Covid
Do I have to wear a mask in class or my 121?
No, you do not have to wear a mask, but you can if it makes you feel more comfortable. You will be 2 metres away from other families attending and there is a lot of ventilation in the barn to keep everyone safe.
We also provide a water bowl for each dog at your station so you do not need to move around other people and hand sanitiser at each station so you can always feel safe.
We have hand sanitiser to use as you wish during class so if you touch equipment, you can feel safe and comfortable.
Class Attendance
What do I need?
Most importantly you need lots of soft yummy treats for your dog so they can enjoy their training and be ‘paid’ well for their hard work!! You will need your dog’s equipment, a collar, lead and harness if we are working on recall! You can bring along your dog’s favourite toy, but please do not bring squeaky ones as they can impact the other dogs in class.
For you bring warm clothing although we will be inside it is cold in the barn, and you need to ensure you are comfortable too!
What are suitable treats?
We want something that is small enough that your dog will not get too full, and we want something soft that will not require too much chewing! Some shop bought treats can be very big! Make sure you have checked the packet so you can cut your treats down to size, especially if you have a smaller dog!
Cooked Chicken, or any other meat, a little bit of cheese (too much cheese is bad for our dogs due to the salt content) JR Pet Pate (which we sell!), a little bit of ham again be mindful of salt content. If your dog likes vegetables, you can mix those in with the meat to add variety and texture!
We want our dogs to be paid well for their work, so we want to find what is valuable to your dog! Try a Taster plate to see what your dog’s loves best!
Can my family come too?
We welcome families to class, with the understanding that children must be quiet in class and not touch any of the other dogs during the session. We ask that you bring something to keep your children entertained that is quiet so they do not disturb other clients during the training. They must always ask permission from owners to ask to interact with the other dogs in class for everyone’s safety.
We must limit the number of children in class to 2 per group as it is difficult for the dogs to remain focused if we have too many distractions in the class!
Can I miss one and add on at the end of term?
Our class terms are 5 weeks and unfortunately if you miss a class, I cannot offer a replacement class as we work the programme, so we have the same dogs in the class for the term. This helps our dogs build focus around dogs as they get more comfortable with their classmates over the term.
If you know you will miss a class, let me know and I will email you what we covered so you do not miss out!
Can I work more than one dog?
Sorry no, we need one handler for each dog so you would need to book a separate class for a second dog or have another handler.
For siblings it is often better to have them in a separate class especially if they live together as they can be very distracting for each other.
My dog is reactive, can they come to class?
If you have a reactive dog, I suggest we have a chat before you book class to ensure that we are not putting the dog in a stressful situation that they will not cope with. We have ways to help dogs that find other dogs a challenge, but like us, all dogs are different, and one size does not fit all!
Much better to discuss and find what will work for you and your dog best!
121 Training
What do I need?
You need to bring with you lots of soft yummy treats, see What are suitable treats question.
You should also bring with you your equipment for your dog, lead, collar and harness if appropriate, if you do not have a harness and we are working on recall I will be able to lend you a harness and I would recommend purchasing one for your dog
Where does it happen?
Generally, 121’s are at my training barn at our base on Ballynacoy Road, if I need to do a house visit we will discuss that but your initial 121 will be at our property.
Mantrailing & Scent Work
What is Mantrailing?
This is the latest dog sport! It is fantastic fun, and we teach your dog to find specific people! To start mantrailing you attend an Introduction workshop and then you can dip in and out as much as you like!
We work one dog at a time so your dog is not having to work with other dogs, with that in mind this is a fantastic sport for reactive dog as this will give them a fantastic outlet where they can come and have fun without dealing with other dogs.
No matter what breed, they can do this, they all have a nose, and they are all amazing!
Is my dog suitable to do Mantrailing?
Yes, this is the most inclusive sport for dogs! Dog reactive, people reactive, three legs, blind, deaf, on wheels, they can all do it!!
It is a fantastic gift to give dogs to enrich their lives and it is great fun for us as well!
How do I start Mantrailing?
You book on an introduction workshop where you and your dog will learn the game and this will qualify you to continue your mantrailing at our continuation sessions.
Where can we go with Mantrailing?
Once you have attended an introduction workshop you can dip in as much or a little as you like, we have training sessions every week on a Sunday morning and in the Spring and Summer Tuesday evenings. These sessions consist of 4 teams and each dog gets 3 trails.
Progression for Mantrailing is through levels, we have 4 levels that you can obtain and each one increasing in difficulty for you and your dog!
For Level 1 we build your dog’s foundations, building in different direction changes, locations, rural, urban etc so your dog has experience in these different conditions, Weather conditions also of course impact the dogs work and that will naturally, especially here, develop that you gain experience in all weathers! Your level 1 will be a double blind (you do not know where the trail layer has gone) aged trail of up to 40 mins and will be approx. 400metre + with at least 1 change of direction.
Would Scent work help my dog?
YES! Whatever the issue, scent will help them. Our dogs see the world through their noses and using that nose is not only calming for them but it is a fantastic way to use their wonderful brains! Passive scent work (UK Sniffer Dog Classes) & Mantrailing are brilliant ways to use your dog’s brain and leave your dog feeling calm, relaxed and exhausted!!
Reactive dogs, fearful dogs, any behaviour issue you have scent can be used to help and make them feel more confident and calmer in the world!
Which Class do I need?
What would be the best class for my dog?
Depending on your dog’s age and what you are looking for we have a variety of activities that will work for you dog! Puppy Class up to 6 months, Mutley Crew over 6 months to cover general training. More obedience, IMDT Behavours 1 – 5, Scent work for mental stimulation and to build your dogs nose work! Mantrailing for fun for both dog and human
I want my dog to be more obedient which class is best?
If your dog is a puppy (less than 6 months old) puppy class is the one for you.
If your dog is over 6 months, is either a rescue or has just not received any formal training before then Mutley Crew is the one for you!
You can also go for IMDT Behaviours, and we have 5 levels increasing in difficulty! These are fun classes that enable you to improve your dog’s obedience whilst having a good time!
How old does my puppy have to be to join class?
Once you puppy has had their vaccinations, they are good to go and come along to class! It is never too soon to start that training!
My dog gets very over excited at the sight of dogs, can they still come to class?
If you have a dog that has issues with other dogs we can speak before you book, if we feel that environment will be too much for your dog we will discuss booking 121 services.
Most dogs especially adolescent dogs get over excited at the sight of another dog. We want every dog in class to succeed and we set up class to enable that and ensure that everyone is having fun!
Remember training is all about fun for you and your dog!
What is Hoopers?
Hoopers is a fantastic sport very similar to Agility, the difference being that the dogs run through hoops, go around barrels and we have tunnels that are a bit taller than the standard agility tunnels.
This is a great way to introduce a puppy to ‘agility’ style training as they are too young to start standard agility, equally a great sport for retired agility dogs that do not like the wear and tear on their body any more!
Agility is a great sport, the downside is that using things like A frames and dog walks can take a huge toll on our dogs bodies, making tight turns and moving so fast we can often end up with a lot of injuries.
Hoopers is designed to ensure your dog is NOT injured, no tight turns, no climbing up equipment and not jumping! Dogs love it and it is a lot of fun as a handler – Check our blog on the website
Equipment Selection
What Harness do you recommend?
It really depends on your dog’s body shape and how comfortable they are in the harness, the best guidance to ensure that the harness does not restrict shoulder movement!
When you look at a harness you want it to fit your dog with a nice Y Shape at the front so it is not causing any restriction in the shoulder movement, you want to ensure that the harness is not too close to under their arms so it is not rubbing and I would always recommend a two point harness, that means it has a D ring on the front of the harness as well as the back. This enables you to use 2 points of contact with a double ended lead, giving you more control and helping your dog walk more in balance!
Like us all dogs are different, and one size does not fit all!
My favourite harness is a TTouch harness as this is a balanced harness and has the two points of contact!
What equipment do I need to come to class?
You need your dog’s collar and harness along with a flat lead. We will provide long leads for exercises. The most important thing to bring along with your dog is lots and lots of soft yummy treats!!
Leads
There are a lot of different types of leads out there, and it can get confusing! For class you want a flat lead that is either attached to a collar or harness or a double ended flat lead which can attach to two points on a harness, front and back.
Extendable leads are not useable in class situations and are not recommended generally when helping a dog to learn to walk nicely on a loose lead. The mechanics of the equipment are such that the dog needs to apply pressure to get more lead and therefore leads to a dog that pulls more! These leads have their place but a flat lead is always best in class!
