Appropriate Socialisation Sessions
One of the core experiences that will shape your dog's view of world is socialisation.
Done correctly it will help to build your relationship, trust and connection with your dog. It helps your dog or puppy respond appropriately to the world around them while keeping their focus on you.
If we don't approach socialisation right, we might accidentally make the focus of their world other dogs or people, and then that is all they will want.
When we become the fun place to be, whatever else is going on, they will learn that other dogs and people are part of life but not more exciting than we are.
Socialisation is often misunderstood and therefore done poorly, with free for alls where puppies interact together but with no attention to appropriate greetings and play. These can lead to frustration, fear, and anxiety for your puppy or to practising over-exuberant behaviours. Eventually these things can result in ‘reactive’ behaviour, where your dog doesn't feel safe with other dogs and hasn't learned to trust that you can keep them safe.
Benefits of appropriate Socialisation
Confidence
Appropriate socialisation builds confidence in both dog and owner.
Connection
Appropriate socialisation creates connection and trust between dog and owner.
Calm
Appropriate socialisation teaches calm behaviour around other dogs and helps to prevent behaviour issues.
Community
Meet like-minded people and share experiences of puppy and dogs.
Initially we set up socialisation sessions to bring people and their puppies together. These sessions were established to educate new dog owners on appropriate socialisation to avoid many of the problems we were seeing develop in dogs in the area. But we soon realised the benefits for everyone whether they had a puppy or older dog.
They are the perfect setting for starting socialisation before attending more formal training courses.
Puppy Sessions
The focus is socialisation and not training. Puppies are on leads while people chat to each other and reinforce calm puppy behaviour. To ensure puppies are not given the opportunity to bully others, there is no unsupervised free play. Our aim is to keep arousal levels low, to help puppies learn and process the experience more effectively. Gentle and fun interaction between people and their own puppy is reinforced, building connection and trust.
Puppy sessions are free up to six months old.
Teen & Adult Sessions
Originally the sessions were only for puppies but we introduced Teen/Adult sessions to meet a need locally. Teens and older dogs that had missed out on socialisation, either due to the pandemic or because they were rescues, required more input to ensure everyone felt safe. A little more training instruction is required during these sessions, while still focusing on building confidence through socialisation. Because of this there is a nominal fee of £5 to come along but we've kept it as low as possible to make sure sessions remain accessible to all.
This teen/adult session is the perfect first step into training, courses or workshops. It can be used to introduce those who have had behavioural training into a safe group situation which is carefully managed. We keep safe distances and go at each dog's pace, supporting everyone to learn to read their dog's body language and step in to support them throughout.
If you would like to attend teen/adult sessions and have not attended any training with us yet please contact us first by email, message or phone to discuss your dogs’ needs, and whether this would be a suitable environment.
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS
Lesley Thompson BSc (Hons) MAPDT01279
Lesley has been training her own dogs (15 in total over the years), since 1980. Instructing professionally for over 15 years. Starting in the 1980's with Acorn Dog Training Club in Newton Aycliffe. Why choose me to help with your dog's behaviour? I have rescued several dogs with behaviour issues: mainly reactivity to other dogs, and crazy border collies. I understand the difficulties involved in modifying inappropriate behaviours. Dogs repeat behaviours they find reinforcing, with reinforcement not necessarily being what we think is reinforcement! I do not judge; believe me I have been where your are. I am a supportive, good listener. I want to help you to see the dog you love; behaviour issues can cloud emotions and create a block between you and your dog. Having a dog can be so rewarding and enjoyable, it should not be a struggle.
Michelle Dart IMDT APDT ABTC
Co-Founder of Empowered Dog
Michelle Dart IMDT APDT ABTC is dedicated to building a better future for dogs and their owners all over the world. Her goal is to set puppies up for the best start by helping owners to better understand their canine companions and develop a deep bond built on trust. She particularly enjoys teaching tricks and helper dog tasks as well as coming up with creative training challenges that are immensely fun to take part in and help dogs and their owners forge skills that will last a lifetime.
Her skills in developing fun, creative and effective training solutions are an asset to Empowered Dog.
Sonya Ingledew PDTI Instructor
Sonya has been working with dogs professionally for over 10 years, training, grooming and day care. She gained her Instructors Award with Pet Dog Training Instructors in 2021, however, she has been instructing people with their dogs for over 10 years. Sonya is passionate about helping people with their dogs, she loves it when the spark of understanding flashes in the persons eyes. The lightbulb moments when dog and person start to really communicate. Priceless!
Nurturing experiences tailored to age
Teen / Adult sessions at 10am for dogs 6+ months
If you have attended our puppy or adolescent course, or have had 121 training with us please book your place. If you would like to attend and have not attended any training please contact us first by email, message or phone to discuss your dogs’ needs, and whether this would be a suitable environment.
Puppy sessions at 11am for puppies under 6 months
Please book your puppy onto the socialisation sessions. You can carry your puppy pre-vaccination to allow your puppy to experience the session safely.
