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“Thanks for a great class today - we have one very tired and content puppy”
The Widget's Farm training approach is to use learning theory to motivate and reward animals for the desired behaviours. Animals, be they dog, cat, horse or chicken, are trained at a pace that suits them and are encouraged to make good choices that can be rewarded. We can provide private lessons and also do lots of the popular courses such as Puppy Classes and also some that are a bit different like Gundog Fundog and Tracking Detectives. Check this page for upcoming courses or, even better, follow us on Facebook for announcements on new course dates. www.facebook.com/widgetsfarm
We believe our classes our special in that they are kept small (never more than 6 dogs), and formed from the best of other great courses – for example, the Widget's Farm Puppy Class is influenced by Ian Dunbar’s Sirius Puppies, Lincoln University's “Lifeskills for Puppies” and Chirag Patel’s Practical Puppy Course. And we assess the different abilities of each dog and owner as we go along and suit the training and interactions accordingly.
However the most important thing is that training classes at Widget Farm are fun! Fun for dogs and fun for owners.
WHICH CLASS IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Firstly all new dogs to Widgets join us through one of our foundation courses: Puppy Lifeskills, Adolescent Lifeskills and Adult Core Skills. These classes provide strong core skills and then graduates can join further groups, including specialised sports and gundogs, if they wish.
The right foundation class will be dependent on your dogs age. For dogs under 18 weeks, then please join us for Puppy Lifeskills. For dogs aged between 18 weeks and 18 months, Adolescent Lifeskills is for you. And for dogs over 18 months, then please join Adult Core Skills. Look below for the next classes due to start or email info@widgetsfarm.co.uk if you’d like to be added to email alerts for later classes.
Please note that these classes are for dogs that have no big obvious fear behaviours towards people or dogs, including repetitive barking. We would want to see these dogs first through 121 sessions. If you are not sure if your dog is going to be OK in class, do get in touch with us first for a chat.
The smile of success when learning is fun…
Puppy Lifeskills Class – Weekly group sessions, weekly video challenges and individual phone support - £130.
Our puppy classes are special…
Widget's Farm provides small puppy classes that aim to be innovative and fun for both puppy and owner. We help you train the puppy with the skills they will need for living happily within a family and growing up to make good choices. This means aiming to improve self-control, confidence with dogs and strangers, teaching tolerance to being alone, coping with noises and calm behaviours in different situations. We also cover all the popular skills such as training loose lead, fast recalls, "leave", vet handling, sit/down stays, drop cues and more.
And things are getting even better…
Widget’s Farm is pleased to announce a new class format to help puppies through their most important first development phase. All puppy classes now include both face-to-face (FTF) group socialisation sessions alongside weekly challenges and exercises for owners to complete at home. These “at home” exercises are delivered through video demos and notes which are emailed to clients each week and complement the class content. Owners can also access complementary phone support during the course for any individual issues you may want extra help with.
About us…
Widget's Farm is fully insured and Anna is a full member of both the APBC and the IMDT, is on the ABTC’s register of clinical animal behaviourists and has a MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour. All staff are also trained in canine first aid.
On-site training takes place in either Widget’s Farm training barn or dedicated puppy training field. During the coronavirus outbreak, the puppy training field is dedicated to only to young puppies and allows social distance between owners alongside a safer space for those puppies that haven’t completed their full vaccination course.
We can also provide 121 lessons if you would like help before the class starts or if you can't make training. If you cannot make our classes for any reason, but understandably want to train in a class environment, we strongly recommend you seek out another accredited class such as IMDT or APDT.
Who does this class suit?
Puppies should be between 9 and 16 weeks at the start of the course to qualify. Please note that we take puppies one week past their first vaccination and suggest you start training as soon as you can to capture the critical phase from 6-16 weeks.
If you puppy hasn't yet arrived, you may also enjoy our blog post: www.widgetsfarm.co.uk/widgetsblog/prepuppyprep
And for those of you who already have your puppy, click on the following link to a useful blog: "socialisation has a deadline"
Finally, our free presentation on socialising puppies during lockdown: https://vimeo.com/user35451714
The whys and what nots...
Who: All puppies from 9 - 16 weeks at start and one week past their first DHP vaccination
Where: Online in your home & FTF at Widget's Farm, Standerwick, BA112PR
When: Twice a week for five weeks: Online Wednesday or Thursday evening, and Face to Face on Saturdays.
Adolescent Lifeskills Class – 5 weeks of weekly group sessions, weekly video challenges and individual phone support - £130
This is our most popular class as owners often struggle to understand where their sweet doting puppy has gone! Dogs and owners learn training skills important for the adolescent stage and how to deal with common problems including over excitement, pulling on the lead, poor self control, recall and more. Dogs also have the opportunity to train around other dogs in a safe and secure environment. Eligibility: 5 - 12 months
The whys and what nots...
Who: All young dogs from 5 - 18 months old and who have not trained in a Widget’s Farm class before
Where: FTF at Widget's Farm, Standerwick, BA112PR
When: Saturdays each week.
Does your young dog sometimes bark at dogs or people on walks? Or does your dog sometimes show fearful behaviours? If so, please call us first before booking on 07900403126 so we can check whether a 121 would be a better first step.
Puppy "meet the world" Course – 4 week class both at the farm and in the real world
We take your basic puppy skills and improve and refine them. Some classes are also held out in the real world and include a trip on a train and shop keeper challenges! Eligibility: 4 months to 6 months – must be one of our own Puppy Class graduates
Adult Training Class - 4 week course
A fun class that proves that you can teach an old dog new tricks! This class helps you with all the niggly issues that you’d like to get under control and includes obedience issues such as recall, loose lead, greetings and more. It also includes behaviour advice to help you and your dog understand each other. Eligibility: open to all dogs over 2 years. Some new entrants may require a 121 session first to check suitability for a class environment.
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Feisty Fidos – specialist rehab classes
Open to any of our existing fear-based behaviour clients looking for further rehab opportunities in a managed situation. New clients interested in these classes will need to undertake a behaviour assessment first.
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Fundog, Foundation Class – 1 day introduction to foundation elements of gundog training
Open to any level, age and breed.
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Gundog Fundog, level 1 – 8 week class
covering grade 1 standard - retrieve, control, recall, heel, whistle. Grade 1 Test can be arranged at end of the course for those interested. Dogs should have a desire to retrieve but need no further skills