Classes Explained
Here we explain and define what you will learn in each class
While we discuss assessments and advancement in the sections below, the ultimate goal of our classes is to ensure that all dogs and owners are safe and enjoy themselves. Some dog and owner teams advance slower than others, but so long as you and your dog are safe and having a good time, then there is no failure.
Puppy Course
Here we teach the fundamentals of dog ownership and prepare you and your puppy for the years ahead.
We teach fun tricks, basic manners, good communication skills, and a portion of class is spent preparing for the Puppy Good Citizen's Test - which is assessed by an Irish Kennel Club accredited assessor.
At least once a year, we invite an assessor to come assess all dogs for different levels of the Good Citizen's Test.
The goal of this six-week course is to ensure all puppies are ready to pass our own assessment and join the more advanced classes.
Cost: €30 in advance for six classes.
Basic DOg Training Class
Not all dogs begin training as puppies. Perhaps you only got your dog as an adult, or perhaps you had to wait a while before you could train in a group setting, or perhaps you just didn't want to before now!
There are lots of reasons why some dogs begin training as adults. This is a foundations class which (similarly to our puppy class) prepares you and your dogs for the years ahead.
As well as having a good time, learning communication skills and fun tricks, we also prepare your dog for the Puppy (if below a year) and Bronze Good Citizen Test.
Finally, our main goal is to prepare them to join our more advanced classes.
Cost: €30 in advance for six classes.
One-To-One Training
There are a number of reasons why you may prefer to train one-to-one. Here a dog trainer works with just you and your dog, without any other dogs around. This can be if you want a bit of extra help before a big event, or if you are struggling with a particular problem and want extra help tackling it.
Cost: €35 per thirty minute session.
We hope to always keep one-to-one sessions as a short-term solution. Generally dogs and owners improve the most when they can commit to regular classes in group settings.
Mantrailing
This is a dog sport - a pet version of Search and Rescue. All the action is on a long line and harness, and all dogs work one at a time.
Cost: €15 per three-hour session.
Here dogs learn how to use their noses to find people and communicate what they're doing to their owners. The owners learn how to communicate the job to their dogs and how to correctly handle different scenarios.
Classes are outdoors and are on once a month.
Advanced Dog Training
This is a more challenging class that you can attend once you've graduated from the Puppy or Basic Dog Training classes.
Cost: €5 per class.
Here you learn intermediate level tricks and skills with your dog, in a group of other, similarly skilled dogs.
We also prepare your dogs for the Silver and Gold levels of the Good Citizen's test.
Competitive Obedience
Dogs must wear collars in this class.
Cost: €5 per class.
This is a sport that assesses your dog's ability to perform a series of exercise with precision and obedience.
While we don't currently host any obedience competitions, this class will prepare you for obedience competitions which take place all over Ireland and abroad.
Rally
Dogs must wear collars in this class.
Cost: €5 per class.
Similar to obedience, this is a sport that assesses your dog's ability to perform a series of exercises with precision and obedience.
However, this class is less exacting and has a little more variety in exercises. Contestants follow courses laid out with signs, rather than having instructions called out.
While we don't currently host any rally competitions, many members film their entries and compete online. Also, the Irish Kennel Club had it's first rally competition last year, where some of our members won rosettes.
Trick Training
Tricks are a fun way to bond with your dog, and give them both physical and mental enrichment. Learning a few new tricks in the morning can leave your dog napping all afternoon - and it's cool to show off to your friends!
Cost: €5 per class.
In trick training we try out everything, from simple to advanced tricks. The purpose of trick training is not to win competitions, but to find something both you and your dog enjoy, and because of the variety, there will always be something your dog will be good at.
Just like humans, dogs love when they find something they can do well, and having those few tricks can really help boost your dog's confidence.
