BRONZE OBEDIENCE COURSE
Basic on lead obedience for beginners. Adolescent dogs need the most training and the help of an instructor and the support of other people training their dogs will be invaluable to you.
Rescue and rehomed dogs are just as welcome, and can start whenever you're ready. Some owners like a couple of weeks together at home first to settle in, but there's no need to wait. And if you're here because your dog pulls on the lead or won't come back when you call, you're far from alone: it's one of the most common reasons owners get in touch, and exactly what this course puts right.
Solid Foundation Training
At a glance
- Who it’s for
- Dogs 12 months and over
- Course length
- 6-week course, 1 hour a week
- When
- Sunday afternoons
- Next course starts
- Sunday 11 October, 1:00pm
- Where
- Outdoors at the Training Grounds; indoors at Llys Nini when it is wet.
- A1K9 Training Grounds, Pontarddulais
- Llys Nini Animal Centre (RSPCA), Penllergaer
- Class size
- About ten dogs, never more than twelve. You can join up to week two.
- Bring
- A collar, a lead and treats your dog likes. Gaynor sells quality training leads and collars in class.
For insurance reasons XL Bully dogs, and dogs legally required to be muzzled, cannot join a class.
You Will Learn
Heel work
Walking on a lead without pulling. How to teach your dog to walk on a lead correctly. Regular walks are essential, and are one of your dog's biggest rewards. When you achieve this, you will be able to enjoy long relaxing walks with your dog.
Recall
Training you how to get your dog to come when called is fun and very often amusing. There are many pitfalls that you can easily fall into. Gaynor will help you avoid them, and guide you as to how to get your dog, recalling back to you, for you both to enjoy the experience.
Sit and down
She will teach you how to get your dog to do the two safety positions. They are sit and down. These are particularly useful when you are going to cross the road and you need the dog to be calm and controlled. This is the green cross code for dogs.
Meet a stranger
You will be taught how to keep your dog in control at your side, while you meet and have a conversation with a friendly stranger.
You and your dog's safety is always foremost in Gaynor's mind as you train with her. She will show you how to get your dog to go through a door, in a safe and obedient manner. Teaching the dog to wait while you open the door, then either you go through the door together, or you will go first and the dog will follow.
At the end of this course she aims for you and your dog to achieve a Bronze award.
Over the six weeks on the Bronze course, you will be mastering the basics of on lead obedience, the solid foundations that you and your dog will rely on and build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: My dog is X months old: Puppy, Junior or Bronze? Can we go up early, or skip Junior if we've done classes elsewhere?
It depends on your dog's age: Puppy Socialisation is for pups up to 6 months, Junior for young dogs 6 to 12 months, and Bronze for dogs 12 months and over. Going up a little early is possible if Gaynor agrees it. Ring her for a quick chat about your dog first. Skipping Junior because you have already done classes elsewhere is possible too, though her usual recommendation is Junior then Bronze, since age tends to matter more than a previous class at that stage. Either way, a short phone conversation is how she decides.
Q2: We've just adopted a rescue dog, or have an older dog that has never been trained. Can we join, and is it too late?
Rescue and rehomed dogs are welcome and can start whenever you like. Some owners prefer to wait a couple of weeks to let the dog settle in first, which is fine too. It is never too old to come to Bronze, whatever your dog's age. Most dogs coming back to training, or starting for the first time as an adult, join Bronze; if your dog has kept up a higher standard already, Gaynor may place it higher after a chat. If your dog is showing aggression or is very difficult to handle on the lead, she will want to see you for a behaviour consultation first.
Q3: My dog is nervous or reactive around other dogs. Can we still join a group course?
Often yes, but Gaynor needs to see you for a behaviour consultation first, so she can assess whether class is suitable. If your dog's reactivity is controllable, it can come to the group course but stays on the lead rather than off-lead play: it watches from outside while other dogs run free, then rejoins on the lead for the more structured work. That first consultation is what decides the safest way in.
Q4: My dog isn't aggressive, just over-excited: barks and pulls to get to other dogs. Is a class right for him?
Yes, this is something Gaynor deals with all the time. Over-excited, friendly dogs are usually let off the lead first to run off some energy, and then brought back to work at their own level once they can concentrate. It is a normal part of class, not a reason to stay away.
Q5: Can we join a course that's already started, and what if we miss a week?
You can join in week two if there is space. After that it's best to wait for the next course. If you miss a class partway through, there's no way to make it up on another course running the same weekend, since it will be at a different level: you have the weeks you paid for on your own course.
Ask about Bronze Obedience
Tell Gaynor a little about your dog and she will come back to you with whether this is the right course to start on.
How booking works
- Step 1
Send the enquiry once you have filled in all the details.
- Step 2
Gaynor replies to your email with all the information you will need.
- Step 3
Confirm your place with a deposit.
- Step 4
The balance to be paid on the first week of attending.
Where Bronze Obedience fits
Junior through to Platinum is a step-by-step progression: each course prepares your dog for the next. Puppy Socialisation is a standalone class, so your puppy does not need it before starting Junior.
Successful participants of this course are invited to graduate to our:
Would you rather train privately? Gaynor also offers one to one sessions.