Frequently asked questions

Each course page shows its price just under the heading. At the moment Puppy Socialisation is £59.99, Junior and Bronze are £119.99, and Silver, Gold and Platinum are £129.99. One-to-one sessions and behavioural consultations are arranged to suit you and your dog, so Gaynor comes back to you with times and prices when you get in touch.

Every course needs booking before you attend. The Junior, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum obedience courses run for six consecutive weeks, so the group is set before the course starts, and Puppy Socialisation also needs a place booked in advance — get in touch and Gaynor will arrange it.

A non-refundable £50 deposit by bank transfer secures your place (this isn't required for the Puppy Socialisation course). Any remaining balance is paid on the first week when you arrive.

Sorry, no. Classes can't be carried over or credited to another course, on any course including Puppy Socialisation, as the courses run over six consecutive weeks and you have paid for those dates.

It depends on your dog's age. Puppy Socialisation is for pups up to 6 months, the Junior course is for young dogs aged 6 to 12 months, and Bronze is for dogs 12 months of age and upward. Junior through to Platinum is a step-by-step progression, and Puppy Socialisation is a standalone class, so your puppy does not need it before starting Junior. If you're not sure, tell Gaynor a little about your dog and she will come back to you with whether it's the right course to start on.

Group courses are for obedience and everyday manners — lead walking, recall, sit and down, stays — taught step by step over six weeks. A one to one is a bespoke session on whatever you are finding difficult, and suits owners who work shifts or can't commit to a weekly class, who want to get further than a class will take them, who feel self-conscious training in front of others, or whose dog's temperament doesn't suit a class. A behavioural consultation is for a behaviour problem rather than a training gap: aggression towards dogs or people, growling or biting, destruction, boisterousness you can't control, or a dog you can't leave alone. If you're not sure, tell Gaynor a little about your dog when you get in touch and she will say where to start.

Yes, we have experience of training almost all breeds of dogs.

We now run from two venues near Swansea: the A1K9 Training Grounds, and Llys Nini Animal Centre (RSPCA), Penllergaer, for indoor sessions. Gaynor will confirm which one your session is at, usually depending on the weather. (See directions on website)

No, it will be held indoors at Llys Nini Animal Centre (RSPCA), Penllergaer, instead.

A collar, lead and some treats that your dog likes to eat. Bring whatever lead you have and Gaynor will advise you what is best to use with your dog. A1K9 also sells good quality training equipment at the training grounds, and buying there means you are shown how to use it correctly.

You should wear warm clothes and sturdy shoes as we will work outdoors whenever possible.

Because the people in the obedience courses are constantly on the move and changing direction, children have to sit on the side and watch. Many do, and they are welcome. The puppy socialisation classes are different — there, children are encouraged to come and take part.

No, your dog does not need to have kennel cough vaccination to come to training classes, but their yearly vaccinations need to be up to date. A puppy needs all its vaccinations before it can attend the Puppy Socialisation course.

It's both. Puppies get the opportunity to meet and play with other pups off lead in our fenced fields, under the watchful eye of Gaynor and her assistants, whose specialist knowledge of dog body language lets them prevent any over-exuberance. Alongside the play, Gaynor teaches you how to help your puppy soften its play bites, walk on a lead, accept handling, give up valued items and greet people politely, and you'll start sit, down and recall in a fun way with a clicker.

Yes. Teaching your puppy to inhibit the force of its play bites is the most important priority on the Puppy Socialisation course, so that it develops a soft mouth and you prevent what can be potentially serious problems in the future. Children are encouraged to come and take part, so the whole family can learn it together. If your puppy's biting comes with growling, guarding food or real fear, mention it when you get in touch, as Gaynor may suggest a behavioural consultation.

Yes, you'll need to book your place before attending — get in touch and Gaynor will arrange a time. There is no deposit to pay for Puppy Socialisation.

Children are encouraged to come and take part in the puppy socialisation classes, and all the family can join in.

Junior is for puppies of 6 to 12 months and it works on recall — being responsive to their name and coming back when called — and on engagement training with touch or a clicker, which Gaynor describes as invaluable as you progress to getting your dog to walk on the lead without pulling. "Follow me" teaches your puppy to stay close and look at you, and that is the foundation for both loose-lead walking and coming back when called. The six weeks also cover sit, down and stand, a stay working towards 30 seconds, not jumping up, and examining your pup for the vet. Loose-lead heel work on the lead is then Bronze's main subject, for dogs of 12 months and upward.

Those are the two things Bronze spends most of its six weeks on: heel work, which is walking on a lead without pulling, and recall, getting your dog to come back to you when called. It also covers sit and down as the two safety positions, meeting a friendly stranger while you keep your dog in control at your side, and going through doors calmly. It is basic on-lead obedience for beginners, for dogs of 12 months and upward, and Gaynor teaches you the handling as much as she teaches the dog — owners of big, strong dogs are very welcome, as she has experience of training almost all breeds.

Yes, you can, if your dog is at the relevant obedience level.

Yes, you can, if your dog is at the relevant obedience level.

Platinum is the highest of the group courses. To keep developing after that, Gaynor works one to one with dogs and owners on whatever they want to take further.

That is what Silver and Gold are for. Silver reinforces recall with other people and their dogs walking around you, and adds a change of pace, a one-minute stay and the instant down; Gold is mainly off-lead obedience to a high standard, with recall and a three-minute stay while dogs run about and people walk around. You can join either without having done the courses below it, as long as your dog is at the relevant obedience level — tell Gaynor what your dog can already do and she will come back to you on which is the right course to start on.

Yes, you can, if your dog is at the relevant obedience level.

Yes. A one to one is a bespoke session with Gaynor, working on the aspects of dog training you are finding difficult and finding the solutions. It suits owners who work shifts or have time constraints that make a weekly class hard, who want help to reach a higher standard, who have one specific problem to work on, or who feel self-conscious training with other people around — and sometimes classes are simply not suitable for a dog's temperament.

Many owners feel they have let their dog down after trying umpteen different things they've read about or seen on television, and conclude that the problem must be them. A behavioural problem is a sign that the relationship between you and your dog is out of balance, and it will not get better on its own — seeking help while it is still in the early stages saves a great deal of heartache and worry. Gaynor works with all breeds of dogs and will deal with any dog no matter how serious the problem, and dogs have a far greater ability to change than people do.

Gaynor will first talk with you about the problems you're having with your dog and what has led up to this point, so she can gather the information she needs to diagnose the problem. She'll then test your dog's behaviour — using A1K9 dogs as stooge dogs if necessary — before explaining what she believes the problem is and its most probable cause, and showing you the techniques and equipment needed to rehabilitate your dog.

No. You can come straight to Gaynor without a referral. A vet referral is only needed if you want to claim the consultation on your pet insurance — that route involves a longer consultation and a full written report, costs more up front, and is reimbursed by your insurer. Gaynor is a canine behaviour practitioner with the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association, which is approved by most pet insurance companies.

Yes. Dog on dog aggression consultations are highly skilled work Gaynor has a great deal of experience in — she has worked with dogs that exhibit this behaviour for 15 years, attending courses with the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association and Middlesex University to expand her knowledge, and works with all breeds of dogs no matter how serious the problem.

Yes. Dog on person aggression consultations are highly skilled work Gaynor has a great deal of experience in — she has worked with dogs that exhibit this behaviour for 15 years, attending courses with the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association and Middlesex University to expand her knowledge, and has worked with all breeds of dogs no matter how serious the problem.

Gaynor may ask you to attend a behavioural modification programme, or to stay in touch by email or telephone so she can monitor your progress. After the consultation she writes a full report and sends a copy to your vet, unless you request otherwise.

Consultations can be held at A1K9 Behaviour and Training Academy or at your home.