Training Club Level 1

Your dog is wonderful at home and a different animal the moment you step outside it. The recall that works in the kitchen evaporates in a field. The lead walking you practised all week falls apart the second another dog appears. That gap between “knows it” and “can do it anywhere” is exactly what a group class is for.

Training Club Level 1 is our foundation course of weekly, in-person classes at our training centre near Mold. It is where most of our dogs start, whether you have just brought a puppy home or you have had your dog for years and want to build the groundwork properly.

Who Level 1 is for

• Puppies who are ready to move on from early socialisation and start real training
• Adolescent dogs whose training seems to have stopped working — which is completely normal and temporary
• Rescue and adult dogs who need calm, structured practice with other dogs around
• Owners who want to be taught properly, in person, rather than handed a worksheet

What is included

• Weekly in-person classes at our training centre: Pistyll Farm, Nercwys, Mold, Flintshire CH7 4EW
• Foundation skills that hold up in real life — attention and focus, loose-lead walking, recall, settling, handling, and polite behaviour around other dogs
• Practice with distractions present, which is the whole point of a class: some skills can only really be learned with other dogs in the room
• Hands-on coaching — we watch you work with your own dog and adjust the plan, rather than running everyone through the same script
• Clear homework each week, so you always know exactly what to practise before the next session
• A route onwards — Level 1 is the foundation, and the club carries on from puppy onwards as your dog develops

You will be asked to choose your preferred class time at checkout, and we will confirm your dates by email.

What changes

By the end of your block, the aim is not a dog who performs tricks in a hall. It is a dog you can take places:

• Your dog can look at another dog and then look back at you
• Walks get quieter, because loose-lead walking has been practised somewhere genuinely distracting
• Your dog can settle in a busy environment instead of vibrating through it
• You know how to teach the next thing yourself, which matters more than any single cue

Who it is not for

Group classes are the wrong room for some dogs, and we will always say so. If your dog barks, lunges or panics at the sight of another dog, a class will be overwhelming for them and unfair on everyone else — that needs one-to-one behaviour work first, and we are very happy to help with that instead. If travelling to Flintshire each week is not realistic, our online training options will suit you better.

Questions people ask

Do we need to have done a puppy course first? No. Level 1 is the starting point, and plenty of dogs join as adults having never been to a class.

My dog barks at other dogs sometimes. Can we still come? Mild fuss and excitement is normal and we work with it. If it is closer to panic or persistent lunging, get in touch before booking and we will talk it through honestly.

What do I need to bring? A well-fitted harness or collar, a normal lead, and treats your dog really likes. We will send you a short list before your first class. The Training Starter Kit covers the basics if you would rather not shop around.

What if I miss a week? Let us know as early as you can and we will do what we can to help you catch up.

Is my dog too old? No. Older dogs often do beautifully in classes — they are usually calmer and better at concentrating than adolescents.

Book your place

Choose your class time at checkout and we will be in touch with your start date. Not sure whether classes or one-to-one training is the better fit? Have a look at how our training works or get started here.