PREPARE LIKE A PRO

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR FIRST GROUP CLASS

We all get excited about starting a new dog training class or course, but a little preparation goes a long way toward creating a positive, stress-free experience for both you and your dog.

Below is a helpful list of items to bring to class, along with a few simple steps you can take to set your dog up for success.

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BEFORE THE CLASS

Boosting Your Dog’s Food Motivation

If your dog isn’t particularly excited about food, you can help build their food drive in the days or weeks leading up to their first class. Try using the majority - or ideally all - of your dog’s daily food allowance for interactive training sessions instead of feeding from a bowl.

Grab a handful of kibble and make it come alive!Roll pieces for your dog to chase, toss them for catching, or encourage your dog to follow the food in your hand. Get creative—animate the food, make it fun, and let your dog enjoy the game!

On the day of class, reduce your dog’s meal (or skip breakfast if you’re attending a morning session) to increase their motivation to work for food during training.

Shake Off The Energy

Give your dog some light exercise before class. A short 15-minute lead walk or a calm off-lead potter is plenty.We’re not aiming to wear them out completely - just to take the edge off so they arrive settled but still full of learning energy.

Toilet break

Make sure your dog has a toilet break right before class.All of our training locations have a suitable grass area available for this.

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WHAT TO BRING

1. Standard, non extendable lead

At Every Dog Can classes, all dogs are required to remain on lead throughout the session unless your trainer advises otherwise.

A double-ended lead or a lightweight long line is ideal, as it gives you a bit more space to work with your dog while still keeping everyone safe and under control.

2. Plenty of high value rewards (cut up into small pieces)

Bring plenty of high-value, non-crumbly treats that can be cut into small pieces - we’ll be doing lots of repetitions so bring more than you think you will need!

I like to choose something nutritious enough that I can swap part (or all!) of my pup's dinner for their training treats on a class day.

The puppy class environment can be quite distracting at first, so it’s important that the rewards are valuable enough to make focusing on you worth the effort.

We love JR Pet Products Pate, it is 100% meat, it cubes well and most dogs love it!

Cooked sausages / meats make great training treats too. Chicken often crumbles easily, which can make fast delivery difficult so try to avoid it.

Please also bring some of your pup’s usual food if they are fed kibble.

3. A good quality treat bag / pouch so you can access your dog’s rewards easily

A good treat bag makes reward delivery quick and effortless — and timing really is everything in dog training!

When choosing a treat bag look for a good sized bag that can hold a larger amount of food, one with a single hand operation system and a magnetic closure rather than a draw string one to keep the rewards secured when you move and bend down. A bag with a waist strap will be more stable and easier to use as oppose to one with a clip.

Here is one of our favourite treat bags which I use daily with my own dogs Pet Remedy Treat Bag

And as our valued client you can get it for only £15 when you use code EVERYDOGCAN25 at checkout!

4. A super special toy

Having a toy that is reserved only for training with you can take your sessions to the next level. Puppies learn brilliantly through play, and a toy that feels extra special can massively boost their motivation and put value into interacting with you. 

Choose something different from their everyday toys — fun, exciting, and unique ideally something with a long handle so you can get them to chase it.

Make sure the toy is an appropriate size for your dog. Most dogs enjoy a toy with a nice, large bite area that’s easy and satisfying to grab.

If you need ideas, have a look at Tug-E-Nuff

Our dogs especially love their Sheepskin Bungee Chaser and the WondaBaa Sheepskin Bungee Tug.

5. A bed / boundary

We like to encourage all dogs to settle on their beds in between exercises and during Q&A time. Don’t worry—we’ll show you exactly how to teach a reliable settle behaviour.

A raised bed or one with sides works especially well, as it clearly defines the boundary and differentiates it from the floor. Make sure your dog’s bed is an appropriate size so they can lie on it comfortably.

6. Something to help your dog settle during discussions

If your dog or puppy finds it hard to settle while we’re talking through exercises, feel free to bring a long-lasting chew or a LickiMat to keep them occupied.

We love supporting local businesses! If you’re looking for high-quality chews and want to support a small business, check out Satch's Snacks.

You can get 10% off with code EDC10 🙂

7. Poo bags

8. Water & water bowl for your dog

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ON ARRIVAL

• Where possible, please gather your equipment (toys, bed, bowl, etc.) and set up your workspace before bringing your puppy or dog out of the car. This helps us set the class up for success and make sure that, once the dogs come out, all attention can stay on them.

• Have food rewards ready and easily accessible e.g. in a treat bag.

• Encourage your dog to toilet before the class starts.

• It’s completely normal for dogs to feel a little overwhelmed during their first class. You can help them settle by gently scattering a few pieces of their lower-value food on and around their bed to encourage calm sniffing and reduce focus on the other teams.

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DURING THE SESSION

• Be mindful of entry and exit points around the training area to avoid any confrontation between the dogs

• We would like everyone to have a positive, safe experience so we ask that you keep your puppy / dog on a lead at all times and pay close attention to their behaviour to prevent any accidental escapes. A longer lead or lightweight training line can be really useful.

• Training class can be tiring for some dogs so try to encourage your dog to stay on their bed while we talk / your instructor explains exercises so they can have a rest and an opportunity to bring their energy down.

• If you have any questions please ask away - that is what your instructor is there for.

• Have fun with your dog! Training should be all about building relationship and having fun together.

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AFTER CLASS

After class your dog is likely to be very tired. This might also demonstrate as a sudden outburst of energy - you might have heard of dog 'zoomies' before. This is all absolutely normal.

To help them settle following the class, take your dog out for a short toilet break, offer them an active calming activity such as a chew, KONG or a lickimat and encourage your dog to take a nap.