Our Services
Initial Assessment
The initial assessment is imperative in order to set you onto the right path and lay essential foundations prior to attending classes or furthering training.
During your initial assessment, your trainer will have an in-depth conversation with you regarding your dog’s current behaviour and all possible factors that have contributed towards any unwanted behaviour. If there is no apparent unwanted behaviour, the conversation will be utilised to discuss and assess your training goals.
After this discussion, your trainer will handle your dog practically and work with him/her in order to find a suitable starting point for yourself and your dog to begin training. The trainer will provide a detailed overview of all techniques and learning theory and make any reasonable adjustments to suit the individual needs of your dog and yourself as handler.
Following the above, there will be time for you to handle your dog and put what you have learned into practice under the supervision of your chosen trainer. We understand that this can be quite daunting to new clients but rest assured, you will be encouraged and have the full support of your trainer.
We will be with you every step of the way so please don’t be nervous.
Once you are happy with your handling we will then task you with some homework in order to generalise what you have learnt at the training centre within your dog’s home environment.
Homework is normally expected to last around 3-4 weeks, as repetition is key when changing behaviour.
During your homework, you will have your trainer’s full support via message/voice note. This allows your trainer the opportunity to liaise with you on a one to one basis for support and you can send videos of your progress privately for feedback.
PLEASE NOTE
The only circumstances in which your trainer will not handle your dog will be if they deem such handling to be counter productive for the dog itself. It is extremely rare that this is the case, but welfare will always be our top priority.
Puppy Assessments (14 weeks – 6 months) – The initial stages of the assessment remain the same, assessing your dogs temperament, your current routine, handling style and objectives.
The trainer will then discuss how to aid your puppy to reaching his/her full potential and make amendments to your current routine and handling style to support this.
Your trainer will cover a variety of training techniques to assist you in laying the much needed foundations. You will be tasked with homework and invited back for a free follow up session to ensure that you are on the right path. Puppy assessments are £150, however this also includes one follow up session.
Behaviour Modification
Behaviour modification is the process of changing patterns of dog behaviour using various techniques and methodology. The ultimate goal is to swap objectionable, problematic, or dangerous behaviours with more positive, desirable behaviours. Behaviour modification works with the majority of dogs and has many ways of application.
It is relatively easy to make change. The hard part, is sticking to these changes long enough to create new habits and seeing the old habits a thing of the past. Consistency is key.
Behaviour modification says that we can change the way our dogs act, or react, by learning and an association to their actions. You can’t force a dog to change their behaviour. You can, however, motivate them to change their behaviour by changing the environment and offering incentives.
The psychologist B.F. Skinner, known for his research on operant conditioning (the precursor to behaviour modification), postulated that if the consequences of an action are negative, there is a good chance the action or behaviour will not be repeated, and if the consequences are positive, the chances are better that the action or behaviour will be repeated. He referred to this concept as “the principle of reinforcement.”
Put simply, Skinner’s behaviour modification model is a way to change habits by following actions up with positive or negative consequences to either break bad habits or reinforce good habits to continue.
You can try to develop and implement a behaviour modification plan on your own. However, your dog will be far better off if you seek the help of skilled professionals who specialises in canine behaviour modification.
Personal Protection
Protection dogs, or potential protection prospects, must take part in a mandatory initial assessment prior to any training. This assessment is to observe the dog’s temperament and handler and dog capabilities, as well as to allow discussion of objectives and training goals together with essential safety considerations and control requirements.
Following completion of the assessment, your trainer will set you step-by-step goals and homework to ensure that you are on the right path to achieving your aims as a dog and handler team.
The cost of the initial protection assessment is £200. Subject to completion of the assessment and acceptance onto the protection pathway, further one-to-one training with your allocated trainer is available thereafter at a cost of £50 per session. Classes are also available by invitation only, at a cost of £20 per group class. Your trainer will discuss the most appropriate option for you and your dog following completion of your initial assessment.
Please note – There are no guarantees that your dog will be genetically suitable to fulfil the protection role that you may have specifically purchased the dog for. If your dog is found to be unfit for work, then you will still be charged the assessment fee.
Scent Detection
The unleashed team has trained both dogs and handlers for a number of prestigious clients in the past. Some of which include the premier leagues top flight football clubs. The Unleashed team has also delivered a number of courses in both passive and proactive search.
Unleashed still provide both dog and handler training for scent detection. However, the Unleashed team will not certify under any of the current awarding bodies. If you are interested in this kind of training or are struggling with some unwanted (learnt) behaviour from your current search dog, training is done on a 1:1 basis and is 50 pounds per hour following completion of your initial assessment.
Group Classes
Good Behaviour Class
Protection Club
This class is based around personal protection, security dogs and working trial preparation. It is here where the unleashed team selects the Unleashed Team. Class is held on Tuesday 20.00 – 22.30.
