The Fens Dog Training Club

14/08/2024

New course of Fun Dog Agility starting soon!

We have Agility sessions starting soon… so book your places now so you don’t miss out!
Friday 30th Aug 6pm and 7.30pm
Sat 31st Aug 9.30am and 11am
Come have some fun with your dog and learn new skills 🐶💕☺️

07/08/2024

Well done what a fantastic group of puppies 🐶💕☺️

02/07/2024

Not written by me but I totally agree with this.

It is the basis of all our teaching.

26/06/2024

18/06/2024

14/06/2024

We have some Agility spaces starting Fri 21st June and Sat 22nd June, message us for more details ☺️🐶💕

22/05/2024

22/05/2024

Some lovely photos from last nights puppy teams 😊💕🐶

15/05/2024

Road closure tonight Wednesday

Road closure tonight: Wednesday- from Elm Hall rounderbout A47 on A1101 to Emneth turning.
Alternative route From A47 down Wilkins Road and Lady’s Drove into Emneth Centre.

11/04/2024

Due to our puppy classes being extremly popular we are offering an additional 10 week course commencing on Wednesday 17th April 7.30pm-8.45pm.

Limites spaces available, please contact us for more details.

06/04/2024

Joe here and time for one of my blogs.

Qualifications and abilities in dog training.

When people say it is unregulated, they are right but of course there are a number of self-appointed organisations that give out qualifications to those who partake. Suffice to say I certainly have one of these qualifications, however my opinion of such things is so poor that it is not something I advertise.

At the time I was teaching and competing at the highest level in competitive obedience with 3 dogs having trained with top successful trainers. I thought that maybe it was time that I got a paper qualification so enrolled in a residential course that certainly cost a considerable amount of money which resulted in both myself and nearly all others who attended from different parts of the world gaining our qualification. Did going on this course make me a better trainer in any way, definitely not, in fact after the first day it was obvious to me that those running the course had poor training skills.

Most on the course had not trained their own dog to even rudimentary standards and despite now being a so-called qualified instructor with a piece of paper that said they were, they were no better than when they started the course and for me if they couldn’t train their own dog the thought that they could help someone else to train their dogs was ludicrous. I put it down to one of life’s experiences and had obviously wasted money on a worthless qualification.

Shortly after I spent the same amount of time training with a top trainer where there were no qualifications at the end of the course but certainly not a waste of time as picked up many useful tips.

I have always had an interest in both training and behaviour, keeping up to date with all the latest thinking and developments. This is to improve both success with my own dogs as well as their joy and enjoyment in what we do which for me is important which was recently demonstrated brilliantly by our good friend Lorna in winning the Dog Obedience Championship where both mechanical skills and consideration of how our dogs feel matters.
I remember attending a course on behaviour where most were already involved and was initially impressed with the conversation as all were using the behaviour terms. I was less impressed later when we were presented with clients who brought their dogs with issues in where we needed to assess and come up with a programme to improve matters. The abilities to read the dogs was woeful in many cases but sadly is very prevalent in the dog world.

My main interest has always been in training and competing with my own dogs though maybe not to the same extent as I did in my younger days. I certainly spent some time helping people with behaviour problems as well as running courses but gave most of it up until Christine persuaded me to help out mainly with running the progress class/ competition class where all have already got a good foundation from the puppy foundation where much more than is required in the Kc puppy foundation is taught. Both dogs and handlers are keen and committed to learn more, which makes it a pleasurable experience for me as well. I do help out with puppies and lovely to see them transform.

When friends from around the country come and join us for get togethers it is even more enjoyable where we train together including those in the progress class if they want to.
From next weekend the competition season starts where many of us will be campaigning our dogs travelling around the country and enjoying our dogs so only meet up in smaller groups.
But of course, the purpose of this post was to highlight that as far as qualifications are concerned, there aren’t any that I would give any credence to including the ones I hold. You only need to watch someone with their own dog to see the connection and abilities that they have which is normally evident. I even remember a time where a person presented a CV to a veterinary practice where I was dealing with behaviour work and setting up a satellite for an assistance dogs organisation that listed attending one of my weekend courses as though that was a qualification in itself. This is why what Christine suggests about sitting in and watching any training before committing to anything is always a good idea. Obviously to someone who knows little about training even the simplest things can look good. The combination of knowledge as well practical abilities and experience is a minimum, but above all else imo is the ability to train your own dog to an acceptable standard as without it the chances of teaching others are nil.

05/04/2024

We offer puppy training courses using positive reinforcement methods.

Our clients are taught how to train their puppies using clicker training methods. We want the puppies training with us to offer behaviours which they will be rewarded for. We do not use force or pain in any of the training we offer.

The training we offer has been used by us to train our own dogs to competition level. We know our methods work and are always happy to demonstrate how what we teach can be built upon throughout your puppies life to produce well balanced puppies.

We are quite often asked if we do 1:1 puppy training. Our question is why do you need 1:1 with a puppy. Puppies need appropriate socialisation amongst other dogs and people. They need to learn with distractions, so that they can cope with life but focus on you, their owner.

All puppies can learn in isolation or in familiar surroundings but when you take it on the road, it will fall apart. The puppy who has not learnt to focus with distractions will not focus when out in a stimulating environment.

We offer progress classes to competition standard using clicker training methods.

We have regular weekend training sessions for those who have continued to train with us.

When courses end our commitment to our clients continues, we are always available to help those who have trained with us.

All training offered at Whiteacre Dog Training Centre is provided by The Fens Dog Training Club.

04/04/2024

Lots of amazing characters in this adult dog group, well done for the last 10 weeks 🐶😊

04/04/2024

😂

This little pup thought two legs were better than four…. “Look how tall I am “ 🐶

04/04/2024

What a fantastic group of puppy’s well done for all your hard work 😊🐶💕

19/03/2024

What a lovely group of puppy’s well done

18/03/2024

We have two places become available for Fun Dog Agility, one on Saturday at 9.30am and one on Saturday at 11am , message us for more details… starting this week.

09/02/2024

We now have a New availability for a Fun Pet Agility session on Fridays at 6pm any interest give us a message 🐶😊💕 as now taking bookings and only limited places available !

02/02/2024

Spaces on our Agility sessions

We have a few spaces on our Fun Pet Agility sessions on Friday evening and Saturday morning starting 9th / 10th Feb… booked in 5 week blocks. Message us for more information 🐶💕😊

25/01/2024

Well done puppies and of course handlers too 😊🐶

15/01/2024

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

DUE TO THE LOW TEMPERATURES FORECAST FOR TONIGHT MONDAY 15.01.2024, ALL DOG TRAINING CLASSES ARE CANCELLED.

ALL PUPPY OWNERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED EITHER BY MESSENGER OR TEXT. PLEASE CHECK YOUR MESSAGES.

SEE YOU NEXT MONDAY 😊

31/12/2023

Wishing all our customers past and present a Happy New Year.
Thank you for all your support throughout 2023 and we are looking forward to 2024.

30/12/2023

Wow
Our first puppy course of 2024 sold out!
Limited spaces available on our second puppy course of the year, commencing at the end of January 2024.
For more information please contact us 😊

20/12/2023

Importance Notice :
Road is closed half way down Elmside from village centre end so you will need to come in other way tonight… ignore road closed signs off holycroft road and you can get to us…