Ethical and force-free • Science-based expertise • Fully accredited behaviourist

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 100+ 5-star reviews from happy dog owners

Lifeskills classes in Northumberland

adult dog training

Our Lifeskills classes are perfect for owners wanting to work on obedience from beginners up to advanced levels, or for rescue dogs with little training history who need a fresh start. Start your Lifeskills Journey in Acklington, Northumberland and start enjoying your walks again!

Qualified, accredited, and committed to best practice

Qualification Badges

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Who are the classes for?

Our Lifeskills classes are perfect for owners wanting to work on obedience up to advanced levels, or for rescue dogs with little training history who need a fresh start.

  • Puppies graduating from foundational classes

  • Adolescent dogs needing to refine their manners around dogs and people

  • Rescue dogs building confidence and skills

  • Owners looking to strengthen their bond through force-free methods

  • Dogs that pull on the lead constantly trying to meet people or other dogs

  • Dogs that don't know how to greet other dogs or people appropriately

  • Dogs that get over-excited easily or don't know how to behave around other dogs

  • Dogs with no offlead recall or selective recall

  • Dogs that can get nervous around people or other dogs

  • Owners wanting to work on obedience and work up to offlead obedience

Don't worry, we can help!

Lifeskills Levels

Services

Bronze Lifeskills

Beginner

What we cover;

  • Basic Obedience -

    Typical obedience like sit, down and most importantly leave

  • Loose Lead Walking -

    Loose lead walking working up to weaving in-between other dogs and people

  • Appropriate Greetings -

    Greeting dogs & people appropriately using 3 second rule

  • Impulse Control -

    Teaching impulsivity using toys and food

  • Stay -​

    Sit and stay for 30 seconds

  • Offlead Recall -

    Offlead recall and offlead heel

  • Settling Around Dogs and People -

    Ignoring people and dogs and settling focusing on you

  • How to reduce arousal using sniffing games

  • Working Around Distractions -

    The added advantage of training around monthly food vans

Silver Lifeskills

Intermediate

What we cover;

  • Off-lead control past distractions like toys, food, people and dogs playing at close proximity

  • Recall away from offlead and onlead dogs

  • Recall past distractions like toys, food, people and other dogs

  • Distance control around distractions like toys, food, people and other dogs

  • Stay for 3 minutes, upto 5m away & introducing out-of-sight stays

  • How to control arousal levels and keeping dogs calm around excitement

  • Impulse control exercises to introduce offlead impulse control around movement

  • Rejoin the handler smoothly off-lead recall to your side & continue to walk offlead to heel

  • PLUS, for the grand finale, the last two weeks will involve an on-lead group social walk at Amble Links Beach!

Gold Lifeskills

Advanced

What we cover;

  • Send to bed/mat: Dog is sent to the bed from 5m away

  • Emergency stop: Emergency stop away from you & return to your side

  • Impulse control offlead around moving distractions: Dogs will sit offlead throw their favourite toy and released to retrieve toy on cue

  • Offlead heel around distractions: Dogs walking offlead heel & weaving around other dog

  • Stay for 5 mins with 2 mins out of sight

  • Out of sight recall: Being able to recall your dog when they cant see you

  • Introduction to advanced heelwork: U-Turns, changing sides, middle & backing up on cue

  • PLUS, the grand finale, the last two weeks will involve a group social walk at Amble Market! Imagine walking round the market knowing your dogs will focus on you and ignore food, dogs & people

Trusted by local dog owners

Reviews

We’re proud to be recommended by families across Acklington.

Our reviews reflect our calm approach, clear support, and commitment to dog welfare.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

College for Canines worked wonders from training my puppy when only 5 months old in puppy classes right through to achieve bronze, silver and Gold. Denise put both myself and my dog at ease immediately and helped us both train each other. The importance of mental stimulation and physical activity is a 50 50 task . I wouldn't go anywhere else the best behaviour and trainer in town. I happily recommend Denise and College for canines several times a day when I see new puppy owners on my walks with my own dog

Vicky McPhee
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

We can’t thank Denise enough for her help! We have a gorgeous rescue lab who is the perfect dog in the house but found being out and about and passing other dogs very very challenging. Thanks to Denise and her knowledge and skills we now actually enjoy walks as a family instead of dreading them. It was about us learning to help and support our dog which was what we needed! Thank you again!

Lynsey Orme
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Huge thank you for all your help. I attended Bronze skills class with my Husky and even though he’s not a normal naughty husky anyway, he was still quite challenging. It’s not about teaching the dog to be good, but about teaching the owner the correct way so really appreciate all the feedback given throughout our time on the bronze class! See you for silver

Amy Wood

Book Your Lifeskills Class

Force-Free Dog Training & Behaviourist in Blyth and Northumberland

Contact us today for supportive adult dog training classes or 1:1 support

Classes are based at Acklington Village Hall, 90 B6345, Acklington Northumberland NE65 9BW

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Kind, professional support for dogs considered "unsuitable" elsewhere. Book your classes or an assessment call today.

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