Holly’s Happy Hounds offers professional dog training services in Manchester. We use the latest science-based, force-free training methods that are proven to work.
Our training packages can be completely tailored to your needs. So whether you’re hoping to curb behavioural issues like excessive barking and reactivity, train your dog to walk nicely on a leash, or just socialize your new puppy, we’re here to help.
Our Manchester Dog training team
Holly is our lead dog trainer in Manchester. She’s fully accredited by the world-renowned Victoria Stilwell Academy and holds various professional certifications, including:
- Chartered Practitioner (UK Dog Training & Behaviour)
- Separation Anxiety Certified by IMDT
- Puppy Perfect by IMDT
- Happy Recallers Certified by IMDT
- Canine First Aid
- Behaviour Consultations & Reports by IMDT
- Dog behaviourist with the IMDBT (in progress)
Holly is helped out by her all-star team of canine sidekicks, who join her in sessions to support Socialisation and behavioural adjustment training. Say hello to…
Our approach to dog training in Manchester
At Holly’s Happy Hounds, we exclusively use force-free, positive training methods to raise happy, obedient dogs whose needs are met.
We avoid using punishment and aversive actions that are uncomfortable for the dog because it just doesn’t work. In fact, negative reinforcement can actually make things worse and damage the human-canine relationship.
Instead, we focus on positive reinforcement, utilizing play and rewards-based methods that don’t just teach your dog obedience, but also help to strengthen the emotional bond between you and your furry friend.
We also help you as the owner to feel confident, happy, and safe when interacting with your dog. And that’s important, because dogs are very empathetic—they feel every one of our emotions.
What can we help with?
We offer one-to-one dog training in Manchester that can be completely tailored to you and your dog. Here are some examples of what we can help with:
Puppy training classes
The behaviours puppies pick up in their early years tend to stick around when they get older. As such, it’s important to make sure they get off to the best possible start in life and to curb problematic behaviours now before they become established.
The good news is, puppies are very receptive to training—especially during the first few months. They learn more during that short space of time than at any other time in their life.
We can help you to take advantage of this critical window of opportunity for learning with our comprehensive puppy training course. We’ll work with you and your puppy on all the essentials, including:
- Basic manners
- Leash walking
- Recall
- Socialisation
- Reactivity prevention
- Separation anxiety prevention
And more!
Adult dog training classes
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but you can—it just takes the right approach.
Our unique training methods can help correct established negative behaviours and boost your good old boy’s/girl’s confidence, obedience, and manners.
All classes are completely tailored to your specific needs, just let us know what it is you’d like to achieve and we’ll put together a personalized program to help you and your dog to get there.
Reactivity
Reactivity refers to when dogs become overly aroused by stimuli and respond with negative behaviours such as barking, growling, or snapping. It’s often mistaken for aggression and can be difficult to deal with as an owner without professional assistance, but we can help.
The first step in dealing with reactivity is to understand what’s driving their behaviour. Reactive dogs are usually fearful dogs, so we aim to figure out what’s triggering that fear and anxiety. Then, we implement behaviour modification plans that help them to overcome it.
We’ve worked with many fearful dogs and have had plenty of success stories dealing with all types of reactivity. That includes:
- Lunging at people/dogs/moving objects
- Barking & growling
- Barrier frustration
- Excitability
Recall training
Off-leash time is very important to your dog’s well-being. But in order to be able to trust your dog off its leash, you need to have a strong recall in place first.
We use a tried-and-tested, reward-based method to train your dog to come back when called, and it works every time. All it takes is a few sessions.
Lead pulling
Many owners struggle with their dogs pulling when taken out for a walk. We can work with you and your dog to stop this leash pulling so that you don’t have to wrestle them for control every time you leave the house.
In our training sessions, your dog will learn to walk sensibly by your side with a comfortable amount of slack on the lead, so that the walk is more enjoyable for both you, the owner, and your dog.
General obedience
General obedience involves teaching your dog the essential building blocks of good behaviour. That includes training them to follow basic commands, like:
- Go to bed
- Sit
- Stay
- Lie down
- Leave it
- Look at me
- Go to mat
- Wait
- Come
These basic manners come in useful when it comes to keeping your dog safe, calm, and under control during your day-to-day life. They help to build obedience and give you a solid foundation of positive behaviour to work from.
How it works
If you’d like to hire us for dog training in Manchester, the first step is to fill out our training application form. Here’s how it works.
Step 1: Fill in the application form
Visit our application page and fill out the contact form with details about your dog and what you’d like help with. Then, let us know when you’d like us to give you a call.
Step 2: Initial call
We’ll give you a call at a time that suits you to discuss your needs in more detail and book your first session.
Step 3: Taster session
During the taster session/consultation, Holly will meet up with you to get to know you and your dog, discuss your training priorities, and put together a personalized training plan to get you from A to B.
Step 4: Training course
Next, you’ll be invited to book a block course of 4 x 60-minute sessions, during which Holly will implement your training and management plan. Between sessions, she’ll check in with you regularly and be available through WhatsApp and text to answer your questions. If you’re consistent, you should see noticeable progress over the course of the programme.
Step 5: Follow-up sessions
Once the course is complete, you can book individual follow-up sessions if you’d like further one-to-one training or reinforcement.
Dog Training Manchester services areas
We offer dog training services in and around Greater Manchester. That includes dog training in Salford, Swinton, Monton, Eccles, Walkden, Worsley, Prestwich, Whitefield, Sale, Altrincham, Alderley Edge, Chorlton, Sale, Bolton, Trafford, Urmston, Manchester City Centre, and beyond.
If you’re not sure if we service your area, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and we’ll let you know.
Book a consultation
Ready to get started with dog training in Manchester? Fill out our training application form to book your free consultation today.
You can also call or email us for more information or to discuss your requirements. Click here for our contact details.
See you soon!