Dog Training Courses
SPPOT’s 7-week Foundation Training Course provides all the essential information, guidance and skills training you need to raise a happy, healthy adult dog whom you can be proud of
About the course
SPPOT’s Foundation Training Courses provide a complete package of training, guidance and support to enable you to train your puppy or novice older dog in all the skills they need to become a happy, sociable, well-trained companion dog and gain a Good Companion Puppy or Foundation Award.
Foundation Training Courses are for any dog, in need of a good foundation of training. While we have a lot of puppies on these courses, we know through many years of experience, that dogs of all ages benefit from learning together, so novice older puppies and dogs are welcome too.
All our courses and services promote kind, fair and effective training and handling of dogs.
SPPOT Dog Headquarters
Our building is a modern, bright, warm, safe and accessible one-level building, with fully fenced gardens, close to Haverfordwest town centre with a bus stop out the front and wheelchair accessible dog walking areas directly behind.
We have a very large main training room which can be joined to or separated from the smaller training room. Each training room has access to the central kitchen, gardens, offices and bathrooms.
Dog training customers will enjoy a comfortable environment for both dogs and people, with a wide range of dog training equipment and toys available to try before you buy. We also have a select range of products available to purchase and card payment facilities.
The Induction Session
SPPOT’s 7 week Foundation Couse features a 90-minute Induction Session, packed with highly qualified and experienced bespoke advice, discussion and practical demonstrations.
The session covers the following:
- Correct socialisation & habituation, where the emphasis is on enabling your puppy to be calm around new people, dogs and other animals, being careful not to overwhelm or overstimulate your puppy in the process.
- Continuing or improving social skills for your older puppy or rescue dog.
- Diet and exercise: helping you choose what, when and how to feed your puppy or dog for long term health and wellbeing.
- Housetraining & crate training: where to toilet and learning how to be alone and self-settle & play to avoid separation anxiety.
- Play-biting & chewing: teach your puppy or dog what they can chew and what they can’t, including bite-inhibition through managing play-biting.
- Travelling with your dog: steps to teaching a puppy to enjoy car travel and public transport and helping older dogs who dislike the car.
- Health care & legal aspects: your responsibilities as a dog owner legally, including health and wellbeing.
- Canine learning – how dogs learn, how to teach them what you do want and how to stop the behaviour you don’t want, using only humane methods that will enable you to raise a happy, healthy, well-behaved dog.
The six practical training sessions that follow are all held at SPPOT Accredited Canine Education Services, Furzy Park, Haverfordwest, SA61 1HT
The following six sessions
The following six sessions, each of ninety minutes, provide you with the coaching to train your dog or puppy to achieve a solid foundation in the following skills:
- Response to name
- Recall (coming back when called)
- Loose lead walking
- Calm greetings
- Self-control (wait) around food, doorways and vehicles
- Sit & lie down
- Play skills
The sessions are a planned mix of practical training, discussion, play and rest, based on the individual ages and stages of the puppies and young dogs attending.
Dog Training Course Resources
Every customer of our Foundation Training Course will receive free access to the online course of the same name. If you’ve ever worried about missing a session or remembering what you’ve learnt in a class (of any sort), our online course solves this for you, with detailed training notes, accompanying practical videos and helpful ‘homework aims’ to help you continue your puppy or dog’s training at home and on walks.
Our Prices & Concessionary Rates
SPPOT’s 7 Session Foundation Training Courses cost £110 per dog and as part of our ongoing commitment to improving the lives of dogs and people in our local communities, one place on every course is available to people who are registered as disabled, with a 25% discount.
Dog Training & Behaviour Practitioners
Our Foundation Training Courses are taught by our team of fully qualified and professionally affiliated dog trainers and accredited volunteer class assistants. All SPPOT’s dog training services are managed by Kerri Bee who holds a foundation degree in canine behaviour and is a full member of the UK’s largest dog training organisation, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and several other ethical, reputable dog training organisations.
Upcoming Foundation Courses
Get your puppy or young dog’s training off to a great start, with our brilliant 7-week training courses.
Our Foundation Course costs £110 and includes an Induction Session and 6 further practical sessions at:
SPPOT Accredited Canine Education Services, Furzy Park, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1HT
Classes on Thursdays 6.30pm-8pm
Our Ethos and Techniques
All SPPOT’s Services are provided by our highly qualified, friendly staff, supported by our fully trained, accredited volunteers.
We use only fully ethical, force-free, scientifically proven techniques and classes are small enough to ensure a high level of individual tuition and support.
We like to teach customers how use clicker training because it is so easy to learn, it’s fun and it engages your dog’s natural instincts and abilities which uses their mental energy for the things you want them to learn. This simple method is easy for people of all ages, including children to use effectively.
SPPOT’s Manager and Lead Tutor, Kerri Bee holds a Foundation Degree in Canine Behaviour and Training and is a full member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers UK and a member of the Animal and Behaviour and Training Council. Kerri designed and ran SPPOT’s dog training courses for well over ten years and along with the SPPOT Team, continually reviews and updates our courses in line with the continual professional development we all undertake.
Your dog is our priority
Safe
Safe, warm and bright indoor environment and natural secure gardens. Age appropriate toys, activities, mats and treats for young puppies as well as older puppies and dogs.
Care
All of our staff and volunteers are qualified and/or accredited in the care and training of dogs using only positive, scientifically proven techniques.
Bespoke
With small training classes, our Dog Training Coach and Assistants are able to provide highly individualized training, while you and your puppy or dog also benefit from meeting others.
Clean
Our building is regularly cleaned to a high professional standard by the Celtic Cleaning Company and welcoming for humans & dogs alike.
Comfy
SPPOT’s training classes are held in our own dedicated training centre, with comfy seating and beds for you and your dog, central heating, air conditioning and easy access to to gardens, bathrooms and kitchen.
Outdoor
Puppies & dogs can explore our enclosed gardens in complete safety.
Client Testimonials
Teddy absolutely loves coming to daycare and he’s always so tired after a day there. Fab service and would recommend to everyone! Thank you so much for looking after Teddy so well.
Wonderful people and a wonderful service. Our dog looks forward to spending time in doggy day care and we have also used the dog walking service in the past. Very professional approach and more then happy to let our boy be looked after by them.
Had a great morning attending the recall workshop run by the wonderful team at SPOTT. The workshop was fun, relaxed and very informative. There was lots of practical advice and great ideas for fun ways to help teach our very lively puppy and us the skills and confidence to help keep him under control in public places. We had a lovely walk around the racecourse this evening putting our new skills into practice.Many thanks to you all.
Monty loves his days at Doggy Daycare and I feel so confident leaving him in the capable hands of the team. Lots of walks, playtime and sleep! (Although monty is like the Duracell bunny so he hardly ever chills!) highly recommend.
We took Alfie to Simpson Cross on Thursday 7th Aug. He was there until after 4pm when we collected him and he was worn out with all the play he’d had. He has a new friend in Keith, who he was assigned to for the day and I think the feeling was mutual ! He will be going back soon! Lorna
Maisie is a newcomer at Spott this week. I cannot praise the staff and care that Maisie has received enough! One tired pooch when she’s had so much fun I actually have peace and cuddles with her during the evening. So good to let her mix with other dogs in a wonderfully controlled environment and constant attention and exercise. Well done sppot.
Would thoroughly recommend, our dogs are in safe, enthusiastic and very caring hands.
An amazing place doing an amazing job for amazing people.
Fabulous training advice and information, all animal friendly and enjoyed by all. Well done and thank you.
Have been using Sppot’s dog walking services for a number of years. Would highly recommend the service, very reliable and caring.
We took Skye to the foundation clicker training which was amazing and fun.Now she goes to doggy daycare every Friday and she loves it.I highly recommend Kerri and the SPPOT team to everyone. They’re amazing and friendly. Thank you for taking care of our little girl.
Sppot do amazing work with dogs and people – always with the dogs best interests at heart. Our dog loves her sessions there & we are completely confident leaving her knowing she is in good hands.
Izzy had a fab time in doggy daycare and has grown up to be a lovable, friendly and sociable dog!!
From day 1 SPPOT went out of their way to find our puppy space in their daycare service. They were so flexible and really helped us out so I could work and our dog was never left on his own. A year on or dog still absolutely loves his time with SPPOT and I love the fact each dog has 1to1 care. They manage to support the needs of each dog and make such an effort to make every visit fun for the dog. Think you guys are incredibly professional and fabulous at what you do. Thank you for all your hard work.
Highly recommended, lovely staff and such a great location! Really has helped my crazy 7 month cockerpoo calm down loads considering he’s still a pup! Completely changed him and we get so much joy out of him! Keep up the good work girls and guys.
SPPOT have been walking my dog while my family have been away and they have been brilliant, coming early as its been so hot. My dog is quite shy but she has loved both volunteers. Will be recommending you to everyone.
Joey loves daycare. Staff are all lovely and very helpful. Fabulous facilities.
These people are brilliant. Just love their doggy day care service and more importantly so does my dog. I completely trust these people. How they mange to organise and deliver what they do is amazing. When I collect my dog after day care he is always grinning and I can tell he has been utterly satisfied, with his constant need for games and attention completer satiated – and knowing my dog that is saying something! He also looks completely destressed and more relaxed then normal. The training they do with him really helps me also and have noticed he is better behaved at home. They really care about giving the dog what they need, in my dogs case balance between mental and physical stimulation.
I also love their online booking system so easy to use and monthly billing, very user friendly and convenient for last minute changes to bookings. Nice job well done SPPOT.
Our dog Nova goes to daycare once a week at SPPOT and she absolutely loves. She’s normally joined at my hip but doesn’t even look back at me when I leave. They tailor Nova’s day to her needs and nothing is too much trouble. We really couldn’t recommend them enough.
My wife and I have been taking our dog (puppy) to their training sessions and the progress he makes at each session is truly remarkable. The simple techniques demonstrated are effective and easy for the dog and handlers to understand.
Natalie is recognised in the “doggy” world as being an outstanding trainer with a deep insight into canine psychology.
Click below to ask any questions about booking a Foundation Dog Training Course or would like any additonal information about any of our services.
Did you know SPPOT also provides Individual Dog Training & Canine Behaviour Services?
We can also provide one to one behavioural & training consultations at home. This is ideal for working on issues such as separation anxiety, aggression, impulse control & boundaries. To find out more, contact us using the button below.
