Scamp's School of Dog Training

14/07/2025

Puppy classes in LICHFIELD and CANNOCK
Following on from adding additional dates for our pup courses, we have just one space left for our upcoming Cannock (Saturday morning) pup course and a just a couple of spaces for our Lichfield (Sunday morning) pup course.
6 Week pup course covers everything from recall, basic positions, dealing with unwanted behaviours, essential k9 first aid, settle training, nutritional advice, meets and greets, etc.
All training carried out by professional trainer/behaviourist, Disability Assistance Dog trainer, recommended by APDT, ABTC, etc.
For more information and on line booking, please visit https://www.scampsdogtraining.com/puppy-courses

You only have one chance to get it right from the start. Put your trust in the professionals

Your pup will learn to sit, lie down, leave on cue, recall, etc. as well as not jump up and get through the 'bitey' stage without it becoming habit forming or progressing to aggressive behaviours.  We will help you teach your dog good meets and greets (both human and dog), manners around food and h...

14/07/2025

I was super proud of our Sunday morning pup class this week. Last week we looked at Settlemat training. Teaching the dog to settle calmy on a designated settle mat is so useful and is so worthwhile, but not all owners continue with the training after class. I was over the moon yesterday when I was able to discuss various first aid scenarios while ALL the pups settled quietly on their new settle mats. Clearly demonstrating just how much time everyone had invested into their pups in the week between classes.
Awesome guys, loved it!

14/07/2025

In both our early Cannock Saturday morning pup class and in our Sunday Morning Lichfield pup class, we switched our attention away from training and ensuring everyone knows what to do in an emergency. A knowledge of K9 first aid is critical as a dog owner because when your dog is attacked by another dog, gets run over by a car, has an allergic reaction to a bee sting, chokes on a ball, etc., you can dial 999, but no paramedic is coming to save your dogs life; it is down to you.
The dogs were all awesome while we practised bandaging, great job guys. Proud of you all!

12/07/2025

How gorgeous is Nera the Cane Corso pup?
She came to us today for tips and advice on getting the best start in life.
Cane Corsos require a lot of socialisation during their Critical Socialisation Period to ensure they are comfortable around other dogs and as part of that process, she had a little play with May. I think they are going to be good pals!

11/07/2025

Last week you saw Sally learning to settle on a mat in pup class. Here she is practising at home. If I could give every dog owner just one piece of advice, it would be this:
'Never think, how can I make a dog do something, always think how can I get the dog to WANT to do it'.
That's why we stopped using slip leads and chokers years ago. Far more effective to have the dog enjoy following the cue.
This is the perfect example. Just look at how much Sally enjoys getting down on the mat.
When a dog has a positive association with following the cue, life is a dream!

11/07/2025

If you follow this page, you will have seen Arnold learning to walk on a loose lead in our bronze course class a few weeks ago. Here is the update; taking it into the real world.
Great job, guys. He is looking awesome.
Note the dog is trotting happily and there is a lovely dip in the lead.
You will also note, he is in a comfortable harness, no slip leads, chokers, prongs, head collars or any other abusive tools and certainly no harsh lead corrections.
Arnold, we love you.

10/07/2025

This memory just popped up on my feed. One my favourite memories on FB. This is Luna, one of the first Disability Assistance Dogs that I had the pleasure to train. Luna has been qualified for a good while now and has worked with her lovely family, travelling all over the world advocating good, positive training. She has even been over to California to collect an Apple award with her fantastic guardian, Emma.
Training a dog to walk this well on a loose lead so that even a 1 year old in a pram can take the lead takes patience, dedication, plenty of chicken and empathy. It does not take slip leads, figure of 8's chokers, half chokers, halti collars, prong collars or lead jerks.
There is never a need to choke, cause pain, discomfort or fear to suppress a behaviour like pulling, it is far kinder as well as more effective to put the time and effort into training.
ALWAYS CHOOSE TRAINING OVER ABUSE!
If a trainer suggests any aversive tools to stop pulling, do check the post nom letters after their name so you can see that they have been educated and assessed - There won't be any. Do check their website for the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter logo - it won't be there and check what accredited training associations they are affiliated and been assessed by - there won't be any!
If they were educated in dog behaviour, followed the UK charter or had been assessed for efficacy and ethics by an accredited training association, they would not need to rely on aversives.

10/07/2025

Another memory popped up. This one tinged with sadness. My mentor, teacher and best mate, Scamp. You cannot imagine a dog with more issues than this Patterdale cross when I took him from Birmingham Dog's Home. He was even labelled as 'misbehaving' and had been returned three times.
If ever you doubted the results of positive training, you only had to look at what this dog achieved, stooge dog, training demo dog, agility star, scentwork king, model, tv appearances, he even had articles in magazines written about him. He was the name and ambassador for the training school. More than that he became my best pal at a difficult time, a dog I could trust off lead ANYWHERE.
He helped Bev through her darkest days and me when Bev spent months at a time in hospital.
We built a real special bond from mutual trust and love.
We rarely appreciate just how special these animals are until they are gone. I miss this boy every day of my life..And yet people still think it is acceptable to take on these fabulous animals that are so easy to train and stick a noose around their neck. I know for a fact, if I had chose to use a slip lead on this lad, his drive would resulted in him choking before he submitted to abuse.
Love your dogs, guys, they are here for such a short time!

Today is the hardest day of my life. Yesterday, I lost my Scamp. Many of you on this site have not only met him but had your life changed by him. He has a acted as a stooge dog for your reactive dog, he has demonstrated behaviours that your dog has learned. He is the name and the inspiration behind the training school. It was his dysplasia that had me swot up on canine nutrition that has resulted in many of you improving your dogs health and well-being.
He came to us as a dog labelled as a 'mis-behaving' rescue and ironically is the feature story in this month's 'In the Doghouse' because of what he has achieved.
Most of all he was my best mate and closest pal. A total one off in every way. He has kept me sane for a long time now and has done so much for Bev when she hasn't been well.
He has left a void in our lives way too large to ever fill.
Scampy, you were a pain in the backside when we took you on but by God you made up for it. We miss you so much and we thank you for all you have given us. You'll never be forgotten, Sleep well, pal.

10/07/2025

Settlemat training is so simple and teaches your dog calm, how to settle nicely when out and a whole host of other beneficial behaviours. When settlemat trained, your dog will automatically settle on the mat as soon as the mat goes down and stay there until released (normally when you have finished your meal at the pub/restaurant).
We start the training in pup class and providing you put a little time in each day at home you will be able to take your dog anywhere without impacting on everyone else around you.
Just look at Sally just 10 mins into her training!
Awesome job guys and well done to everyone at our Lichfield pup class on Sunday. You were awesome.

08/07/2025

And I wondered why May didn't want to come home? 🤣🤣🤣

07/07/2025

Only 2 weeks left for this pup course and already thinking about how I am going to miss them all. Super, super bunch of pups making my job such an easy and fun one.

07/07/2025

Every time I think the next batch of pupsters can't get any cuter..........😍