One-to-one training · at your home or the field
Dog training in Doddington & across East Anglia
Calm training that sticks.
Whether it's a new puppy or a dog other trainers have given up on, I'll sort the problem and show you how to keep it sorted.
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.
Before I start on your dog, I make sure you're comfortable with me. Then I watch the dog for myself. Plenty of dogs come to me already labelled aggressive or stubborn, and most of them are neither. I don't rush it.
After that, I train you. A dog only keeps it up if everyone at home does the same thing, so I make sure you know what to do once I've gone.
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 has been pushed further than it can cope with. It’s rarely a vicious dog. I’ll work out what’s setting it off and show you how to change it, keeping everyone safe while we do. Serious cases I take slowly, and if one needs someone other than me, I’ll say so.
See aggression & biting case studies →Reactivity
Barking and lunging at other dogs or people is exhausting on a walk and embarrassing in public. Stopping the barking on its own doesn’t last, so I work on whatever is winding your dog up and give it less reason to kick off at all.
See reactivity case studies →Recall
Your dog comes back when you’re worth more than whatever it’s just found. I build that up in stages, starting somewhere quiet, until it holds up with other dogs about.
See recall case studies →Pulling on the lead
Dogs pull because it works. They lean into the lead and still get where they want to go. I’ll show you how to make a slack lead the only way forward, so walks stop being a tug of war.
See pulling on the lead case studies →Anxiety & nervousness
A nervous dog needs calm, predictable handling and time. Fussing over it doesn’t help, and neither does pushing it at the things it’s scared of. I’ll help you build its confidence at a pace it can cope with.
Puppies
The first few months with a puppy shape the dog you’ll have for years. Get the basics right now and you’ll save yourself a lot of bother later.
See puppies case studies →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
I’ll bring my certificates and insurance so you know exactly who you’ve let in, and we’ll talk through what’s been happening before I start on the dog.
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 you’re the one walking him tomorrow. 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
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.
Half an hour, no charge, no obligation.
Before you get in touch
Questions I get asked a lot
How many sessions will my dog need?
Usually fewer than people expect. Some things shift inside a single session. Anything with fear or real aggression behind it takes a run of sessions and steady work from you in between. I’ll give you an honest idea at the consultation. I don’t sell blocks of sessions up front.
Do you take on aggressive dogs?
Yes, a fair few. Most dogs that get called aggressive are frightened. I take the serious ones slowly and keep everyone safe while we work. If I think your dog needs a vet or a veterinary behaviourist first, I’ll tell you.
What happens in the free consultation?
Half an hour, free, with no obligation. You tell me what’s been going on and I ask a lot of questions. By the end you’ll know whether I can help and roughly what it would take.
Where do the sessions happen?
Usually at your home, because that’s where most of the trouble happens. For recall and anything that needs space, we use Doddy Dog Field nearby. You’re welcome to come to me instead.
Do you cover my area?
I’m based near Doddington and work across the Fens and East Anglia, including March, Chatteris, Wimblington, Manea, Benwick, Whittlesey, Wisbech and Ely. Travel is free within roughly eight miles. Further out, fuel is added at 45p a mile and agreed with you before I set off.
What do I need to do between sessions?
The practice, mostly. I’m training you as much as your dog. Ten minutes a day does more than an hour crammed in at the weekend. If something slips, message me and we’ll sort it.
Are you insured?
Yes, with Hiscox. I bring the paperwork to first sessions along with my handling and training certificates, so you can see them for yourself.
What methods do you use?
Calm and consistent. I don’t shout at dogs or sell gadgets, and I won’t push a frightened dog into the thing it’s scared of to see what happens. Dogs learn fastest when they aren’t worried and the person handling them behaves the same way every time.
Something else you want to know? Ask me.
Get in touch
Ready to talk about your dog?
Tell me what's going on and I'll get back to you with an honest idea of what's realistic.
- One-to-one, never a franchise
- Calm, patient methods
- You get trained too, so it lasts
Tell me about your dog
Tell me as much as you can about your dog and what's been happening. I read every enquiry myself and usually reply within a day or two.