Our puppy training courses are designed for the puppy who has just completed its vaccinations and who is under 20 weeks of age by the start of the course. Acorn Dog Training tutors have extensive experience of living with puppies of a variety of breeds and characters, as well as having good qualifications in dog behaviour and training. In particular Fran Griffin has had more than 25 years experience of training dogs, using a variety of methods, as well as having degree in cognitive psychology. The training methods are reward based, highly successful, and the courses specifically structured to help you teach your puppy, through complete trust and understanding, in a non regimented way, and practical for the family pet owner.

Location: Bradville or New Bradwell. The venue at Bradville offers excellent indoor and outdoor facilities. *Please note, other training groups use these facilities on other evenings, and are not associated with us.

The price of the puppy course: £75 for 6 sessions and class sizes are now being limited to an absolute maximum of 8 puppies and no older dogs (apart from our own) present. This price also includes an optional extra weekly session in the park on Sunday lunchtimes, where your puppy will be able to meet and play with puppies from other classes, mix with adult dogs, as well as practising come when called from play, wait whilst bicycles, joggers etc pass by etc.

As with all of our courses, all dogs and owners are treated as individuals, and not just 'one of the class'. Between class advice is available either over the phone, or via email, and all members of the family are welcome to attend. If you are thinking about joining a class we strongly recommend you contact us quickly as we fill up very quickly. Click here to read our terms and conditions. (word doc) You are more than welcome to come and watch a class before enrolling.

AVAILABILITY:

Puppy Training (for puppies UNDER the age of 5 months):

Tuesday 7th September at 8.00pm with Fran Griffin. This course is now full.

Wednesday 15th September at 6.30pm with Glynis Gammie. Venue: New Bradwell Community Centre. To book, please call 01908 397236, or email your details and your puppy's name/breed type. This course is provisionally full, depending upon booking deposits being received. We work on a first come first served basis, if you can return your deposit to us quickly, a place could still be yours.

Monday 11th October at 8.00pm with Fran Griffin. Venue: Bradville Community Centre. To book, please call Fran on 01908 397236 or email your details and your puppy's name/breed type. 4 places currently available.

Classes which start at 8.00pm may very occasionally start 5-10 minutes late, due to an earlier class over-running. However, we do try to keep to time as much as possible. If you think you are going to miss a week out of the course due to holiday arrangements, please let us know and we will arrange for you to catch up a session in another class, or a 30 minute one to one session by arrangement.

* Any emails or messages which are left on our voice mail from Friday's at 2.00pm across the weekend, may not always receive a response until Monday morning or afternoon (latest). We are involved in many activities with our own dogs at weekends, which means we are often unavailable to take calls during those times.

JUNIOR CLASS (for puppies and young dogs OVER the age of 5 months maximum of 6 dogs per class):

Monday 20th September at 6.30pm with Glynis Gammie, Venue: New Bradwell Community Centre. To book, please call 01908 397236, or email your details and your dog's name/breed type, and any areas you would particularly like to work on during the course. Places available.

** If there is nothing suitable listed for you then please contact:

Funway Dog Training on 01908 502272 classes held at New Bradwell Community Centre, Please note, although they use the same venue, they are not associated to Acorn Dog Training, therefore if you wish to speak with them, please contact them directly.

Tracy and Glynis from Acorn Dog Training offer one to one training from £25, please call Tracy on 01908 561654, or Glynis on 01908 562001.

COURSE INFORMATION:

We cover many topics on our courses (see below) and also have handouts for you to take home for future reference. An example of the types of literature given to owners toilet training.

Clicker training is being used and correctly applied by trainers with in-depth knowledge of the subject. If anyone claims that clicker training does not work, then they do not understand the methods. It is an urban myth that clicker training makes the dog dependent upon a click and a treat for the remainder of its life. This will be demonstrated during the course and can be clearly seen on the following video's of Fran's dogs out and about:

Some of the topics that are covered on our courses:

Practical exercises for the family dog: sit, down, stay, wait, walking on a loose lead without pulling, crossing the road, coming when called, settle down, "go lie in your bed" and much more.

Practical Advice on:            

"owww! that hurts"

play biting, grabbing at clothing, toilet training, jumping up, chewing, digging, barking, nutrition, effective communication and bond building, food stealing and scrounging.
How to apply the obedience commands your puppy learns into every day living.
How to be your dogs best friend and trusted guardian as opposed to the dominant pack leader.
Is your dog being dominant? or is it telling you something quite different?

Dog Whisperer (Dog Psychology or Pop Psychology)

A report from Science Daily into behaviour problems and the dominance techniques

We also help to get your puppy used to being handled by other people in preparation for any vets visits, showing, or if you're thinking of doing any of our further Kennel Club Good Citizenship Awards.

Our courses also allow controlled, fun and safe interactions of the puppies with each other and all of the owners.

Click here to read Barkley's Blog (yes it is still his blog, the red and white 'imposter' now has one of her own) updated 31st July. It follows his training and antics from puppy through to adulthood, and how Fran dealt with the problems he presented her with. Glynis, one of the tutors from the school, also played a part in his early training. You could find some interesting pieces of advice by going through some of the previous posts. What does he think to the new arrival Lilttle Miss Daisy? You can follow Miss Daisy's training on youtube now, where she shows you how to apply many of the things you learn on the puppy course into every day situations.

move over I'm here!

this is me... Miss Daisy's Diary :-D "imposter" indeed!!! who does she think she is!!!! Please come and visit my website. You are very welcome.

Relevant website links

 Acorn Dog Training | Promote Your Page Too

PUPPY TREATS: We are often asked where you can buy the lovely treats we sell in the classes, once you have finished your course. Please click the link below to visit their website.

THE BARKERY

Mutts Munches

The Canine Kitchen

Klassy Canine Bakery - chosen, tried, tested and approved by the Acorn Taste Team

Barking Bakery - Home baked treats

THE BLUE DOG - SAFE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CHILDREN AND DOGS

Pets and Travel - For great information and advice on traveling with your dog, be it a trip out in the car, or a camping holiday.

"sit stay"

We now sell the Bun-GeePup-ee Dog Leash. This leash, combined with our methods of training a dog to walk without pulling is bringing about remarkable results. Many owners with back, shoulder and wrist problems are now discovering that they can train their dogs to walk nicely and without causing pain or injury to themselves, or to their dogs. For more information on this leash click here.

"Just been out for a walk with Thai. It was the best walk on the lead we have had in about 3 and a half years - he is only 4. Bloody fantastic. Thank you very much" - Sally, Milton Keynes.

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Crate/Cage Training Video for all those who believe cages to be cruel and unkind. Henry reveals all from a puppy's perspective (needs Real Player to view

Fran's old Nalle dog meets one of the younger guests.

Whilst one of the younger one's takes a rest.

FInally, some of our pup's from the past have become a mums themselves, and even grandmothers!

This is Khan who 2 years later grew into the biggest German Shepherd many people have ever met. He is Mr. Cool and Calm and loves agility.