Dog Training with Amanda

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Dog Training with Amanda

I'm Amanda. Reward-based dog trainer helping
puppies and their guardians across
Crawley.
(1)

Practical, kind training for real life

121s | Classes | Crawley + online

Find out how I can help. 07774 691424

✨ Or book here : https://DogTrainingwithAmanda.as.me

02/11/2026

One little thing to practise with your dog this week.

Let's teach them to 'drop!'

This is something I teach my dogs by literally dropping a piece of food on the floor and letting them go and get it. Simple, right?

Do this a few times and it starts to become a fun little game. Once your dog understands the game and is happily playing along, you can start adding the cue “drop” just before you drop the food.

Once your dog understands what the cue means, you can start practising with a toy.

Choose a toy that isn't hugely exciting to start with. Have a little play with your dog, say “drop” and wait for them to let go of the toy. As soon as they do, put the toy straight behind your back while dropping a piece of food for your dog to find.

Then bring the toy back out and start playing again!

The important bit here is that dropping the toy doesn't mean the fun has to end. Your dog gets their food reward, and then the game starts again. We're making giving something up worthwhile, rather than simply taking it away.

Keep it fun, keep your sessions short and build things up gradually. There's no need to start with your dog's favourite toy or anything they're reluctant to give up.

Give it a go and see how you get on. And remember, we're teaching a skill, not expecting our dogs to magically know what we want them to do!

Great for little pups picking up anything they can on walks, picking up stones and those ever so lovely socks they seem to love! Oh, and those trouser legs! Yes, I'm looking at you!

01/11/2026

Got a puppy? Let's make those early weeks count!

Having a puppy is brilliant. It's also a lot of learning, for both of you!

From biting and jumping up to recall, lead walking and learning how to settle, there's plenty to think about. And whilst you might have a picture in your head of how life with your puppy will look, the reality can sometimes be a little different!

My puppy classes aren't just about teaching your puppy to sit. They're about helping you understand your puppy, build a good relationship and learn practical skills you can use in everyday life.

My FINAL puppy course of the year starts Sunday 15th November!

Here's what you need to know:

🐾 When: Sundays, 9-10am, starting 15th November

🐾 Where: The Mill Primary School, Ifield, Crawley

🐾 Cost: £95 for the full five-week course

🐾 Who it's for: Puppies and their people who want to build good foundations, learn together and feel more confident navigating everyday life.

I keep my classes small, with a maximum of six puppies, so there's room to give you and your puppy the support you need.

And if a group class isn't quite what you're looking for, I also have some 1-to-1 training availability in November and December. Spaces are limited, so if you've been thinking about getting some help with your dog, now's a good time to get in touch.

Ready to get started?

I'll pop the puppy class booking link in the comments. You can also message me if you'd like to chat about whether the class is right for you and your puppy.

Let's finish the year on a good note and set you both up for a great start! 🐾

01/11/2026

It's a team effort!

Your groomer isn't expecting perfection. A little preparation at home, patience and communication can make grooming a much better experience for everyone, especially your dog.

Now, tag your favourite groomers and let them know how awesome they are!

And if you need any husbandry help to help you help your groomer, then drop me an email or a whatsapp and I'll see how I can best help you.

30/10/2026

Autumn colours, crisp leaves and a whole lot of important sniffing to do. Honestly, what's not to love for bith of us?

Where are your favourite places to walk this autumn?

29/10/2026

Things you said before you got a dog.

“I'll never let the dog on the sofa.” and now you're perched on the edge because apparently they need all three cushions.

“I won't spend silly money on dog toys.” And now you've just spent £18 on something and they prefer to the cardboard box it came in.

“My dog definitely won't sleep in my bed.” Meanwhile, you're hanging off the edge of a king-size mattress whilst the dog is horizontal, snoring like a steam train.

“I'll only buy practical dog accessories.” Snd yet, they have more jumpers and coats than you, and a wardrobe of harnesses that would make a fashion influencer weep. Hopefully colour co-ordinated!

“I'll still be able to eat my food in peace.” And you now eat with an audience. A very judgemental audience who apparently haven't been fed since 1847.

And the absolute classic…

“I'll just have one dog.”

Anyway, you now know I have a whole bunch of dogs (and my husband thought he had a say in it) , spend more on their food than my own and have a good selection of clothing but need to buy more because the puppy cant be left out!

Who's actually in charge here? Not me, that's for sure!

Come on, confess. What did you swear you'd NEVER do when you got a dog ; that you now do on a daily basis?

28/10/2026

Got a puppy at home? Or expecting one soon? 🐾

Life with a puppy is exciting, funny, occasionally exhausting and often a little different from what you imagined!

There's so much more to those early weeks than teaching your puppy to sit. You're building a relationship, helping them navigate a very big world and learning how to live together along the way.

Things like biting, jumping up, recall, settling and learning to walk nicely can feel like a lot to juggle. And no, you don't need to have it all figured out already!

My puppy classes are about helping you understand your puppy, build a good relationship and learn practical skills you can use in everyday life. Im living through it myself right now.

My final puppy class of the year starts on 15th November, for 5 weeks, so if you've been thinking about joining a class, now's a good time to have a look.

I keep my classes small, with just six puppies, so there's plenty of opportunity for help and support. Some spaces have gone already, so dont miss out.

If you're in the Crawley area and would like to know more, drop me a message. I'd love to help you and your puppy get off to a great start.

27/10/2026

A little tip that can make walks easier.

Does your dog turn into a complete speed machine the moment you open the front door?

Try adding a little sniffing to your getting-ready routine.

Before you head out, scatter a few bits of your dog's food on the floor and let them sniff them out. Sniffing is a great way to give dogs an opportunity to use their noses, and it can help make the start of your walk a little less frantic.

You can also scatter a few bits of food outside, somewhere safe, like by your feet so they dont pull you over, while you sort yourself out and lock the front door. That way, your dog has something useful to do rather than practising pulling you down the path while you're trying to get the key in the lock!

It won't magically fix every pulling problem, but little changes like this can help make getting out of the house more manageable.

And if your walks currently feel more like you're training for a sled race, you're not alone!

I help owners work through everyday training challenges like this, in a way that suits both them and their dog.

If you'd like some help making walks a little less chaotic, get in touch. I'd love to help you and your dog find a way forward.

26/10/2026

Have you ever changed your walking route because you know there's a good chance you'll meet another dog?

Perhaps you cross the road, turn around or suddenly become very interested in a hedge because you'd rather avoid the whole situation. Or do you dive in behind parked cars? Or do you send the person you're walking with ahead to check the road ahead?

And maybe you've started to dread walks that you used to enjoy.

When your dog's behaviour makes everyday life feel difficult, it's not just the walk that's affected. You can start worrying about what other people think, wondering what you're doing wrong and feeling like everyone else's dog has got the memo except yours.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. I've been there. I know how it feels.

You don't need to feel embarrassed about your dog's behaviour, and you don't need to have all the answers before asking for help.

There are ways to make walks more manageable, help your dog feel safer and build your confidence along the way.

If you'd like to know how I can help you, pop me a message and we can chat.

You deserve to enjoy being out with your dog, too.

If walks around Crawley are becoming more stressful than enjoyable, get in touch. Let's look at what's happening and work out how I can help.

26/10/2026

Apparently, its a really important job being Chief stick collector!
This was THE best stick!

He collected a few along the way to check and this one was a keeper!

Glad he's taking his roles seriously! 💙

25/10/2026

Ever wondered why your dog can do a perfect sit in the kitchen, but completely ignores you when you're out on a walk?

It's easy to think they're being stubborn, or that they know exactly what you're asking and have decided they'd rather not bother.

But dogs don't learn behaviours in the way we sometimes expect they might.

Your dog might understand what "sit" means in your kitchen, where it's quiet and there aren't many distractions. Asking for that same sit when there's another dog nearby, exciting smells everywhere a pigeon flying overhead and people walking past is a very different challenge.

Dogs need help learning to do things in different environments, around different distractions and when life gets a little more exciting.

So rather than assuming your dog is being difficult, make it easier for them. Practise at a distance from distractions, practice it in the garden, outside your house, along the road and reward the behaviour you want and gradually build up the difficulty as they become more confident.

Training isn't just about teaching your dog what to do. It's about helping them learn how to do it in the world they actually live in.

And that's where understanding your dog makes all the difference.

Would you like help doing this? Drop me an email and we can chat.

Address

Bewbush Crawley
Crawley
RH11

Website

http://dogtrainingwithamanda.co.uk/, https://DogTrainingwithAmanda.as.me/, https://mailchi.mp/1a09f1508cf8/dog-training-

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