We are a dynamic team that has a wealth of knowledge and experience between us. We are all passionate about building and improving bonds between dogs and their owners. We pride ourselves on making training interesting and fun and strive to ensure our clients and their dogs have the best experience possible. We provide a good range of training classes, seminars and workshops in local communities, which are of great benefit to people and their dogs; helping people to have dogs with good manners in the real world and to prevent problem behaviours.
Tuesday (50 mins) |
17:00, 18:00 and 19:00 |
College of Animal Welfare, WF3 1DR |
Wednesday (50 mins) |
17:00, 18:00 and 19:00 |
Dogs Trust Leeds, LS15 4NL |
Thursday (50 mins) |
17:00, 18:00 and 19:00 |
Pool In Wharfedale Village Hall, LS21 1LG (or LS21 1RY - please try both!) |
Friday (50 mins) |
17:00, 18:00 and 19:00 |
Dogs Trust Leeds, LS15 4NL |
Saturday (50 mins) |
08:00, 09:00 and 10:00 |
Dogs Trust Leeds, LS15 4NL |
Saturday (50 mins) |
13:00, 14:00 and 15:00 |
The College of Animal Welfare, WF3 1DR |
T: 01132 814941 or 01132 814941
M: 07393 140408 or 07393 016213
Please email us with your enquiry at: LeedsDogSchool@DogsTrust.org.uk
Louise Hart
Niki and Sue
Sophie Bambrook
Head Coach Louise has a BSc in Canine Behaviour & Training which she achieved whilst working full time in an assistance dog organisation. Louise has dedicated over 20 years working within a variety of assistance dog organisations. Louise also ran her own small rescue helping rehabilitate and rehome Working Sheepdogs and Border Collies for several years. Louise was a School Governor for 7 years and has a good understanding of teaching and education practices.
Louise currently competes in dog sports to championship level with her dogs and also trains with her dogs herding sheep.
Niki has worked within the rescue setting for the past seven years and thoroughly enjoyed working towards finding dogs their new forever homes. Niki worked first hand with the adoptable dogs and completed the training, rehabilitation and socialisation needed for them to be as prepared as possible for their new forever home. Alongside this, Niki worked very closely with the trainer and behaviourist at her previous job and regularly volunteered helping assist and teach training classes. This is where her love of teaching developed! Niki caught the teaching bug and soon developed her skills in this area enjoying the opportunity to ensure that dogs who are already in their loving homes, stay in their loving homes.
During her time here at Dogs Trust, Niki has attended many of the courses available but she still says that her favourite course was the puppy course… for obvious reasons!
In Niki’s spare time she regularly enjoys taking her Border Terrier Milo on regular hikes and countryside walks and keeps everyone updated on the latest adventures with her very popular blog. Often her blog will include special guests from both the surrounding rescue centres and previous foster dogs. Alongside regular long walks and updating the blog, Milo also enjoys having fun in the agility ring (even if he is a little slow still).
Sue is a Registered Veterinary Nurse with 32 years’ experience in small animal practices both here and in Australia. Whilst living in Australia Sue attained a Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services (Canine Behaviour and Training) whilst running her own dog training business there. Sue has a keen interest in continued professional development and attends seminars and workshops and has also completed other animal related courses. Sue is a full member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and Pet Professional Guild Great Britain.
While living in Australia Sue and her Golden Retriever Barney were Pet Therapy Partners and visited the same residential home every fortnight for several years.
In her spare time Sue is an avid Rugby League supporter, a keen bird watcher and shares her home with 2 rescue cats and 9 rescue snakes.
Sophie has been passionate from the start about having a career with animals, but her main focus is to work with dogs. Sophie started her journey to her dream job by completing a Level 3 Animal Management course following the canine pathway. This focused on the care and training of dogs as well as some other weird and wonderful animals!
Whilst she was studying this course, Sophie dedicated 300 hours to working as an apprentice assistant dog groomer where she learned how to fully prepare all kinds of breeds of dog for the head groomer. Here she picked up valuable skills on how to safely handle dogs as well as learning the beginning skills of how to maintain the various types of coats dogs can have.
Once Sophie graduated from college, she chose to study the FdSc Canine and Feline Behaviour, Training and Welfare degree to further develop her knowledge on dog behaviour and training.
Whilst studying, she carried out 150 hours of work experience in a rehabilitation kennel, learning how to train and rehabilitate dogs that had behavioural complications. Here she learned important skills on how to recognise dog body language as well as how to organise a training plan on how she would carry out her training.
Once Sophie graduated from higher education, she went on to teaching puppy classes and adult dog training workshops which focused on loose lead walking and whistle recall. When Sophie saw there was an opening for Dog School Coach at the Leeds centre, she couldn’t miss the opportunity! Now she has finally achieved her dream job and all the hard work has paid off!
Dog School Leeds take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge to raise money for Dogs Trust.
Read moreRead about how to enjoy a day at the beach with your four-legged friend!
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DogSchoolLeeds Here is Niki, one of our coaches, teaching Bailey the Golden Retriever how to lie down. We teach this using a lure and reward method by guiding the dog with a treat and rewarding them when they are in the desired position. Come and join us in classes to find out more! . . . #dogschool #dogschoolleeds #goldenretriever #goldenretrieversrule #goldie #goldies_world #lyingdown #coaching #dogtraining #dogtrainingclasses #lureandreward #lureandrewarddogtraining #lureandrewardtraining
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DogSchoolLeeds Are you comfortable there Maggie Mae?! We talk a lot in our classes about getting a perfect settle and I think Maggie has taken it to the next level! What a absolute cutie! 🐶🐶🐶 @maggiemae_theboxer . . . #dogschool #dogschoolleeds #settle #settleddog #boxer #boxersofinstagram #boxerpuppy #boxerpuppies #kong #kongdogtoys
Anybody who is involved in the care of your dog is encouraged to come along to class, including children. Please bear in mind that your coaches will be talking to the class on a group level to teach you valuable key messages about behaviour, so it is important that anybody attending is able to listen quietly (if young children are attending it could be a good idea to bring something to keep them occupied with at these times). Let your coach know if you have any special requirements or will have more than 3 people attending with your dog, so that they can prepare and make sure there is enough space. To make sure you can concentrate on training your puppy, we would ask that you leave any other pets (including other dogs) at home.
Please bring the following to each class: your dog’s bed/blanket, a selection of your dog’s favourite treats and one or two of his/her favourite toys. If your dog requires any medication or has a specialised diet, please bring these to class – it’s also important to get in touch with your coach to let them know about this before the class as well.
We will try our best to make sure you see the same coaches each week for your classes, because we think it is important for us to get to know you and your puppy. The coaches work in teams of three, so you should get to know all the team members over your course. Occasionally there may be a change in one coach because of sickness or holidays, but if this is necessary, we will try to ensure that you are introduced to your new coach the week before the change so that they are familiar with you and your dog.
We only use positive training methods supported by the most up to date research on dog behaviour. We will never use methods that intimidate or harm your dog.
We aim to teach you to understand how your dog communicates and learns in a fun, interactive environment. We will support you in developing the skills needed to help them become happy, confident, well behaved canine citizens. We will achieve this through practical training and support for both you and your dog.
When you arrive to class we ask that you keep your distance from other owners and dogs, we will guide you over to your personal ‘pod’ which will be a small area reserved for you and your dog. This will give your dogs the best chance to feel comfortable and calm at the start of class. Once everyone has settled in their own areas your coach will start the class, there will be some time set aside for practical training and discussing key messages. In puppy classes there will also be some time scheduled for socialising with other class members.
At the end of class we will again ask that you keep your distance from other owners and dogs. We will guide you out of the class one at a time, please remember to keep your distance from the other students as you are leaving the building and returning to your cars.
Yes! Please feel free to contact your coach between classes if you would like further support or have any questions. The best way of getting in touch is via email so that your coach has the time to give your response their full attention. Your coach will advise you on the best course of action. They should be able to provide you with some basic advice that you can put in place straight away and may recommend a 1-1 session if you require more in depth behavioural or training support.
Dogs Trust recognise the need for affordable behavioural and training support in the community. We believe that Dog School will help raise awareness of dog behaviour, strengthen the bond between owners and their dogs and help to address and prevent the development of unwanted or problematic behaviours. We are hopeful that this service will improve the welfare of dogs in the UK, both by providing owners with support in the home environment and by reducing the number of dogs being relinquished for behavioural reasons.
Our training classes are aimed at giving you information and skills that you can apply to your puppy’s behaviour in any situation. If you have an existing issue that would require help with please contact your local coach and describe the problems you are having. It may be possible for us to help you in a class setting, or it may be that your coach will recommend a 1-1 session with a trainer or behaviourist. We will aim to give you the advice that we believe will be of the greatest benefit to you and your dog. In some cases, the class environment may not be the most suitable for your dog, in which case we will always strive to offer an alternative plan of action!
Please try to let your coach know as soon as possible if you are unable to attend a class. You will be provided with the training guide for the week you missed so that you can catch up at home. We are not able to offer replacement classes or refunds but will help you catch up in time for the following class. If you require help in understanding or practising the guide for the week you missed get in touch with your coach for advice.