Puppy Education
Set your puppy up for life
Four reward-based courses rooted in the latest welfare science, taught by Karen, ABTC-registered animal training instructor and APDT-accredited tutor.
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Or choose a single course
Positive Puppy Preschool
Course information
This course combines Karen Pryor Academy’s Puppy Start Right with the University of Lincoln’s Life Skills programme. Karen has built on both approaches to create Level 1 classes focused on preventing common behaviour problems and helping puppies learn calm, appropriate behaviour in everyday life.
Over 5 weeks, you’ll learn how dogs learn, how to teach effectively, and how to build training into your daily routine. The focus is on what your puppy is learning at all times, rather than simply teaching specific commands.
Each week has a theme, including cooperative care, exploration and obstacle work, introductory scentwork, clicker training and outdoor practice. Classes also cover key puppy basics such as recall, loose lead walking and positions.
One session takes place outdoors in a secure private field, giving puppies the chance to be off lead and practice their skills in a real-world setting.
We also work with Fiona of Mersea Mutts, an experienced, highly skilled scentwork trainer, who teaches the scentwork session.
The first class is a 90-minute Zoom webinar without puppies. All remaining classes are in person, last one hour, and are attended with puppies.
What will I need?
We recommend the Essential Starter Pack, which includes everything you need for class while saving money. It contains:
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Red Kong™
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Snuffle Ball
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Lickimat™
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Dried pure meat treats
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JR Pate chub
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Soft brush
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Nail Clippers
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Extra clicker
Cost £45
You’ll also need a collar and lead, water bowl, and bed. Full details will be covered in the webinar.
Instructors
Classes are taught by a highly qualified instructor with a canine honours degree in behaviour & training, training through the University of Lincoln and Karen Pryor Academy, ABTC-ATI status, APDT membership, and professional experience in animal behaviour and training.
Fiona Fowler from Mersea Mutts will instruct the nosework classes. She is a highly qualified trainer with full membership of the IMDT, both instructor and assessor with Global Mantrailing, College of Scentwork Instructor and a member of the WSDA. She has recently introduced Scentwalks to her repertoire.
Who is it for?
Suitable for puppies aged 8 to 20 weeks, with a maximum of 4 puppies per course.
When
New courses begin every Month.
The first session is a compulsory induction webinar for owners only, held on Monday evenings from 7.30 to 9.00 pm.
5 practical classes take place on Tuesday evenings from 8.30 to 9.30 pm, starting the following day.
The 6th outdoor session will usually take place on the Sunday of the 5th week. (This may change subject to venue availability}.
What is Included?
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The 5 classes plus 1 webinar
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A welcome bag with treats & a clicker.
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A Kindle copy of Puppy Start Right: Foundation Training for the Companion Dog by Kenneth and Debbie Martin is included and supports the course content.
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A rosette & certificate for completing the course.
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Access to a comprehensive resourse library
Cost
£180
Venue
Alresford Village Hall, Alresford, Essex CO7 8AY
Additional information
Early experiences are vital for puppy development. The first 12 weeks play a major role in shaping how a puppy responds to the world throughout life.
While traditional advice has been to wait until after the second vaccination before socialising puppies, more recent evidence suggests puppies may have some protection after the first vaccine.
Owners should discuss the balance between socialisation and vaccination timing with their vet.
We strongly support early socialisation, so puppies may join after their first vaccination.
This leaflet explains more about the benefits and risks puppy socialisation and vaccination. Click here.
APDT Good Companion Award
Course information
Puppy Level 2 is a 6 week course designed to either progress you and your puppy from the basic skills learnt in the Positive Puppy Preschool classes or as a start for training with your puppy. Puppy level 2 will allow you to work towards the APDT Good Companion Award. Only 4 puppies and their families in each class.
Foundation Level is a 6 week course that usually runs alongside the Puppy level but has a different assessment criteria. It is suitable for older puppies who are just beginning their training journey. As with other courses only 4 puppies and their families in each class.
Improver Level is a 6 week course for Dogs who have passed either the Puppy or Foundation Levels Good Comanion Award. As with other courses only 4 puppies and their families in each class.
What is included?
● 6 weeks tuition learning and progressing basic behaviours
● Access to a resources library with videos, handouts and other useful links
● Continuing assessment of the award criteria
● Certificate and rosette for those passing their APDT Good Companion
PLEASE NOTE: these classes usually run on a Friday evening but not always on consecutive weeks. Please see the course dates on the What's On page by clicking the 'join' button
Who is it for?
Puppy level 2 is for puppies who have completed the Puppy Preschool Course and for older puppies up to 7 months who wish to start training. We strongly recommend that puppies under 20 weeks start on the Puppy Start Right Course. Pups between 8 months and one year will take the Foundation Assessment.
Cost £160
Venue
Alresford Village Hall, Alresford, Essex CO7 8AY
The Award
Full details of the award criterion can be found here.
The Guardians Guide can be found here.
Co-Operative Care
Why Cooperative Care?
Dogs simply do not need to fear veterinary clinics, staff, and procedures. With well executed training, many can instead learn to be comfortable or even happy at the veterinarian, and there can be no better gift to our dogs than a better, more joyful life.
Conditioned Emotional Response (CER)
When dogs are fearful, or when we just want to be proactive to ensure they like something, we use a different learning system: classical conditioning (CC, also called Pavlovian or respondent conditioning). At the end of a CC protocol, your dog has a “conditioned emotional response”, or CER. A CER means the sight of “it”—the item, place, or person—causes your dog to happily anticipate good things… in our case: treats.
CC is the reason your dog gets excited when you pick up the leash and gets a bit sad when you pick up your briefcase and keys. For this training, use your dog’s favourite, delicious food, and don’t give her any outside of training for now.
Skills Covered
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Chin Rest Station
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Positive CER to
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Brush
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Touching feet/nail clippers
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Clippers
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Teeth Inspection
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Gentle Restraint
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When
3 weeks, 1 hour per week
Venue
Alresford Village Hall, Alresford, Essex CO7 8AY
Cost
£75
Foundation Scentwork
Course Information
This course is taught by Fiona Fowler of Mersea Mutts, an experienced, highly skilled scentwork trainer, who teaches the scentwork session in collaboration with Guiding Paws.
What is Scent Detection?
Scent detection is a bit like giving your dog their very own detective job.
Your dog learns to search for a specific scent, work through an area, and tell you when they have found it.
And the goal?
To use their incredible nose to solve the puzzle.
It’s fun, rewarding, and taps into what dogs naturally love to do.
Why Scent Detection?
Scent detection gives your dog a job to do
Scent detection isn’t just fun — it helps dogs think, focus, and work independently.
✔ Builds confidence
✔ Encourages calm, focused thinking
✔ Gives busy brains something positive to do
✔ Helps nervous dogs succeed without pressure
✔ Mentally tiring in a really healthy way
✔ Suitable for dogs who may find busy environments difficult
Perfect for dogs who need an outlet.
Moving Forward
Completion of this course will allow you to join regular classes with Fiona at her training ground that can be booked directly with Mersea Mutts.
When
3 weeks, 1 hour per week
Venue
Alresford Village Hall, Alresford, Essex CO7 8AY
Cost
£80
Private Training Sessions
How do they work?
Private sessions are tailor made for you and your dog. They are particularly useful for focussing on a specific training need (such as coming back when called or walking nicely in a lead). The packages offer the best value and ensure you have continuity with your training; however I can offer a one-off booking of 60 mins will include a discussion with you about how we will teach the new skill(s) and how to manage the issue whilst you are training. A follow up summary email with handouts and video links will be sent so you have all the tools you need for practice.
All sessions take place in your home or garden, or via Zoom webinar if you prefer.
All private sessions are payable in advance either by Card Payment Link, PayPal or BACS
PLEASE NOTE: these sessions are not designed for behavioural problems such as aggression, separation anxiety etc. but for personal training needs. Behaviour consultations have a different format and fee structure.
Single Session
£110.00
What’s included:
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1 x 15 minute Zoom consultation to plan training
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1 x 60 Minute private coaching sessions in your home or local area
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Choice of session content (to be agreed in advance)
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My travel expenses up to 5 miles in each direction. Additional miles charged at £0.50 per mile
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Clicker
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Additional hours charged at £60 per 60 minutes
Silver Package
£190.00
What’s Included
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1 x 15 minute Zoom consultation to plan training
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2 x 60 Minute private coaching sessions in your home or local area (dates to be agreed in advance)
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Choice of session content (to be agreed in advance).
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My Travel expenses
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Clicker
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Video and written handouts to support your training
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2 x 3 minute video feedback sessions
Gold Package
£350.00
What’s Included
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1 x 15 minute Zoom consultation to plan training
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4 x 60 Minute private coaching sessions in your home or local area (dates to be agreed in advance)
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Choice of session content (to be agreed in advance).
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My Travel expenses
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Clicker
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Video and written handouts to support your training
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4 x 3 minute video feedback sessions