07867 988 711

01621 858714

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fun agility

Agility is great fun and strengthens the bond between handler and dog.

Our classes are generally for beginners and those who may not wish to compete; the emphasis is on fun!  You will be taught all the basics of agility, steadily progressing into classes with more experienced members.  Some of our members enter agility competitions; those handlers and dogs training to higher, competitive standards have shown great improvements, enhancing their skills to enable them to enjoy being part of the hugely enjoyable world of agility competition.

We welcome junior dogs of 6+ months who have a good basic level of obedience - puppies have usually attended our puppy course.  Whilst they are not encouraged to jump, they have great fun using tunnels, low level dog walk and skills that will stand them in good stead for when they are old enough to start jumping.  They are often quite fearless, however, at Essex Dog Academy we take every precaution to ensure that they are encouraged to have fun safely.

We use competition standard equipment and training jumps.  A basic level of obedience, plus reasonable fitness is required to enjoy agility.

puppies

Puppy training is fun!  You will learn how to socialise your puppy with other dogs and people, and to teach your dog how to become a happy and valuable member of your family.

Our classes aim to build a happy, lifelong relationship between you and your puppy, teaching him good manners when in the company of people and other dogs.  Your puppy should mature into a well behaved, valuable member of your family.  Our outdoor activity class for puppies is  very popular and, because we use tunnels, dog walk, cones, etc., when your puppy is old enough, s/he can enjoy the fun of agility and be one step ahead of the competition!

We teach you how to:

Bond with your dog using play to motivate your puppy and to learn how to interact together.

Recall (come when called), sit, down, stay and to walk on lead without pulling.  How to get and keep your puppy’s attention.  How dogs learn and how to motivate your dog.

We also cover such topics as “jumping up”, “biting/nipping”, nutrition and any problems that you may encounter with your new puppy.

obedience

Dog training at Essex Dog Academy is a very sociable and enjoyable experience; time when dog and handler work together to achieve a higher standard of competence in skills.  Consistent, steady progress is a reward for regular training sessions that will consolidate the relationship between you and your dog.  We welcome all standards of handlers and dogs who wish to improve their skills in a friendly atmosphere.  Classes and courses are available for beginners, improvers and handlers preparing their dogs for competitive obedience.

Activity obedience

Having fun with your dog whilst teaching him/her basic through to advanced skills is a popular feature of our training structure.  New confidence is built between dog and handler when using equipment, such as tunnels, dog walk, cones, etc.  By accomplishing tasks designed to stimulate your dog you will find that training skills are achieved so much quicker and the bond between handler and dog grows week by week. 

Here’s what Suzy says about activity obedience classes:

“Just thought I would drop you a quick line to once again say thank you for making me feel so welcome when attending your classes on Saturdays.  I really enjoy them.  I definitely think the classes have made a difference as I took Barney to Langdon Hills off-lead and he socialised with lots of dogs with no problems at all which gave me more confidence.  Thank you once again!”

The new Essex Dog Academy Skills Awards are being introduced and are based on three levels of competence, starting with Level 1 for beginners/puppies.  Level 2 is for intermediate handling skills and Level 3 for advanced handlers.

Your dog will be happier for being trained.  It will strengthen the bond between you and your dog.

1-2-1 personal training

Our very popular and rewarding 1-2-1 sessions provide the opportunity to improve your personal handling skills and to consolidate the relationship between you and your dog.  Together, we can work on specific aspects of training, such as obedience or agility, that will enable you both to progress towards a high level of competence, which is much more fulfilling and enjoyable. These sessions are for handlers of all levels, including beginners.  We enjoy great success with this intensive training; those who regularly work with us on a personal basis progress faster towards their goal of enhanced dog handling skills.  1-2-1 training is highly recommended by the many handlers who experience our high level of training skills.  Why not book a session and see the difference?

dog behavioural problems

Dogs have their own personalities, character traits and ways of getting or doing what they want!  Sometimes their behaviour can cause real problems in the home or in public places.  We all want our dogs to be good and we all want a great relationship with a lifetime of enjoying our best friend’s company, unfortunately, for many reasons, this is not the case.  Sue is an Associate with the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association and is happy to help with any behaviour problems your dog may have.  A home visit or consultation at our training centre to solve the problem often enables many of these difficult dogs to integrate into classes at Essex Dog Academy.  Call now (01621 858714) to find out how your dog’s problems can be solved. 

“dogfit’ - get fit with your dog

Our busy lives sometimes mean that the most important things are forsaken when time is limited.  How do you fit in going to the gym and exercising your dog?  Well, at Essex Dog Academy we have the perfect answer - dogfit!  Forget about the boredom of pumping iron and have fun together. Many dogs are not as fit as they could be; maybe they’re overweight; maybe they lack motivation.  A bored dog is an unhappy dog, but a stimulated dog is much less likely to get up to mischief and present unwanted behaviours.  So, maximise your valuable time and go “dogfit” training with the highly qualified sports coach and personal trainer, Sue Gilmore.  Fun is guaranteed and you’ll both get fitter!  Classes last for an hour and a maximum of six places are available in any class.  Dogfit was featured on Sky TV.

“saga dogs”

So your dog is getting on a bit, but still enjoys obedience classes and can still enjoy agility albeit at his own pace.  Most clubs write dogs off when they can’t move so quick, but here at Essex Dog Academy we welcome senior dogs who can still enjoy a runaround and like to mix with other dogs and people, at the same time, of course, learning new skills  and polishing up those that they learned years ago.

Saga dogs have their own classes and are made to feel that they haven’t been written off.  There is something sad about the old dog’s expression when the new, younger dog comes on the scene and is taken everywhere that previously he had been taken to.  Now you can include both of your best friends and enjoy making the most of your “old boy”.  Class numbers are limited six.

workshops

Throughout the year there are workshops focusing on topics such as “recall”, “lead-work”, “retrieve”, “agility weaves”, “agility contacts”, “agility jumping”, long course agility, etc. 

Behavioural problems, such as pulling on lead, jumping up, nipping or biting are topics covered in specialist workshops with our professional dog training instructor and behaviourist Sue Gilmore.

Workshops are based on one or two 2-hour sessions with a break for refreshments.  Places on these courses are restricted to between 4-6 dogs to ensure that you receive personal attention and  to enable you to achieve a good standard of proficiency. 

for our schedule of classes click here