FAQ

Behaviour

What problems are covered with a behaviour treatment course?

There are various problem behaviours that require more involved investigation of the dog’s history in order to establish the exact motivation for the behaviour. This requires a more in depth knowledge and experience of canine behaviour. Such problems are often not resolved solely by obedience training.

Some common behaviour problems are:-

Aggression (towards dogs and people)	Excessive management problems
Excessive boisterousness or excitability	Separation anxiety
Excessive barking	Fears and phobias
Chase problems	Nervous problems
Inappropriate toileting	Repetitive or ’stereotypic’ behaviours (e.g. shadow chasing)

Why do I need a veterinary referral?

Veterinary referral to a behaviour counsellor is the same as referral to any other specialist. The first point of contact should be your veterinarian who can direct you to the most appropriate specialist for you and your dogs needs, similar to your doctor referring you on to a specialist.

Most importantly, many behavioural problems can be related to medical complaints or other issues, it is therefore essential that these possibilities are checked by your veterinarian. Furthermore, in some cases diet changes or drug therapy may be a necessary part of your dog’s treatment programme which is only achievable with close contact between your behaviourist and the referring veterinarian.

Vet Referral Form

Following the first session, how long before I see improvements?

This will be dependent on a variety of factors including the extent and duration of the problem and how much time you are able to spend working with the dog. I can advise and assist as much as is required but you are your dog’s primary role model. It is often the consistency of the owners that is the best predictor of the rate of improvement.

Many owners will see initial improvements relatively quickly (within a few weeks). However, due to the complexity of many behaviour problems, working on the treatment programme is likely to span months rather than weeks. In some cases full resolution of the problem is not possible although dog and owner can often live happily with the improvements and management systems put in place during the treatment course.

Is there anything I can do prior to my behaviour treatment course?

In cases of aggression it is of utmost importance that you ensure the safety of yourself, your family and the public. This may mean restricting the dog, keeping the dog on a lead and avoiding any potential problems. Until the dog can be assessed professionally you should avoid potential problem situations.

With nervous or fear related behaviours it is preferable that the dog is not forced into a situation which they find uncomfortable. A nervous dog should not feel pressured as this can make the problem worse or even trigger aggression.

TRAINING - General

Which training option would best suit my needs?

It depends very much on your requirements. The advantage of classes is that your dog is able to learn to respond around distractions (i.e. whilst there are other dogs and people around). On the Puppy and Junior School Courses as we also discuss common problems such as chewing, jumping up, pulling on the lead, etc.

However, for some dogs a class can be too distracting and it is preferable that the training is conducted away from distractions, at least to start with. In these cases a one-to-one training session may be more beneficial. One-to-one sessions are also advisable if you have one or two specific issues that you want to focus on.

With either option it is important to remember that you will be your dog's primary teacher. You are with the dog on a day to day basis and the success of training is dependent your consistency and how often you practice.

How old does my dog have to be before I start training?

By the time you get a new puppy (at 6-10 weeks of age) he or she will be quite capable of learning basic commands and your ‘house rules.’ Accordingly, I recommend starting training as early as possible. Putting it off until the dog is older only provides the dog with a chance to learn the wrong kinds of behaviours which you will have to work much harder to remove at a later date.

A common myth is that you have to wait until the dog is 6 months of age before you can begin training. In the past this was often the case as training techniques were often more forceful than is generally accepted today. Harsh or forceful training techniques are not suitable for young puppies as their bones and muscles are still forming. Any undue stress on the neck such as a sharp jerk of a lead correction can injure a puppy. More up to date training methods are based on kinder, ‘hands off’ techniques which are quite suitable for teaching even the most delicate puppy.

Puppies can attend Puppy School once their vaccinations are fully complete, in the mean time you may which to consider a Puppy Visit to address any settling in problems or simply to get started as soon as possible.

My dog can bark at other dogs or people, will a class help socialise him/her?

A dog who is reactive towards people or other dogs cannot attend classes. This is for the benefit of the dog (and for your sanity) as a class situation may simply be too overwhelming and stressful for your dog (and for you). If your dog is barking there will be a reason for this which must be established first, if your dog is barking due to fear or anxiety then a class situation may actually make the problem worse.

If your dog is showing fear, aggression or reactivity to either people or other dogs then you are advised to consider a behaviour treatment course. It may be that a class situation would be beneficial further down the line in your dogs training but initially your dog will need to learn how to cope with these kinds of situations one dog (or person) at a time (rather than being faced with 8!!)

How many dogs are in your classes?

Our class sizes are kept small to ensure you get enough training time and one-to-one attention. Most of our classes have a maximum of 6-8 dogs attending and our best efforts are made to match suitable dogs on the relevant course.

What training methods are used at your classes?

Our training methods are primarily reward based, utilising a range of rewards such as treats, toys, attention and ‘life-rewards’. These methods are kind and also scientifically proven to be effective in teaching dogs of all dispositions. Harsh or forceful training techniques are not tolerated at any of our classes.

TRAINING - Classes

Where are your classes held?

Classes are held at Glenbrittle Kennels, Chester High Road, Burton, South Wirral. CH64 8TE.

What is covered on the Puppy School Course?

Puppy School was founded by Gwen Bailey who set up a nationwide network of Puppy School Tutors. All Puppy School classes are taught by a professional tutor, qualified by Puppy School (Gwen Bailey) who continue to go on professional courses to keep up to date with developments in training methods.

You and your puppy will learn:

basic commands such as sit, stand etc
to come when called
to walk on a loose lead
general good doggy manners
how to socialize with other puppies, adults and children (children are very welcome to come along)
How to deal with common puppy problems
...and more!

Puppy School classes have 'social-time' so any problems or questions that you need advice on can be discussed.

For more information read the What to Expect leaflet. What to Expect

What is covered on the Junior School Course?

Junior School is designed as a starter class for young dogs (5-12 months) with no previous training but are too old to join Puppy School.

You and your dog will learn:

basic commands such as sit, stand etc
to come when called
to walk on a loose lead
general good doggy manners
how to deal with common ‘young dog’ problems
...and more!

Junior School classes have 'social-time' so any problems or questions that you need advice on can be discussed.

What is covered on the Canine University Course?

Canine University is all about ‘real life skills’ and builds on the commands learnt at Puppy or Junior School. The focus is very much upon getting more reliable responses in increasing distractions.

You and your dog will learn:

Speed positions, sit down & stand in seconds etc
Recall around distractions, toys treats, other dogs running, etc
Lead work in distractions and a more formal heel
Basic retrieve
Effective use of rewards
...and more!

University classes have 'social-time' so any problems or questions that you need advice on can be discussed.

What is covered on the Kennel Club Good Citizen Classes?

The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme is the largest dog training scheme in the UK promoting responsible dog ownership. K9brats offers training for the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, the requirements of which are listed below. In addition to these, to be a good citizen you should have a poo bag with you at all times and your dog must have an ID tag on with your name and full address as stated by the law (telephone numbers are optional but highly recommended).

To the sessions, you should also bring treats, your dog’s favourite toy and your dog's brush.

Bronze Award

Cleanliness ad identification
Collar and Lead
Walk on the lead
Control at door/gate
Controlled walk amongst people and dogs
Stay on the lead for one minute
Grooming
Examination of the dog
Return to handler
Responsibility and care

Silver Award

Play with the dog
Road walk
Rejoin handler
Stay on one place for 2 minutes
Vehicle control
Come away from distractions
Controlled greeting
Food manners
Examination of the dog
Responsibility and care

Gold Award

Road walk
Return to handler's side
Walk free beside handler
Stay down in one place
Send the dog to bed
Stop the dog
Relaxed isolation
Food manners
Examination of the dog
Responsibility and care

Want to know more about agility classes?

In agility classes your dog will learn how to negotiate the agility equipment in a safe manner progressing to linking the equipment together and then running a full agility course. Classes are divided into beginners, intermediate and advanced dependent on your dogs ability.

As most dogs attending agility are worked off lead it is important that all dogs attending these classes have a good foundation level of obedience, ideally having already achieved their Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze Award.

Dogs must be 12 months or over to attend the beginners agility classes as it is important to avoid undue stress on growing limbs. Even then jumps are kept low and equipment is positioned for low impact until dogs reach 18 months of age.