Does anybody know of a good obedience trainer in the portsmouth (and surrounding) area?

I tried finding a class but they had loads of dogs hence loads of barking, shouting and not a lot of learning.

Thanks.

Hi i live in Portsmouth what class did you fine that was not any good.
The class i go to is a small group and very good, the puppy classes are always quite large but we are doing the silver course and only 6 dogs in our class.

Helen

Hi,
We went to one run by Russell Becque down in stamshaw sports centre on a thursday.....only went once.

Portsmouth  Vince Forehead (Clicker Teacher of the Year 2005 & 2006)    023 9252 8166  Clicker Training for Puppy, Beginners, Advanced levels

K9 Dog Training    Portsmouth      Tanya      07909782886  GCDS Modern Training methods 10 week courses

Petersfield & District Dog Training Society  Petersfield, Hampshire  Mrs Rebecca Hayter 16 Victory green, Tipner,Portsmouth,Hants.PO2 8RH    Rebecca on 023 93 643986  Puppy to competitive training. Including the Kennel Club's Good Citizen tests

Scallywags  Portsmouth  Kerry Bradury The Haven Turkey Island Shedfield Southampton SO32 2JE    01329 833813

Anchorage Park Dog Training & Agility Club  Portsmouth, Hampshire  Viv 023 92 830271 or Jackie 01329 835755     023 92 830271 or 01329 835755  OBEDIENCE - Sunday Evening - 1800 - 2100hrs Beginners, Novice, Advanced AGILITY - Monday Evening - (Indoors)1900 - 2100hrs Beginners, Novice All breeds welcome, classes informative and fun

Did you try any of these ?

I was hoping somebody may advise me of a GOOD class/trainer.....not a list out of the yellow pages!!!!!

How dare you accuse me of putting up a list from Yellow pages ! Rebecca Haytor's club is one of the premier clubs in the UK & holds an excellent Championship show every year-I don't know of one club that holds KC licensed shows that could afford a Yellow pages advert.

They are from the UK's top Obedience Site !

If it is beneath you to call a few numbers & visit the club then don't ask for recommendations on a public forum

If it is beneath you to call a few numbers & visit the club then don't ask for recommendations on a public forum

Actually i have phoned an astonishing amount of trainers/clubs.....even spent good money on a one-2-one trainer who was as good as useless....he was also supposed to be one of the best in the county...and one of the classes i went to run by Russell Becque is also described with lots of courses, with different levels, he also charges an awful lot of money. His classes consisted of three trainers shouting at already noisy animals....needless to say i didn't go back......albeit after having paid up front for an 8 week course.

Russell doesn't run any of the clubs I posted & rather that pay up front sight unseen far better to call, ask to visit a couple of times & then choose.

I presume you have spoken to Rebecca & been to Petersfeld then ?

No, I haven't as i had never heard of her. My priority is small classes and a good trainer that doesn't user the clicker method....i will phone Rebecca and enquire about her course.

Hi

I use the Anchorage Park dog training course and have found them very good with my westie Robbie, he passed his puppy class then his bronze and we are doing his silver 1 at the moment, they are small classes and very well run he has done remarkably well.

Helen

Scallywags are very good I have been doing agility with them for years. Haven't been to any of their other classes but, Russel, one of their trainers is excellent if you want one to one training. I think that they do use clicker though but don't insist on it.

> a good trainer that doesn't user the clicker method

Sorry I can't help with recommendations in your area but I'm wondering if you can be won over to the clicker method?

Is it because you've tried it, and not got on with it, or just don't like the idea of it?

I'm only asking as I was extremely sceptical until introduced to it by my trainer (in Weston Super Mare so a bit far!).  She explained how much easier it is to train to Silver and Gold KC Good Citizens standard with a clicker - she's trained both ways.  Having tried it with my youngest I was amazed at how receptive he was and how quickly he learnt new things.  The ability to 'mark' immediately the behaviours I was looking for meant that he 'got it' almost straight away.  I'm amazed how tuned in he was to his own clicker too - I really thought the dogs might get confused with 6 of us all clicking away :)

I understand that timing is paramount and I do think it requires a good trainer to assist but it certainly worked for us - we got Gold

Dianesdog, I hope you find what you're looking for.  To anyone else within travelling distance of W-S-M - here is my recommendation

Scallywags listed above is brilliant, although they do like the clicker method as it is the easiest way to train a dog - imo anyway. I really don't quite understand why people are so against it sometimes.

THe trouble is with asking for personal reccomendations, its not always so straight forwards. One mans meat is another mans poison. I personally think my club is great, but you may not like it because its clicker based. It depends on what you and your dog will get out of it at the end of the day. You're best bet is to think about what you are after and phone around the local clubs (probalby using moonmaiden's excellent list) asking a few questions to see if they are what you are looking for and then going to watch a class before you commit. Only then can you probably find what you are looking for.

Diane are you looking for high end obedience or to start with the basic training.
I personally would head for somewhere which is accredited for the KCGC scheme and visit their training sessions to see what you think. They all have to, or should be on the same song sheet so to speak.

As someone has said that each trainer is going to be different and what works with one handler and dog may not for someone else.
I know where i go works for me and my last dog and many other people but is not what others are looking for.
I have never tried clicker training and i'd love to give it a go, but have no idea where to start and no KCGC clubs nearby use it. But tbh i would prefer even more to learn whistle commands, saves me calling out when they have gone for a nosey in the undergrowth.