Wagtail Dog Training

To introduce ourselves:

We are Ipswich based dog trainers, Lyn and Mike a husband and wife dog trainer team alongside our much loved Standard Poodles Boris and Bertie. We have been training dogs and puppies for a number of years.

Having run an animal rescue centre in Southern Spain for 6 years and Lyn working as a veterinary assistant, we rescued, rehabilitated and retrained Dogs (cats and horses), before rehoming them mostly to Sweden.

This gave us a deep insight and understanding of the particular needs of rescue dogs. Those dogs that have been labelled as untrainable for whatever reason.

 Forget the label, we find the solutions!

To bring our story up to date. We are really proud to say we offer a purpose built dog training centre! Our training centre has so many advantages.

We have a real life type environment, bird, deer, rabbits, etc in the woodlands and fields that surround us.

Cars and people coming and going in front of us.

All those distractions your dog has and reacts to on walks.

Yet we are safe!

  A fully fenced and a safe space, we have areas which have far less distractions that are calm.

For the humans, easy free parking, a very nice café, homemade cakes and great coffee. Dogs are of course welcome. Some of our regulars have breakfast and a chat before or after training.

It's such a nice community, we hope you join us!

Our Philosophy

As a family run business we feel that all the family should be involved in helping your dog or puppy learn new skills where possible. So we encourage as many household members to attend if they can. If anyone has a disability or limited movement or Autism for example, we always will endeavour to adapt to individual needs. This is made easier because there are 2 to 3 trainers and assistants  present in group sessions, with groups of around only 6 dogs and puppies normally, we always find the best way of working with you and your dog or puppy.

Our aim is that you leave each of our sessions feeling positive and that you have learnt something you can practice at home and on your walks.

 It is also important to us that you feel comfortable and welcomed to our group sessions or 1-2-1's and  your dogs particular issues are addressed and your questions answered, so you are on the right path for your dogs or puppies goals.

Dogs, just like us, learn at different paces and are better at some things and not so good at others, we are able to have flexibility to teach the puppy or dog in front of us.

So your dog or pup can show off its very best behaviour to suit your lifestyle!

Flexible Training

It is important to be realistic when it comes to time limitations, with busy lives, families, children, work and health, and holidays, it can be difficult to commit to even 4 consecutive weekly sessions sometimes.

That's ok! With Wagtail Walks and Training we don't want you to lose out, financially or on learning opportunities.

So if you can't attend please give us as much notice as possible and we just move your session to the next convenient date. (please see T's and C's) With 3 trainers we can make sure you are not losing out on content as well!

In short. we want you to feel part of the Wagtail Walks and Training family and many of our customers tell us that's how they feel and return to us for help and advice as their dog goes through its life stages.

We are proud and enjoy being part of the community and have been privileged to run and take part in many charity and community events. From running dog shows to giving an event for children with our display dogs.

The Science Behind Our Training Methods

Don't worry this isn't going to be a long science lesson!

We are the only Certified Professional Dog Trainers in the Ipswich area, however we do now have a couple of other lovely people who have started their training to become a Certified Professional Dog trainer and we are happy to be their mentors supporting them on the journey. We mention this because while there are many other reward based trainers in the area we are the only ones with our certification working in the area.

The methodology is called Concept Training or more often known as Games Based Training.

Why games based training?

Veterinary and Scientific research has shown in people and other animals it can take us many times of practicing or rehearsing to perfect a new skill. However if we are taught and our learning is through games and fun it takes much less time. Think how pre school children learn. It is through games!!

Simply put when we are enjoying ourselves we learn quicker by a very long way.

What's a concept?

There are several concepts we work on for example Self control, Optimism, Calmness, so let's take Self control as an example it is very important for your dog. We have a long list of games that are fun but train and reinforce that skill in stages.

You would use that concept of "wait" before they eat their food and to reinforce them taking food gently.

But the same skill set is transferable to not chasing the jogger or squirrel in the park if you know the games to use to teach that skill in different places.

Teaching for the moment not in the moment is another important difference that the science teaches us.

Dogs need to be taught to understand they don't come ready packaged to know how to walk on a lead or sit on cue or why you ask that of them, why do they want to come back when you call them if they are having fun and not hungry, that other dog is more fun than you.

So first they need to learn that listening to us in a calmer environment without distractions to reinforce coming back to you and playing a "Game" is so much better and more rewarding than anything in the environment.

You wouldn't take an exam before taking the lesson, you don't have your first driving lesson on the A12 at a busy time. So we rehearse and practice in a manageable situation where they can achieve, moving it on to new levels with confidence.

Will that take longer to train my dog or pup?

No !

As we said near the beginning of this section, training through games is faster and in fact less stress for you.

We are in truth often surprised by how much dogs and pups learn in such short spaces of time compared to the traditional methods we used years ago.

Support and Assistance Dog Training

Owner trained Support and Assistance, for people or children with Autism or for people that need additional emotional support. Normally through "Pawsable"  we train your dog as your /or for family member to be a support dog.

Dogs Pets As Therapy (P.A.T.) If you are interested in training your dog to go into local care homes, hospitals, hospices and schools to share the joy and love a dog gives with people that are not in a position to have that without your and your dogs assistance. 

Click here to find out more

Speciality Areas

Rescue Dogs

Dog to Dog aggression

Resource Guarding

Separation Anxiety

Barking and other compulsive behaviours

Please click the link below

 Behavioural Consultations

Does your dog need Grooming? There are two local groomers we are very happy to recommend.

'Bee's K9 Cuts' and 'Cut to the Chase' click their names to find out more.

Any Questions ?

 Can't find the service you are looking for? Please head over to 'Contact us' and ask away

if we can't  help we will say but we have a lot of trusted friends and colleagues we may be able to recommend.

We are listening!

Telephone:  01473 747 496  Mobile;  0781 475 4669  Email: info@wagtailwalksandtraining.com