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** Free Same Day Local Delivery on Orders over £20 **
Calm, practical training for real dogs in real Scottish weather – not obedience-school nonsense.
Focused on large breeds, lead manners, recall and confidence in the real world.
Most training falls apart the second you step out the door.
Valley Dog is different.
I work with you and your dog where it actually matters – your home, your street, your local walks – so what we put in place holds up in the rain, when a bin lorry appears, or when another dog explodes at the end of a flexi lead.
No gimmicks, no cultish jargon. Just calm handling, clear structure and years of large-breed experience, especially with shepherds and similar “big-brain, big-engine” dogs.
Whether you’re starting fresh with a pup or trying to fix habits that have crept in over years, training is built around real-world problems:
1:1 Real-World Training
Sessions in your home, garden and local area – exactly where you struggle most. We work on the specific behaviours that are driving you daft.
Lead Manners & Loose Lead Walking
Teaching your dog how to move with you, not haul you. Especially useful for large breeds where poor lead work is a safety issue, not just an irritation.
Recall & Long-Line Coaching
Building a recall you can actually trust. We use long-line work to add freedom safely while your dog learns the rules.
Confidence & Life Skills
Helping nervous, unsure or over-excited dogs cope with day-to-day life – traffic, people, other dogs, new places, vet visits and more.
Reactivity Support
For dogs who bark, lunge or over-react on lead. No magic wand, no false promises – just calm, structured work to make walks safer and more manageable over time.
Types of Training I Offer
Everything starts with a conversation and a proper look at how your dog lives now. From there, we pick what actually helps – not just what sounds good on a leaflet.
Everything starts with a conversation and a proper look at how your dog lives now. From there, we pick what actually helps – not just what sounds good on a leaflet.
Building the basics that make living with your dog easier:
Calm in the house – not bouncing off the walls.
Settling when asked, instead of pacing and fussing.
Listening first time rather than needing a full debate.
Clear simple cues you can remember and actually use.
Sorting out the daily battle with the lead:
Loose-lead walking so you’re not being reefed along the pavement.
Starts, stops and turns so the dog follows your movement.
Handling skills for you – what to do with the lead, where to walk, how to respond.
Extra care around traffic, people and other dogs.
Bringing your dog back because they want to, not because they’ve run out of field:
Long-line training for safe freedom while they’re learning.
Clear recall cue and routine – same every time.
Games that build value in coming back, not just chasing off.
Real-world proofing – not just in an empty field when no one else is around.
For worried, unsure or easily overwhelmed dogs:
Gentle exposure to day-to-day life at your dog’s pace.
Supporting dogs who struggle with noise, people, surfaces or new places.
Showing you how to spot when your dog is coping – and when they’re not.
Building small wins so confidence grows steadily, not forced.
For dogs that bark, lunge, spin or kick off on lead:
Clear safety first – equipment, handling and distances that keep everyone safer.
Understanding why your dog is reacting, not just telling them off.
Step-by-step work to reduce the intensity over time.
Realistic expectations – improvement, not “fixed overnight”.
How Training Sessions Work
Training is tailored, but the structure is simple and predictable:
Initial phone chat (no charge)
We talk through your dog, your set-up and what’s actually going wrong. If I don’t think I’m the right fit, I’ll say so.
First visit – assessment & foundations
I come to you. We look at how your dog lives day-to-day, how you handle them now, and where the pressure points are. We’ll normally start one or two simple changes straight away.
Block of focused sessions
Most dogs do best with a short block of sessions close together, rather than endless one-offs. We’ll agree a plan that fits your dog, your time and your budget.
Real-world practice
We don’t stay in your living room. When it’s safe and appropriate, we take it out – your street, local paths, dog-walking spots – so the training holds up where you actually go.
Support between sessions
You’ll have written notes and clear “homework”, so you’re never guessing what to do next session.
Is Valley Dog Training Right for You?
This style of training isn’t for everyone – and that’s fine. It tends to suit:
Ideal clients
Owners of medium and large breeds who need calm, controlled handling.
People who walk in real Scottish conditions – mud, wind, busy paths, farm traffic.
Families who want a steady, well-mannered pet, not a circus act.
Owners of reactive, nervous or full-on dogs who feel out of their depth.
People willing to make small daily changes, not just watch a demo then carry on as before.
Not such a good fit if you:
Want a quick fix with no effort.
Expect the dog to change while you don’t.
Just want a certificate or “graduation photo” instead of real-world results.
Training Prices
Prices will depend on location, the type of work needed and whether we’re working with straightforward foundations or more complex behaviour.
As a guide:
Initial visit (assessment + first session): from £XX
Follow-up sessions: from £XX
Block bookings: discounts available for planned blocks of X or more sessions.
If you’re struggling with walks, embarrassed by your dog’s behaviour, or just want to get things right from the beginning, let’s talk.
No sales pitch, no pressure – just a straight conversation about what’s realistic for you and your dog.
