Acorn Dog Training Club

08/03/2024

I absolutely love this walk around newbourme, finishing at the pub for a nice cup of tea and a snack.... The dogs had a lovely time catching up with their friend too

07/03/2024

I'm excited to announce that from April the training at Kembroke Kennels and Cattery will be taking place with Zoe Witmore. Zoe is an experienced trainer who already helps run the fun agility with the club. She has worked at the kennels for many years and has a wealth of knowledge. This will allow me to offer more group training as i'm currently running at nearly full capacity.... more on that to follow soon

06/03/2024

I have taken this from another group as was too good not to share

Everyone who is thinking of getting dogs should read this because you need to understand this reality:

***I am a 21st century dog.***
-I'm a Malinois.
Overskilled among dogs, I excel in all disciplines and I'm always ready to work: I NEED to work.
But nowadays I get asked to chill on the couch all day everyday.

-I am an Akita Inu.
My ancestors were selected for dog fighting.
Today I get asked to be tolerant and I get scolded for my reactivity when another approaches me.

-I am a Beagle.
When I chase my prey, I raise my voice so the hunters could follow.
Today they put an electric collar on me to shut up, and you make me come back to you - no running - with a snap of your fingers.

-I am a Yorkshire Terrier.
I was a terrifying rat hunter in English mines.
Today they think I can't use my legs and they always hold me in their arms.

-I'm a Labrador Retriever.
My vision of happiness is a dive into a pond to bring back the duck he shot to my master.
Today you forget I'm a walking, running, swimming dog; as a result I'm fat, made to stay indoors, and to babysit.

-I am a Jack Russell.
I can take on a fox, a mean badger, and a rat bigger than me in his den.
Today I get scolded for my character and high energy, and forced to turn into a quiet living room dog.

-I am a Siberian Husky.
Experienced the great, wide open spaces of Northern Europe, where I could drag sleds for long distances at impressive speeds.
Today I only have the walls of the house or small garden as a horizon, and the holes I dig in the ground just to release energy and frustration, trying to stay sane.

-I am a border collie
I was made to work hours a day in partnershipwith my master, and I am an unmistakable artist of working with the herd.
Today they are mad at me because, for lack of sheep, I try to check bikes, cars, children in the house and everything in motion.

I am ...
I am a 21st century dog.
I'm pretty, I'm alert, I'm obedient, I stay in a bag...but I'm also an individual who, from centuries of training, needs to express my instincts, and I am *not* suited for the sedentary life you'd want me to lead.
Spending eight hours a day alone in the house or in the garden - with no work and no one to play or run with, seeing you for a short time in the evening when you get home, and only getting a small toilet walk will make me deeply unhappy.
I'll express it by barking all day, turning your yard into a minefield, doing my needs indoors, being unmanageable the rare times I'll find myself outside, and sometimes spending my days sunk, sad, lonely, and depressed, on my pillow.
You may think that I should be happy to be able to enjoy all this comfort while you go to work, but actually I’ll be exhausted and frustrated, because this is absolutely NOT what I'm meant to do, or what I need to be doing.
If you love me, if you've always dreamed of me, if my beautiful blue eyes or my athletic look make you want me, but you can't give me a real dog's life, a life that's really worth living according to my breed, and if you can't offer me the job that my genes are asking, DO NOT buy or adopt me!
If you like the way I look but aren't willing to accept my temperament, gifts, and traits derived from long genetic selection, and you think you can change them with only your good will, then DO NOT BUY OR ADOPT ME.
I’m a dog from the 21st century, yes, but deep inside me, the one who fought, the one who hunted, the one who pulled sleds, the one who guided and protected a herd still lives within.
So think **very** carefully before you choose your dog. And think about getting two, rather than one, so I won't be so very lonely waiting for you all day. Eight or ten hours is just a workday to you, but it's an eternity for me to be alone.

06/03/2024

I have taken this from another group as was too good not to share......

Everyone who is thinking of getting dogs should read this because you need to understand this reality:

***I am a 21st century dog.***
-I'm a Malinois.
Overskilled among dogs, I excel in all disciplines and I'm always ready to work: I NEED to work.
But nowadays I get asked to chill on the couch all day everyday.

-I am an Akita Inu.
My ancestors were selected for dog fighting.
Today I get asked to be tolerant and I get scolded for my reactivity when another approaches me.

-I am a Beagle.
When I chase my prey, I raise my voice so the hunters could follow.
Today they put an electric collar on me to shut up, and you make me come back to you - no running - with a snap of your fingers.

-I am a Yorkshire Terrier.
I was a terrifying rat hunter in English mines.
Today they think I can't use my legs and they always hold me in their arms.

-I'm a Labrador Retriever.
My vision of happiness is a dive into a pond to bring back the duck he shot to my master.
Today you forget I'm a walking, running, swimming dog; as a result I'm fat, made to stay indoors, and to babysit.

-I am a Jack Russell.
I can take on a fox, a mean badger, and a rat bigger than me in his den.
Today I get scolded for my character and high energy, and forced to turn into a quiet living room dog.

-I am a Siberian Husky.
Experienced the great, wide open spaces of Northern Europe, where I could drag sleds for long distances at impressive speeds.
Today I only have the walls of the house or small garden as a horizon, and the holes I dig in the ground just to release energy and frustration, trying to stay sane.

-I am a border collie
I was made to work hours a day in partnershipwith my master, and I am an unmistakable artist of working with the herd.
Today they are mad at me because, for lack of sheep, I try to check bikes, cars, children in the house and everything in motion.

I am ...
I am a 21st century dog.
I'm pretty, I'm alert, I'm obedient, I stay in a bag...but I'm also an individual who, from centuries of training, needs to express my instincts, and I am *not* suited for the sedentary life you'd want me to lead.
Spending eight hours a day alone in the house or in the garden - with no work and no one to play or run with, seeing you for a short time in the evening when you get home, and only getting a small toilet walk will make me deeply unhappy.
I'll express it by barking all day, turning your yard into a minefield, doing my needs indoors, being unmanageable the rare times I'll find myself outside, and sometimes spending my days sunk, sad, lonely, and depressed, on my pillow.
You may think that I should be happy to be able to enjoy all this comfort while you go to work, but actually I’ll be exhausted and frustrated, because this is absolutely NOT what I'm meant to do, or what I need to be doing.
If you love me, if you've always dreamed of me, if my beautiful blue eyes or my athletic look make you want me, but you can't give me a real dog's life, a life that's really worth living according to my breed, and if you can't offer me the job that my genes are asking, DO NOT buy or adopt me!
If you like the way I look but aren't willing to accept my temperament, gifts, and traits derived from long genetic selection, and you think you can change them with only your good will, then DO NOT BUY OR ADOPT ME.
I’m a dog from the 21st century, yes, but deep inside me, the one who fought, the one who hunted, the one who pulled sleds, the one who guided and protected a herd still lives within.
So think **very** carefully before you choose your dog. And think about getting two, rather than one, so I won't be so very lonely waiting for you all day. Eight or ten hours is just a workday to you, but it's an eternity for me to be alone.

03/03/2024

Gotta love a bit of slow mo

29/02/2024

Next puppy courses available to book now, contact for more information on [email protected]

26/02/2024

A great first session on another intro to scent work course... The first one with a couple of non members!

26/02/2024

Photos of clever dogs and owners who received their good citizen awards last week

25/02/2024

A nice walk over Needham lakes today. A great place to take young puppies to see and meet lots of people and dogs (just remember to keep them on the lead around the birds)

22/02/2024

Yesterday we said goodbye to the foundation course puppies. A few are staying on to do our improver course so we look forward to seeing them continue to grow in their learning and development

21/02/2024

Handouts for the last puppy course already to hand out 😀

21/02/2024

More good citizen handouts for today 😄😄😄😄

20/02/2024

Little Belle smashed the final course on the progressive fun agility course. Lots of fun had by all. Back to an intro course starting next week 😄😄😄

19/02/2024

Certificates all ready to be handed out today for those that passed their good citizen schemes at the weekend 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

18/02/2024

Despite the early start and horrid weather, the acorn scent members did the club proud again. With all 3 dogs and handlers qualifying and we even managed a 1st and 4th place too.

17/02/2024

Its been a long day running 4 kennel club good citizen tests today - 2 bronze and 2 silver and Im delighted to say that all 10 dogs passed their bronze and 10 dogs out of 12 passed their silver. A huge congratulations to all members who took part, it's never easy as nerves always come in to play which the dogs pick up on. But everything is a learning experience and time spent with your dog is never wasted!! Now time to rest before heading off bright and early in the morning for a scent work competition for myself and a couple of members from the club.

16/02/2024

Another win for team acorn in scent work UK today.... Huge congratulations to Marie and Maisie , very well deserved

15/02/2024

EDITED - SPACE NOW TAKEN BUT A ONE OFF NEXT THURSDAY (22ND FEB) IS AVAILABLE WITH FOLLOW ON SESSIONS FROM THE 14TH MARCH SO PLEASE STILL CONTACT IF YOU WOULD LIKE SOME TRAINING

Due to a cancellation I have space in my puppy playschool at Kembroke kennels (ip10 0bu) from next week. Dates are flexible depending on availability and you can sign up for 1 off sessions for £25 or 5 for £90. With a maximum of only 3 pups each week this a great way to train young dogs (upto 24 months old) around a couple of other dogs and I say it's somewhere between a 1-1 session and the bigger courses. Each week we work on whatever suits the dogs that are present. This may include recall, walking, games and general obedience and attention. Please contact [email protected] for more information or to book

14/02/2024

I'm always trying to find new ways to improve the club so when I found these little boxes I couldn't resist buying them as a little reward for those finishing the puppy improver course. Which of course will go along very nicely with their new photo opportunity.
A little pouch of leaflets with discount codes, information and a thankyou note will also now accompany their handwritten postcard. And let's not forget a very special keyring marking the achievement, made by a dear friend of the club who very sadly passed away recently.

13/02/2024

It's been a busy few days making and decorating the puppy photo boards so you can take a photo of your clever pup when they finish the foundation or improver course. We hope you like them

12/02/2024

One of last week's advanced classes practising their stop command. They were challenged to stop 'in the box's here's Palfrey showing an excellent example

10/02/2024

Congratulations to splendid who completed his level 2 excellence yesterday in scent work UK. He now joins his dad and nephew in level 3

09/02/2024

Beautiful little Arlo comes to my puppy playschool but is also having some 1-1s to help his owners set off on the right foot (or paw😉). Today we went for a walk as Arlo has been reluctant to walk but with a few handling techniques he was soon skipping along. We also looked at introducing the wait and some threshold training as he lives on a very busy road. I can't wait to see this beautiful boy grow in confidence and skills

09/02/2024

A snippet from today's walk with Wren. As you can see it's pretty boring. I'm not calling her every 5 minutes, I'm not telling her what to do every step of the way. What I am doing is interacting with her when she makes good choices. That might be checking in with her or telling her she's correct when she ignores the dog that enters the field (around 1.25). This is what I want a walk to look like when the dog is an adult. So as a puppy we did lots of interactive games, lots of reinforcement for coming back to me without being asked and lots of helping her make the right decision. So as a puppy if she saw a dog we would have probably decided to play with a ball at that point or play some find it games with the treats. It's all about shaping the dog to make the decisions you want when they are older so spend the time and put in the hard work when they are young so you can sit back and relax and enjoy them when they are older.
Ps that doesn't mean all our time spent together has this level of little interaction... We do many other activities such as scent work and obedience work. Walks such as these are just part of our life together. And say if I went to a walk where there were lots of dogs and people I would up my level of engagement with her to match the level of distractions so she still chooses to engage with me

08/02/2024

Can you believe these are just puppies? Learning the importance of stay is so vital for dogs so we introduce it nice and young and these puppies are just smashing it 😃😃😃
Contact me for more information on puppy training options available

06/02/2024

Sidney is in for some training whilst his owners are away and he's staying at Kembroke Kennels and Cattery . He's very young and finds the world super exciting so can pull a lot which is what we've been working on. Today we even managed a walk down the track which in general he walked beautifully for 🥰

05/02/2024

For anyone coming to the club between the 13th and 16th

05/02/2024

Huge congratulations to Laura at Kembroke Kennels and Cattery

We are thrilled to share that Laura has passed her final level 3 exams with flying colours and will be starting in The Grooming Barn this month. Laura's extensive experience of working at the kennels for over 5 years has equipped her with a wealth of knowledge on breeds of all sizes and shapes. With her completion of training at the same school as Ceri-Ann, we know she is ready to provide exceptional grooming services for your pets.

Laura's addition means the salon will now be open 6 days a week with her grooming every Thursday and alternate Saturdays, ensuring we can accommodate everyone's scheduling needs.

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you again soon 🫧

04/02/2024

Huge congrats to those that went to an NNA trial today and got placed. And team acorn brought back another 1st place 😀

04/02/2024

huge thank you to Jays Pet Products for our lovely dumbells to keep in stock for our members. so pleased with them 😃