Pet Dog Training
Our professional dog trainers are experienced, knowledgeable and supportive. As a keen student in canine behavioural science, our director has a deep understanding of the motivations behind dog behaviour. This expertise combined with years of clinical experience in specialised training and modification of undesirable behaviours make Dogz 4 Life a unique, service. We will work with you and your dog, providing the tailored support you have been looking for to create the dream relationship with your dog!
Puppy School Levels 1-3
All our puppy school levels are conducted in our clinic in a one-on-one training session lasting one hour each week running for four consecutive weeks. There are three levels of puppy school training basic, intermediate and advanced. Please ensure you bring some water for you and your dog, a hat for you, some high value treats and appropriate equipment (harness, lead). You will also need to provide evidence of vaccination and preventatives for the safety of the other animals attending the facility. No matter the age, please ensure your puppy comes to training hungry (omit half of the preceding meal) and toileted.
Puppy School Level 1 - Basic
This is a four-week Basic obedience course for puppies aged 8 to 16 weeks addressing the basics including:
- Basic nutrition
- Equipment – some equipment will be available for purchase
- How to learn
- Relationship building
- Toilet training
- Crate training
- Socialisation
- Enrichment
- Basic polite leash walking
- Management of common behavioural issues eg nipping, jumping, digging etc
Puppy School Level 2 – intermediate
This is a four-week intermediate class suitable for dogs aged 16 weeks to six months of age. This course will focus on more advanced basic obedience skills and behavioural management. We will address ongoing desirable behaviour and training as well as common behavioural issues including:
- Pulling on late
- Enrichment
- Jumping
- Nipping/biting
- Counter surfing
- Overexcitement
- Recall
- Socialisation
- Enhancing the bond between you and your dog
Please note there is no prerequisite for this course and the best time to start training, if you haven’t already, is now!
Puppy School Level 3 – Advanced
This is a four-week course for dogs aged 6 months to adulthood. It is appropriate for dogs that have completed one of our puppy school courses or a puppy school course through another organisation. This course will advance basic training a bit further covering topics such as:
- Advanced polite leash walking
- Wait
- Advanced recall
- Expanding on basic obedience skills
- Teaching coping skills
- Finding the off switch
- Advice for ongoing safe socialisation
- Addressing unwanted behaviours
Advanced Training
For those with adult dogs who want to extend their knowledge and skills in dog training and psychology, this course is for you! In this course we will learn how a dog thinks, makes meaning of its world and how this contributes to decision making. We will build on your basic skills and enhance your relationship with your dog through mutual understanding and respect. We can even teach a few fun and meaningful tricks that can enhance communication while providing important enrichment for your dog. At Dogz 4 Life Our advanced training is conducted in one-on-one sessions either in our clinic, in your home or in the great outdoors. The programme will be tailored to both the needs and strengths of you and your dog.
Enhancing Relationships Consult
Are you constantly yelling your dogs name? Do you find they aren’t listening to you at all? Would you like to improve your communication, trust and mutual understanding? Then this console is for you! We will use neuroscience principles to develop an understanding of your dog and its relationship with you. We will give you techniques to build trust and respect, enhance communication and provide opportunities for you to experience the depth of a quality human dog bond. This consult lasts 1 1/2 hours and is generally conducted in our clinic or in your home.
Behavioural Management
Common behavioural problems can disrupt the relationship between you and your dog. Behavioural issues are a common source of distress for families and can lead to animal rehoming or surrender if left untreated. At Dogz 4 Life we strongly believe in the use of ethical training methods and want all of our clients to experience the true power of a healthy, strong human-animal bond. Some of the behavioural issues we can assist with include:
- Separation anxiety
- Excessive barking
- Over excitement e.g. frantic greetings
- Jumping
- Digging
- Obsessive behaviours
- Reactivity
- Biting/nipping
- Aggressive behaviours
- Fearful behaviours e.g. fireworks, loud noises
- Other
Behavioural Needs Assessment
Are you struggling with undesirable behaviours in your adult dog? Do you feel like there’s more than one area of focus and you need a comprehensive assessment to determine how to address these issues? The Dogz 4 Life Behavioural needs assessment is a comprehensive assessment of your dog’s emotional state, decision making capability, off switch and specific behavioural needs. With your assistance, we will identify specific issues and any modifiable causes. The consult lasts an hour and a half and is conducted either in our clinic or in your home (additional travel expenses may apply).
We will leave you with a set of recommendations so that you can begin to work on these issues yourself. If you require behavioural support to implement these changes you can progress to a more detailed behavioural management plan supported by one of our professional behaviourists.
Behavioural Management Plan
If you require additional assistance after completing a behavioural needs assessment, one of our professional dog behaviourists can provide support to implement a structured behavioural management plan.
This plan will provide comprehensive and detailed instructions on the steps you need to take to achieve your behavioural management goals, as well as one on one support for implementation.
At Dogz 4 Life we will walk through the difficulty and celebrate the wins alongside you!
Get In Touch
Assistance Dog Training
Specialist dog training for assistance dogs, therapy dogs and emotional support animals.