Build a Well-Behaved Companion
Our obedience training program follows a structured 5-level system designed to progressively build your dog's skills and reliability. Each level builds upon the previous one, ensuring solid foundations and consistent progress.
In practice that runs as ten lessons across the five levels. Each lesson is a session with me, followed by written notes, videos and homework in your client area. You move to the next lesson when your dog is ready — I check how you have both gone at the start of each session, rather than working to a fixed calendar. Some dogs move quickly, some take longer on a particular skill, and both are normal.
Before your first session you also get the Foundation Skills starter course, so you arrive already familiar with the marker words we use.
Program Highlights:
Training Levels
Progress through our structured 5-level system
Basic Foundation
Foundation
- Marker words & timing
- Using your voice & luring
- Name recognition & attention
- Sit, down and the release word
- Four paws on the floor — no jumping
- Introduction to heel work
- Bite inhibition
- Crate & house training
No prerequisites
Intermediate Skills
Intermediate
- Introducing the stay
- Recall at short distances
- Loose leash walking
- Leave it / drop it
- Intro to distractions
Requires Level 1
Advanced Control
Advanced
- Off-leash recall
- Distance stays (10m+)
- Heeling patterns
- Send to place/bed
- Moderate distraction work
Requires Level 2
Distraction Proofing
Distraction Proofing
- Training in public spaces
- High distraction environments
- Reliability around other dogs
- Emergency stops & recalls
- Variable reinforcement
Requires Level 3
Real World Excellence
Real World Excellence
- Advanced public access
- Complex multi-cue sequences
- Handler out of sight stays
- Problem-solving scenarios
- Maintenance & troubleshooting
- Cooperative care & handling
Requires all prior levels
How It Works
No lock-in contracts and no packages to buy up front. Here is the whole thing.
Obedience training is delivered as one-to-one sessions tailored to you and your dog. Sessions are available on demand — contact Darren to discuss your goals and arrange a time.
- 1 You register and tell me about your dog Breed, age, and what is going on. I get back to you within 24 hours to work out what your dog actually needs — including telling you if obedience is not the right starting point.
- 2 Foundation Skills arrives before we meet A fifteen-minute read on the marker words and how I communicate with a dog, so the first session is spent on your dog rather than on groundwork. Puppy owners get the puppy material too — those early weeks do not wait for an appointment.
- 3 We train together, one-on-one At the training grounds or your home. I am teaching you as much as your dog, because you are the one who lives with it. You leave knowing exactly what to practise.
- 4 You get the code for that lesson Written notes on what we covered, videos, your homework, the mistakes owners usually make that week, and what "ready to move on" looks like. Free, and yours to keep. A library of thirty training and behaviour guides sits behind it.
- 5 Your dog moves up when it is ready At the start of each session I check how you have both gone, and release the next lesson when your dog is there — not when the calendar says so. Ten lessons across the five levels above. Some dogs move quickly, some need longer on one skill, and both are normal. Rushing a dog through is how gaps show up months later.
You pay per session, as you go. Stop whenever you like — plenty of people come for two or three sessions, sort out what was bothering them, and that is that.
This is training, not a guarantee. What I can promise is that you will leave each session knowing exactly what to do and why. What happens after that depends on your dog's temperament and history, and on the practice you put in between sessions — the homework is where the training actually happens.
How long it takes varies genuinely from dog to dog. Anyone who tells you otherwise before meeting your dog is guessing. If I think your dog needs a veterinary behaviourist rather than a trainer, I will tell you that too.
Group sessions are also available on demand. Contact Darren to find out more.
Is This Program Right for You?
Puppy Owners
Perfect for establishing good habits early and preventing problem behaviours
Family Dogs
Create a well-mannered family companion that's a joy to live with
Adventure Buddies
Build reliability for on-leash adventures and outdoor activities
Older Dogs
Never too late to teach an old dog new tricks and improve manners
Ready to Get Started?
Register your interest and Darren will be in touch to discuss your dog's needs and arrange your first session.