Abbey Dog Training

06/06/2024

Due to incredibly high demand for puppy and adolescent training, I apologise that I might not be able to get back to you as quickly as I'd like to at the moment.

I still aim to answer all enquiries within 2 - 4 days. Even more reason to get in touch sooner rather than later with puppy enquiries!

But please be patient if you haven't heard back from me. I'll be working on it!

If you're awaiting a booking confirmation, I'm working on that too!

Here's a picture of a cute puppy to keep you going.

Say hello to Winnie 😍

27/05/2024

A bit of Bank Holiday cuteness for you 😍
This is Blu and Teddy who, amongst others, graduated from our Foundation Puppy Skills (Part 2) yesterday, and will be returning next weekend for Part 3 Puppy Super Stars! 🐕⭐🐕⭐

19/05/2024

Due to incredibly high demand for puppy training, and consultation calls, I have just opened a couple of phone call slots on Thursday 23rd.

I could also fit in a couple of calls on Bank Holiday weekend for pups. If you have (or are getting) a puppy, please contact me if you would like a chat.

Ways to contact Abbey Dog Training:

1. Book a call with me, Rachel (via the website)
2. Email [email protected]
3. Message Abbey Dog Training on Facebook.

Rachel

18/05/2024

Holly has just completed her Foundation Puppy Training course
(Part 2 of our 3 part programme).

And we think she's quite proud of her certificate 😍

I'll very much look forward to seeing Holly and her owners for Part 3 - (booked for 2 weeks time) when we discuss adolescence (and maybe Rachel will sneak in a 'leave the certificate alone' excersise?) 😂

27/04/2024

If you (or anyone you know) are getting a puppy soon, or have recently got a puppy, please don't wait until they are fully vaccinated before contacting us.

Our comprehensive and very popular puppy programme usually books around 4 - 6 weeks ahead. So the very best time to contact us is BEFORE you bring your puppy home. Or failing that, as soon as possible after bringing them home.

Please don't wait until they are fully vaccinated, or you are having problems! Be proactive, not reactive!

22/04/2024

Harnesses, leads, jackets, collapsible crate, carrier, tinned food, pizzles - all available in the swap shop! Please PM me to arrange collections or swaps 😃

18/04/2024

As an update to my last post about a possible swap shop, with donations for charity too.

Let's make it happen!

I have already had some donations (some of which have already found good homes), and looking at Teddy's larder, beds, and toy store today, I realised that there is some stuff that could be made better use of!

Please PM me with anything you don't need anymore for your dog(s) and we can sort out how best to get it to the 'swap shop HQ!'

For the cuteness factor, here's my all time favourite picture of Ted!

15/04/2024

I want to send a big thank you to Lottie's owners who sent me lots of doggy stuff (for pups and adult dogs) which can be passed on to someone in need.

I am going to ensure that this all goes to a rescue centre or charity.

If you have any items that your puppy has grown out of, please PM me so that I can arrange to meet you and collect.

Equally, if there is anything in the box that you could make use of, (EG a bigger size harness for your puppy who has outgrown theirs) we could look at swapping.

OOOOHHHH A swap shop!! 💡😲

It would be lovely to swap anything that would fit your dogs, and take the rest to a rescue centre!

Rachel 🐕🐾💓

09/02/2024

***Fun4Paws Secure Field Update***

Just in case any of you wonderful Abbey Dog people aren't already following Fun4Paws....

The website will be open for bookings at 5.00pm today, taking bookings for field slots from 1st March 🥳🥳🥳

https://fun4paws.co.uk/

Today we took all of the wonderful things, built by my Dad (see previous posts!) into the field, and we got it all set up ready for you and your dogs to enjoy 🐕🚶‍♀️🌳

There are just a few finishing touches, which is why bookings for the field are being taken from 1st March. Just to give us time to make it perfect 🙂

We will, of course, continue helping you and your dogs with any training needs. That's what we do, and we do it well!

But now we have options of indoor training, or outdoor in the F4P field 😎

So many training oportunities here! Watch this space!

26/01/2024

***NEWS FLASH*** The Fun4Paws secure dog field will be opening on 1st March 2024 🙂

As I said right from the start, I've made sure that you wonderful people here are the first to know :-)

Do you want to be first into the safe and fun space?

Pop over to https://www.facebook.com/fun4pawsdogfield to keep an eye on how things are going.

It's soooo close now!

Rachel

Safe and secure 2.5 acre field for you and your dog to enjoy some quality time and have some fun!

19/01/2024

I don't want to tempt fate.... BUT.... Our secure dog field and training area (Fun4Paws) is very nearly finished!

Everything should be finished by the end of Jan / first week in Feb.

After that, I think the whole field will need a couple of weeks to rest. It's had a hard life for the last few months! 💤

Watch this space... 🐕🚶‍♀️

Safe and secure 2.5 acre field for you and your dog to enjoy some quality time and have some fun!

04/01/2024

Happy New Year everyone! Where’s the stop c**k? 🌨

24/12/2023

I’d like to thank all of our wonderful clients (past and present) for your support of Abbey Dog Training over the last year (and before, and beyond we hope!).

It’s been a year with lots of great changes for us.

We’ve moved premises and started setting up a secure dog field (check out Fun4Paws secure dog field, Swindon) which now has shelters for training in when the weather is rubbish, and 2.5 acres to use for training when the weather is good! We hope this will be completed around the beginning of February.

Lesley has moved to a small holding in Wales after working with me (Rachel) since the very beginning 15 years ago!

Other team members have taken the plunge with their own speciality dog training and walking, but continue to deliver classes for Abbey Dog Training as well.

We work brilliantly as a whole team helping so many dogs in so many ways.

So onwards and upwards into 2024 – and the whole team would like to wish all of you lovely people and dogs a fabulous Christmas. 🐕🎄🎅

11/11/2023

Tomorrow (Sunday) morning online class is called "Dogtail Cocktails!". So heads up for those who are in! You might want to Google Cocktails!

Obviously I'll be happy to do a tasting session for you - if that would help😂

Shadow, Peppa, Ollie, Alf, Lacey. See you tomorrow!

11/11/2023

Wow! It's been a mad week of ensuring this project goes to plan for your dogs :-)

And at the same time, running Abbey Dog Training to make sure we are all on the same page with our dogs needs🐕🤗

Dad has been hard at work again! He never stops! Maybe that's where I got it from?

I am very fortunate that my dad, in a former life, was a carpenter. Whoop Whoop to making stuff!

Dad now builds aeroplanes at home for a hobby. Yes - aeroplanes! Real light aircraft that he still flies!

So my point is, that Dad is bloody marvelous at making stuff for you all to enjoy in the field :-)

Dad's next aeroplane project is winging it's way over here from the USA. (Sorry about the pun!) So if there is anything you would like in the Fun4Paws Secure Dog Field, please request it now!

Mum (Jane Pattison) will be very greatful for Dad having another project 😂

So who is the best chap to make all the things we would all like for the dog walking field?

You guessed it. It's my Dad :-)

And in case you're in any doubt of how bloody marvelous he is with making things - here's a photo of him "pre dog training stuff" with the planes he built 🙂

09/11/2023

At first glance, this picture could be miss-understood! Zoom in to see what Teddy is playing with Kamila!

In case you are wondering why Teddy is on lead - he is now on a 10m long line (unless in a secure dog walking field), because he is losing his hearing. He's 12 on 20th November 🤗

So whilst he still has a fabulous recall, I'm not going to risk him not hearing me or Kamila when out on walks. Recall is soooo important, as all you lovely people know.

"What about the whistle Rachel" I hear you say. Yep - I love whistle recall training (as some of you will know), but I'm still not risking it with Teddy - regardless of how good he was only a few months ago.

Teddy's hearing seems to have gone down hill rapidly, so in some situations, like a windy field for example, I'm not convinced he would hear it, or fully understand what it means to him.

14/10/2023

Tomorrow mornings online membership session is ready! The quiz is ‘famous dogs’ and the exercises include ’proofing’ your cues, fun exercises you can do in the comfort of your own home, and posing for a selfie (your dog, not you!) 😊 If you’d like to join our membership, please email for details.

30/09/2023

Tomorrow morning, 10.30am, sees the re-opening of our fantastic online membership classes. I almost can't wait! There'll be a little quiz for the owners 🥸, and lot's of various training for the dogs 🐾 Tomorrow's quiz is called 'Get Yer Motor Running'.... 🏍️🏎️ You have to be in it to win it!

24/08/2023

Some of you will already know that Rachel is in the process of creating a new secure dog walking field in Wanborough. And work has now begun on the carpark (stage 1 of many!) 🥳

If you are interested in somewhere to walk your dog(s) quietly, and have some fun while you are there, then this will be the perfect place for you, once it's all built! 🐕🐾

It'll have 6' fencing all the way around it, and inside the secure fencing will be lots of fun things to do with your dog. More info will be incoming as the project grows.

Please visit https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550078774543 to be kept in the loop!

We will also be offering training from the same venue. Agility and Parkour are first on the list for next Spring, but the possibilities are endless!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550078774543

22/08/2023

I see puppies everywhere 🙂🐾

02/08/2023

**Back by popular demand** Sunday morning quiz and training shinanigans 🐶🎓🙂

In the comfort of your own home (Jim Jams are welcome but not compulsory!) 😂

Starting Sunday 1st October, 10.30am. 1 space remaining for someone who would like to have some fun with their dog, and like minded people, on Sunday mornings.

Please email team@abbeydogtraining if you are interested.

30/07/2023

Meet the lovely Cooper 😍 Natalie and Cooper recently completed our comprehensive 3 part puppy programme, including our invaluable 'pre-puppy preperation' session, which is held before bringing the puppy home. Cooper was a little shy in the classes, so our classroom set up with individual spaces for each puppy was just perfect for him and you could see his confidence growing week on week with the reward based training that we use 😀 You can read Natalie's full review on Facebook and Google.

20/07/2023

Meet Frayja 😍 This is what her owner had to say:

It was Freyja’s last session tonight. Thank you for a lovely course - we’ve picked up some very helpful tips. Freyja particularly enjoyed all the treats 🤣 Here she is showing off her Puppy Superstar certificate and rosette to her big bro George & sister Xanthe :)

11/07/2023

**Warning** Cuteness overload 😍
Nova graduated Parts 1, 2 and 3 of our puppy programme, and is coming back in a couple of weeks for a series of 1:1 sessions for Trick Training!

23/04/2023

If you haven't already heard about the *warning* alarm test, which will be sent to every phone in the country at 3.00pm today....

If you have a dog who is noise sensitive or a young puppy that doesn't need to hear this, you can put your phone on 'airplane mode' just before 3pm, then you can switch it back later.

This will ensure (I'm told) that you won't hear the 'siren'. There are other ways to switch this off either temporarily or permanantly.

I'm no expert on smart phones or iphones, so I'm putting this here for any of our dogs who have issues with noise, and for the pups who are starting classes with us later today. And again, this is just what I've been told....

My own dog Teddy has developed some noise sensitivity in his older age, so I've followed this advice!

****Putting your phone on silent or turning down your volume will not work****

Go to the settings in your phone, and switch to "airplane mode" or keep scrolling to the bottom and switch off "emergency notifications"

Don't forget to turn them back on afterwards, if you need them 🤗

14/03/2023

Rodney completed his 'puppy superstar' course this week. Here's what his carer had to say.

Hi All,

Just wanted to say a huge thank you from me and the graduate, Rodney (pls see photos). We loved our lessons and learnt so much! Thanks again!

Lisa & Rodney

And how adorable is Rodney in his graduation cap and bow tie (made by Lisa)! 😍🎓🐶

12/03/2023

I’ve spent so much time lately with many fabulous clients talking about this.

Mat training.

So useful in so many places. This photo is “stay out of the kitchen whilst I’m cooking!”

But I didn’t have to ‘nag’ Ted. He chooses to go to his mat 😁

When mat training is taught well, it can be transferred to pubs/friends houses/wherever you need!

Black dog on a brown mat isn’t great for photos!

24/12/2022

Wishing all of you dogs and your hoomans a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, from the team here at Abbey Dog Training.

We are all taking a break from training for a week or so, although emails will still be answered periodically over the next week, should you need to contact us before the New Year.

We've loved working with each and every one of you this year, and we look forward to 2023.

🐶🎄♥🐾