One-to-one training · at your home or the field
Dog training in Doddington & across East Anglia
Calm, lasting results with the dog you love.
From a new puppy to the dog other trainers gave up on, I sort the problem and show you how to keep it sorted, often faster than you would expect.
Meet David
Over a decade of training dogs
Dogs and animals have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I spent more than ten years working with them professionally as an accredited handler and trainer with HM Prison Service, winning national competition awards along the way, until I was medically retired. These days I work with local families and their dogs on my own terms, at my own pace, for the love of it rather than the diary.
Before I do anything with your dog, I make sure you are comfortable with me. Then I read what is actually in front of me, rather than the label the dog has arrived with. I work calmly, and I take my time.
After that, I train you. A dog only keeps good behaviour if the people around it stay consistent, so by the time I leave you know how to hold onto it.
What I help with
From puppy basics to the serious stuff
Tap any of these to see how I work on it.
Aggression & biting
A dog that has snapped or bitten is usually frightened, or pushed past what it can cope with. Not vicious. I read what is going on, keep everyone safe, and show you how to change it. The serious ones I take slowly, and I will tell you honestly if I am not the right person to help.
Reactivity
Barking and lunging at other dogs or people is exhausting on a walk and embarrassing in public. I work on the cause, not just the noise, so your dog learns it does not need to kick off in the first place.
Recall
A reliable return is mostly about being more interesting, and more consistent, than whatever your dog has just found. I build it in stages, until coming back is the easy choice even with plenty going on.
Pulling on the lead
Pulling carries on because it works. The dog leans in, and it still gets where it wants to go. I show you how to make a loose lead the thing that moves you both forward, so the walk stops being a fight.
Anxiety & nervousness
A worried dog needs calm, predictable handling and a bit of time. Not fuss, and not flooding. I help you build its confidence at a pace it can manage, so the world stops feeling like a threat.
Puppies
The first few weeks set the tone for years. Get the foundations right, calm handling, clear boundaries, good experiences, and you save yourself a great deal of trouble down the line.
At your home
Most behaviour and household issues, worked where they actually happen.
At Doddy Dog Field
A secure private field near Doddington for recall, lead work and obedience.
Covering Doddington, March, Chatteris, Wimblington, Manea, Benwick, Whittlesey, Wisbech and Ely, and further across East Anglia by arrangement.
How it works
What to expect
We talk before anything else
My first job is to make you comfortable, not the dog. I’ll bring my certificates and paperwork so you know exactly who you’ve let through the door, and we’ll go through what’s been happening before any training starts.
You hold the lead
I’ll work with your dog until I understand what’s driving it, then it’s your turn. Most of the session is you handling your own dog with me guiding, because the dog goes home with you, not me. If the whole household joins in, even better. A dog with five sets of rules ends up following none of them.
You’ll see a change before I go
I try not to leave until you’ve achieved something with your own dog, in front of me. Sometimes that’s the problem sorted. More often it’s the first proper step, and the tools to carry it on.
A check-in a few days later
The session doesn’t end when I drive off. A few days on I’ll message to ask how the two of you are doing. If a bit of what we covered has slipped, we’ll straighten it out over message. If it needs more than that, I’ll say so, and we can book a follow-up.
Real results
Watch a dog turn around
The German Shepherd his owners couldn't go near
Hitachi's elderly owners could not approach him in his kennel. Five minutes into the session, the same dog was working calmly on the lead.
Read Hitachi's story →Taking a high-value toy from a dog, without a fight
Hugo will give up his favourite toy calmly, straight from his mouth, because he trusts that letting go is always worth his while. No snatching, no standoff.
Read Hugo's story →Meeting a powerful young Shepherd for the first time
My first encounter with a strong working-line German Shepherd I had never met. Watch how a calm, friendly manner wins a dog over in one meeting, and how the tone changes for a recall.
Watch the first meeting →Building a reliable recall with a ten-month-old Vizsla
Session by session, this young Vizsla and his owner are building a recall that holds up in an open field, at the age when most adolescent dogs stop listening.
Watch the recall work →What owners say
Rated 5.0 on Google
“Dave was amazing not only with our dog but also with me. We have a rescue Collie who was very fearful and reactive… Dave came to the house and was calm and patient with Theo and gave us tools to use… he gave me the confidence to relax while walking Theo, this then gave Theo more confidence.”
“Dave is amazing!! He helped us with our rescue girl who had a really high prey drive… Dave taught us how to deal with this as well as lead walking. We had a really impactful teaching experience for us as the owners and for our dog.”
“As a Dog Groomer, my passion is working with reactive dogs. Dave has supported and helped me to ensure I am reading the dogs language correctly… Digby is now comfortable being blow dried without the need for a muzzle.”
Straightforward pricing
What sessions cost
A free 30-minute consultation so I can understand your dog, your situation, and whether I can help.
Hands-on training and coaching, in your home or at the field. Most dogs show real progress within a few sessions.
Priced individually once we have talked it through.
Travel is free within roughly 8 miles of Doddington. For jobs further out across East Anglia, fuel is added at 45p a mile, always agreed up front. Happy to travel, and equally happy for you to come to me.
Get in touch
Ready to talk about your dog?
Tell me what is going on and I will get back to you. I will be straight about what is realistic, and I will say so if I am not the right person to help.
- One-to-one, never a franchise
- Calm, patient methods
- You get trained too, so it lasts
Tell me about your dog
Give me as much detail about your dog and the case as possible. I read every enquiry myself and usually reply within a day or two.