Foundation Training Courses
Our Ethos & Approach
All SPPOT's Services are provided by our highly qualified, friendly staff, supported by our fully trained, accredited volunteers.
We use only positive, force-free, scientifically proven techniques and classes are small, ensuring a high level of individual tuition and support.
We like to teach customers how use clicker training because it is so easy to learn and 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. Kerri has designed and run these dog training courses for well over ten years and helped develop the APDT's Good Companion Awards which are achieveable by taking part in our puppy & dog training courses.
Foundation Training Courses
Introduction
SPPOT’s Foundation Training Courses provide you with a complete package of training, guidance and support to enable you to train your older puppy, adolescent or adult dog in all the skills they need to become a happy, sociable, well-trained companion dog and gain a Good Companion Foundation Award.
Foundation Training Courses are for puppies and dogs over 26 weeks old, with no upper age limit - who have completed their vaccinations.
Younger puppies can start with our Puppy Training Course (click button below). Puppies who have graduated from the Puppy course can progress naturally onto the Foundation Course
Our wonderful accredited training centre is fully equipped with everything you or your puppy or dog will need while on your course.
The Foundation Induction Session
This 6 week couse features a full 90 minute induction session for you and a great enrichment and training session for your puppy or dog.
In this session we cover
- The science of dog training and how that applies to you, your dog and your lifestyle.
- Practical reward based training, including clicker training
- Diet and exercise
- Health care & legal aspects
With games and fun for your dog including enrichment ideas you can use at home, all supervised by our amazing Volunteers while you relax and discuss your individual puppy questions with our Tutor over a cuppa
The Foundation Training Sessions
The following five sessions, each of ninety minutes, provide you with the coaching to train your dog or puppy to achieve solid skills in
- Response to name
- Recall (coming back when called)
- Loose lead walking
- Calm greetings
- Self-control around food, doorways and vehicles
- Sit & lie down
- Settle/switch off
- Play skills
- Leave
- Stay
The sessions are a balanced mix of practical training, discussion, play and rest with refreshments for people and enrichment for dogs.
On the couse, customers can work towards the Association of Pet Dog Trainers', Good Companion Foundation Award
Course Handbook
All customers will receive our Foundation Course Handbook to download or on paper for a small fee. This includes our comprehensive training guides to all the Foundation Course skills, homework pages, 'Children & Dogs' pack and our informative guides to canine nutrition, enrichment, the law and much more.
Course Costs
SPPOT Foundation Training Courses cost £85 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 at a concessionary rate of £55 for people who are in receipt of disability benefits
Our Foundation Course Tutor
Our Foundation Training Certificate Courses are taught by Alice Symonds who is the latest addition to our amazingly talented team. Alice holds a Foundation Degree in Science with Merit in Animal Behaviour and Welfare and has worked as a Trainer for Hearing Dogs for the Deaf for 5 years before relocating to Pembrokeshire.