Training Classes
We run Puppy Courses and Beginners' Courses, Intermediate, Advanced and Fun Agility Classes. The Framework for all our obedience courses and classes are based around The Royal Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme (GCDS) and the Royal Kennel Club Canine Code.
Puppy Course
The Puppy Course focuses on building a relationship of understanding and trust between owners and their puppies and giving them the basic skills, they need for happy lives together. The framework for this is the Royal Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme (GCDS) Puppy Foundation Assessment Programme. Suitable for puppies from when they are fully inoculated up to around 6 months.
Puppy Courses are run at Bonnyrigg and Penicuik on Monday and Friday Evenings. The Puppy Courses for 2025 will start in January and these will run approximately every 12 weeks from this date.
Puppy Plus Classes
Primarily for the graduates of the Puppy Course, these classes improve on early skills and understanding particularly regarding impulse control, recall, loose lead walking and polite social interactions.
Puppy Plus Classes are run at Bonnyrigg and Penicuik on Monday and Friday Evenings.
Beginners Course
The Beginners Course can either follow on from puppy courses or you can start here if your new dog is not a puppy. Whether you want basic obedience, i.e., loose lead walking, stays, and recall, we listen to what you want to improve and help you to achieve that. We can and do, continue to Good Citizen levels, if you want to go down that route. We emphasise the fun element in training and each week we will add a trick or an enrichment idea to keep you and your dog's relationship the best it can be.
Beginners’ courses are run on Thursday Evenings at Vogrie Park in the summer and Saturday mornings in the winter. Classes are bookable weekly in advance and can be repeated until your dog reaches the equivalent of the GCDS Bronze award.
Intermediate Classes
This class assumes skill levels equivalent to the GCDS Bronze Award and aims to improve handler/dog communication and to increase the range of behaviours the dogs can perform with enjoyment and confidence. Intermediate Classes aim towards the GCDS Silver Award.
Intermediate classes are run on Thursday evenings at Vogrie Park in the Summer and on Saturday mornings at Vogrie Park, and Friday evenings indoors at Penicuik in the winter.
Advanced Classes
This class is for those who enjoy working with their dogs and improving their skills well beyond what is needed for basic good behaviour. Members stay with us for the pleasure of training with like-minded people and their dogs. Advanced Classes aim towards the GCDS Gold Award and beyond.
Classes are run on Thursday evenings at Vogrie Park in the Summer and Friday evenings indoors at Penicuik in the winter.
There are opportunities through the year for members to prepare for and take the Royal Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bronze, Silver and Gold Tests.
Fun Agility Course
We aim to help you to enjoy a taste of the fun that can be had with your dog in doing the sport of agility. Whilst some of our members do participate in competitions, our aim is not to reach competition standard but to promote fun agility and we aim to help you to use agility equipment in a safe and controlled environment. Your dog must be over 12 months old to participate in this course.
Fun Agility Courses are run on Thursday evenings at Vogrie Park throughout the Summer.
The courses are 4 weeks long and can be repeated.
We start again in March/April 2025 and look forward to taking enquiries from then.
Hoopers Classes
Hoopers is a sport that all dogs can take part in whether they’re puppies, have mobility issues or are senior dogs, as there is no impact so it’s kind to joints.
Dogs navigate around a flowing course of hoops, barrels, and tunnels with the same excitement of agility without the jumps. This also makes it accessible for all handlers no matter their fitness level. Hoopers is focused on the ability of dog and handler to work together as a team so it’s a great bonding activity too. The classes are held on a Saturday morning in Vogrie Country Park.