mat/bed) 10 metres away. Dog to Sit or Down on the target. Handler to remain in position, then redirect the dog to the left to another target 10 metres to the left of the original target |
Exercise | Criteria |
Loose lead walking. No treats or toys on the course | 300 metres, incl. 1 left turn, 1 right turn, 1 about turn and x1 sit, x1 down, Off Lead To include 50 metres fast pace and 50 metres slow pace. Include a fluid change of sides x 2 while walking |
Sequence | Create a sequence of 5 known behaviours, that can be back chained. Behaviours to be cued on a verbal cue only, at 1 metre distance |
Directions | Handler to send dog to a target 10 metres away, dog to sit or down next to or on target. Handler to walk to a target 5 metres to the dogs right and place a treat, Handler to return to start position and direct the dog with a hand motion to go to the treat. Repeat 5 metres to the Left of the dog and 5 metres behind the dog |
Retrieve | 3 retrieves – 1) Handler to send dog to retrieve a toy at 20 metres, dog to return to ‘Middle’ to deliver the retrieve 2) front present to deliver the retrieve 3) Heel to deliver retrieve |
Clear Jump | Off lead, handler to leave the dog in a stationary position and stand level between two jumps, handler to cue the dog to jump the first jump and then send over the second jump to a target to do a sit or down. Handler to then walk to the start and recall the dog back over both jumps |
Bang | With the dog walking towards the handler, the handler cues ‘Bang’, dog lay down from a stand onto their side and becomes still |