I want to study dog training. Recommendations?

[foggysky]

I have a very complex dog with many behaviour issues. I've been through the mill with DDog and because of it I've been doing online short course on canine behaviour, welfare, aggression etc. but now I want to do some proper training with a teacher in a more hands on way. I'm burnt out by trying to leaning on my own online.

I do +training only, I've done courses with Fenzi dog academy, I've watched courses by Sally Gutteridge , read many books inc the Karen Pryor "Don't shoot the dog" etc. some Controle Unleashed webinars by Leslie McDevitt.

I know there are dog trainers in this group. Where do you recommend for more learning?

I don't intend to train professionally but maybe do dog agility? Not sure yet but I do know I want to train my dog better and I'm willing to put the time, more and energy into learning.

APDT is the gold standard for those working as professional dog trainers (and they're highly in demand at the moment) apdt.co.uk/

But you could also look at the IMDT www.imdt.uk.com/

Thanks. I did look at them, I can't do the residential due to a small toddler at home! But I wasn't sure if the online course was worth £900!

Do you know of the online course is good enough?

I've also looked at the Karen Pryor academic and there's 1 training school in the U.K. near the New Forrest, plus that's over £3k!

They are all pretty expensive.

IMDT is very accessible but the level of teaching will not give you enough information to know dog training in depth. However some IMDT trainers are happy to have mentor others so a good way to get practical experience.

APDT gives a deeper level or training than IMDT.

Victoria Stillwell has a course again expensive but does cover a basic level of dog training.

If money was no issue (!) look at Jean Donaldson course - you have to be good to get in but will get a fantastic education.

Aboslute dogs offer an online Prodog trainer course starting end of July (i think) online will give you access to their style of training and do at your own pace.

School of Canine Science does outstanding courses very detailed , high quality but not cheap.

If you want to teach agility you need to get out there competing. Your CV will be your experience and you will need to have reached high levels in agility to get that. Also training to be a judge really helps your ability to set courses etc.

Dog Training College also offers courses but no cheap.

The best way is to get practical experience so training you own dog to a high level, following other trainers and get involved that way. Get some work with rescue dogs. Do loads and loads of agility!

Look at the distance course from Bishop Burton College Fdsc in Applied Dog Training - distance learning but with a few residential weeks a year. Theoretical and practical.

If you want to do Behaviour you will need to have a Msc and follow an academic route.

If you want to teach agility you need to get out there competing. Your CV will be your experience and you will need to have reached high levels in agility to get that. Also training to be a judge really helps your ability to set courses etc.

100% this. Agility is so much more than teaching the individual items of equipment. It's about how to handle your dog (and yourself!) in a competitive environment, how to plan the best line around a course, plus all the details of different entry systems and so on. If you're not competing you haven't the knowledge base to do that.

Also, if £900 for a course is difficult (which I totally get!) you wait til you see the price of agility equipment and field hire.

If this is something you're passionate about then:

1. Yay! Agility is fun, and an awesome way to bond with your dog.
2. You need to start training in agility yourself.
3. Once you start training, competing and are in that world, I suspect opportunities to teach will present themselves.

(NewMumsnet totally fucked up my formatting. NewMumsnet is pants.)

I 100% do not intend on teaching anyone but myself!!! This would be for myself, the dogs I foster and maybe maybe(!) for my local rescue to help out, if I feel I'm good enough years down the line

I'm going to have a look at the places mentioned.

I guess I want practical hands on help to improve my skill set and learn more. My knowledge feels wide but shallow. I've learnt some with the trainer for my current dog but due to covid and online learning etc, I don't feel like it was as good as it could have been. Maybe what I'm looking for is a mentor of sorts.

Thanks all!

Absolute dogs do pro trainer?
my sister did karen Pryor and it’s very very intense and ££ she’s a professional dog trainer and works with dogs and has her own business on the side lots of demand. You could maybe work with another trainer who uses the same methods? My sister has a girl to cover her classes who did this. Good luck 🤞

I like the look of the Absolute Dogs Pro trainer one.

It's not so much that £900 would be too much, I think I'm burned out by zoom learning that somehow the idea of paying that and still being on my own isn't great to me!

Oh and I know the cost of equipment!! I'm doing re hab with ddog and we had to have all our platforms custom made! DH was not pleased

Absolute dogs also do an agility course with some good foundation work.

If you want to better you own skills get on the agility training facebook page and go to as many workshops as you can.There are loads out there in lots of locations - and more in the winter

Ahhh okay! Sorry, I misunderstood.

You need a good agility class in your area, then. It's not really something you can learn on your own or from zoom and, if you want to compete, your dog needs to learn how to work around the distraction of their classmates.