Walkabout Hounds Training Centre

14/06/2025

The difference between dog owners and dog trainers!!!

We all enjoy having a furry companion around. They bring joy and love into are day. But just like children they can also bring frustration and upset as well.

And like children they don’t do it purpose. They do it because they need teaching and guidance to be able to make the right decisions. One difference between dog owners and dog trainers. Is that dog owners just want to enjoy their dog and spoil it. A bit like grandparents do despite what the parents say.

Dog trainers on the other hand enjoy the teaching part of owning a dog. Instead of being the parent to their dog they are the engaging slightly crazy cool teacher from school. They teach lessons within a cloak of fun and motivation. With clear rules and boundaries in place they have a clarity of what is allowed and what is not.

One six week puppy course doesn’t teach you or your dog what it takes to be successful in life. Puppy class is like nursery you and your puppy learn how to move with each other. And how your body movements effect your puppies. Owners take part in puppy class (Nursery) but when they are at home or going for a walk expect their puppy to behave like a full grown responsible adult.
Dog trainers expose their puppies to different environments at appropriate stages in education. If we are a puppy we are going to do (Nursery level things in a easy environment )
And increase the environmental level as the education and age level grows.

1. Think about where you teach your dog (learning environment matters )
2. Think about what you teach your dog (Teach actions to labels one word = one action)
3. Think about the length of the lesson ( keep session short and end when the going is good )
4. Think about what you expect when you are out with your dog( realistic expectations are very important )
5. Think about the age and physical and mental ability of your dog. ( young dogs need time and repetition to learn behaviours )

13/06/2025

Where does training start ??

Whether you are starting with a puppy or an older dog. Training starts at the same place

1. Relationship is the first thing to work on. Building trust and developing a bond are key stepping stones for teaching to take place.
2. Develop a routine this should have time for sleeping , toileting, play , training and alone time. (Remember when you’re spending time with your puppy or dog, they are learning and you are still teaching)
3. Environmental exposure is the next thing to work on. People , places and things in controlled contacts with all of the strange things that happens in life. Develop rules of engagement (Who the puppy or dog can meet how they meet. What will you do if your puppy or dog spooks at something ? )
4. Realistic expectations and goals. Don’t go out thinking dog or puppy can handle everything you throw at it. Developmental stages will have an effect on what and how your dog or puppy will cope with situations. (If your bond and trust are strong you should be able to get through most things but be prepared)
5. Teaching leads to training. You are your dogs teacher first then you become their trainer. You can’t expect your dog to know what you want from them if you haven’t taken the time to teach them what is right or wrong. (If they jump up at people at home they will do it out side on strangers. If they don’t come every-time you call them at home they 100% won’t do it out side around distraction) A teacher has passion to educate the pupil in the task that is required. A trainer has an expectation that the pupil has the understanding of the task and will uphold clear rules when doing that task.

These are a few of the beginning stages that every new dog or puppy owner should look at with a new dog or even an older dog.
It’s never too late to strengthen or improve your human dog relationship.

13/06/2025

Special offer for Fathers Day
6 121 sessions for the price of 4. £240 saving £120. Starting at our centre and then progressing to out and about.
Perfect for looking at recall, lead walking and how to cope with distractions.
To take advantage of this offer please message us.
Based at Swithens Farm Rothwell we can also offer this package to South Leeds, East Leeds, Wakefield, Castleford and Pontefract areas.

21/05/2025

New Website Is Now Live.
Now there's some tweaks still to be made but need to get it up so that you fine folks can still book. Check it out and see what you think.

**Update**
Please make sure that if you are trying to book classes or sessions that you go onto the Bookings page first and select what you would like to book including day & time and then when you click Next you will be prompted to sign in or sign up.
Don’t try and sign in to the website customer account that is only for buying things on the shop on the website no bookings. Hope that helps.

Walkabout Hounds Training Centre is a leading provider of dog training services, specialising in puppy training classes and obedience dog training and in particular Gundog Training for Pet Dogs and those wanting to progress further. With a deep passion for enhancing the bond between dogs and their o...

20/05/2025

I'm just in the process of setting up a new website for Walkabout Hounds. I'm using a new platform and transferring the existing domain onto the new website so if the current website doesn't seem to be working Don't Panic.
You can still book by following the link below to go straight through to the booking system.
https://bookeo.com/walkabouthounds

12/05/2025

We are back with our Special Offers
May Madness is 3 Home Visits for Just £150 or 6 Puppy 121 Training Sessions for the price of 4.
Massive savings on both.
Based in Rothwell Leeds but can cover Leeds, Wakefield, Castleford just ask.
Visit the bookings page via the link or message direct.
www.walkabout-hounds.co.uk/bookings then select prepaid.

09/05/2025

We have new 5 week puppy courses and Dog Training Level 1 courses starting next week on Monday and Tuesday evening. £100 for the course for up to 4 dogs per class.
To book simply visit the bookings page on our website
www.walkabout-hounds.co.uk/bookings
Or message direct to pay by bank transfer instead.

01/05/2025

All classes cancelled tonight. Emails sent to everyone.

22/04/2025

We’ve been nominated for an Animal Star Awards Wild Card entry at the Northern Awards 🥳👏🎉

16/04/2025

Our Intro to Gundog sessions are a great way to teach your pet dog some Gundog skills. Ideal for the complete beginner with no experience at all. Classes held weekly on a Monday and Thursday evening at 6:15pm and 7:30pm at our training centre in Rothwell.
We have a prepaid offer on at the moment to buy 5 classes for the price of 4 just £80.
You can purchase the credits and then use them as and when you like. You can buy on the website on the bookings page and then clicking Prepaid or you can message direct to pay by bank transfer

https://bookeo.com/walkabouthounds/prepaid

14/04/2025

Jixenwell Gundogs our sister company is a Finalist for the Animal Star Awards Northern Region in the Working Dog Of The Year Category ❤️❤️❤️

12/04/2025

Classes starting this coming week.
Puppy Classes for puppies under 6 months
Dog Training Level 1 Classes for dogs over 6 months.
We also have 121 training sessions at our centre in Rothwell, our field in Kirk Smeaton and also out and about. Home visits are a great option for when the issues you are having are only at home or if you are unable to make it to us so we come to you.
Gundog Training classes for all breeds of dog not just Gundogs. For complete beginners we have our Intro to Gundog sessions at our centre in Rothwell and for those with a beginner and beyond knowledge we have our Gundog Stages at our field in Kirk Smeaton.
Bookings can be made on our website or by messaging us direct to discuss your needs in more depth.