Each class costs £15 for one hour-long session. There are eight different topics in total on the Adult Dog Training course. You may book a class for as many different topics as you like, depending on your dog's training needs. Payment will be taken when you sign up. By signing up to a Battersea course, you’re not only helping your own dog, but all the other animals who we care for every day across our three centres.

These classes have been tailor-made for adult dogs aged six months and upwards and will cover more advanced topics including:Loose-Lead WalkingMeeting New People and Other DogsConstructive PlayPreventing Separation AnxietyManaging and working with dogs that display overarousal and overstimulated behavioursManaging and working with nervous and anxious dogsPreventing resource guardingHandling at the vetsClasses are repeated throughout the year and you can mix-and-match classes to suit your dog.

What we will cover in each topic

Loose-lead walkingIn this class we will cover the topic of walking your dog on the lead. You’ll be given training tips to help your dog walk without pulling, and we’ll even start teaching your dog to walk to heel. We’ll also discuss when to reduce the amount of rewards you are giving your dog, and when you might need to increase them.What we will cover:Lead walkingTeaching a ‘heel’Phasing out of rewardsIncreasing the rate of reinforcement in busy environmentsIntroducing eye contact around distractions Meeting new people and other dogsIn this class we will look at how to teach your dog to greet people calmly, while discussing common issues and problems owners face with socialising their dogs. We’ll also start teaching your dog a ‘leave it’, which is a handy cue you can use in various situations.What we will cover:Appropriate vs inappropriate socialisation and floodingFloodingImpulse controlTeaching a ‘stay’Teaching a calm ‘hello’ greetingDog-walking etiquette Constructive playIn this class we’ll look at building your bond with your dog through play. We’ll introduce games that are both appropriate and beneficial to the development of your dog and your relationship with them as well as teaching them skills like a ‘drop’, ‘find it’ and an ‘emergency stop’. We’ll also look at what overstimulation is and how to prevent this from happening.What we will cover:Exchange gamesTeaching a ‘drop’Search games/how to teach a ‘find it’How to spot the signs your dog is becoming overstimulated and how to prevent this from happeningHow/when to use toys as a reward instead of foodHow to teach an ‘emergency stop’ Managing and working with dogs that display over-arousal and overstimulated behavioursIn this class we will cover the topic of over-arousal in dogs and how this can lead to overstimulated behaviours. You will be given tips on how to recognise over-arousal and the possible causes. We will then go through some training techniques that can be used to both prevent this behaviour and work with your dog if they do begin to become overstimulated.What we will cover:How to identify over-arousal and signs to look out forHow over-arousal can lead to overstimulationManaging your dog’s arousal and working through overstimulationHow to keep your dog’s arousal levels downTeaching your dog to drop items when askedTeaching your dog an emergency sitTeaching your dog to settleManagement techniques to help prevent over-arousal Preventing separation anxietyIn this session we’ll be looking at separation anxiety, including what it is and how to prevent it. As well as that we’ll be teaching behaviours like a ‘bed’ cue and a ‘settle’.What we will cover:What is separation anxiety and how we can help to prevent itTeaching a ‘bed’ cueYour leaving routine and desensitisation to thisEnrichment/home-alone itemsTeaching a ‘settle’ and maintaining this whilst you are out of the room Managing and working with nervous and anxious dogsIn this class we will cover the topic of anxiety and nervous behaviour in dogs. We will be looking at the possible causes of anxiety and how these may present as physical behaviours. We’ll go through some top tips on how to recognise anxiety and how to help your dog be less anxious. We’ll even then start to look at how you can teach your dog some skills to better manage their anxiety.What we will cover:Dog body language and recognising nervous / anxious behaviourSigns of stress in dogsImportance of listening to body languageHow to correctly approach nervous dogsTeaching your dog to settleCauses of anxiety and how to identify theseTeaching your dog to go to bed when askedHow to increase your dog’s overall confidenceTeaching your dog a hand touchManagement techniques that can be used with nervous / anxious dogsTeaching your dog a middle (to stand between your legs) Preventing resource guardingIn this class we’ll look at ways to recognise and prevent resource guarding. We’ll start to teach useful behaviours to prevent resource guarding and confrontation. We’ll also look at how to manage potential resource issues in a multi-dog household.What we will cover:What resource guarding is and why it happensTeaching a ‘drop’How to prevent resource guardingTeaching an ‘off’Resource guarding in multi-dog households Handling at the vetsSome dogs feel uncomfortable with being handled by the vets and in this class, we’ll explore steps you can take to help them become used to it. We’ll look at dog body language and how dogs communicate to us when they may be uncomfortable and how to appropriately respond to this to help make vet trips less stressful. We’ll also look at how to build positive association with muzzles and other items that will help your dog feel more comfortable with being handled.What we will cover:Understanding body language and when to take a breakMarker associationMuzzle associationTouch and treatHow to desensitise to medical / grooming equipment

Who are these classes for?

These classes are aimed at dog owners who would like to learn techniques to help with specific behaviours. In order to make sure the class is tailored to your needs, we ask that your dog 6 months and upwards. Whilst this course will be an excellent follow on from our Puppy Programme, it is not necessary for you or your dog to have had any previous puppy training experience.We encourage everyone in your home to be actively involved in training, so all members of the household are welcome to join. To get the best from each class, we need dogs and owners alike to remain as focused as possible. With this in mind we ask that you consider the age and attention span of all family members you choose to involve in the session.

We release course dates regularly, on a rolling basis. Please check the booking form for our current classes.

My dog isn’t from Battersea, can I still sign up?

Yes! We welcome both rescue and non-rescue dogs of any breed to the classes. Battersea’s mission is to be there for every dog and cat who needs us.

What’s Zoom and will it cost me money to join the call?

Zoom is an app which hosts group video calls, but you don’t need to have a Zoom account to join, and it will not cost you any additional money. We will email you a clickable link before each session, and you will need a laptop or smartphone with a camera and internet connection.

Can I mix and match which classes I attend?

Each class is a standalone session, so you may book onto whichever topic(s) meets your requirements. You don’t need to attend the adult classes in a particular order, and you also don't need to attend them all. Classes will be repeated throughout the year, should you decide that you want to attend further training down-the-line. In order to ensure small class sizes, we can’t move people between sessions, so once you’ve signed up to a specific day, you are committed to that day.

What training methods does The Battersea Way use?

Battersea always trains dogs using positive reinforcement. This is where we reinforce good behaviours by rewarding dogs with their favourite toy or treat. These methods are proven to be effective, ensuring lasting results. We never recommend negative techniques that would threaten or distress your puppy or dog.

Do I need to have anything with me?

For some classes you may require items such as blankets, a lead and different household objects. We will email you before the session to tell you what you’ll need to bring to the class.

Can I get in touch with my trainer between classes?

Yes, you can. You will be provided with an email address, which you can use to contact them if you have any questions about what you’ve learnt on the course.

Is each class run by the same trainer?

We have a team of Behaviour & Training Advisors who are on hand to deliver our classes and to offer their expertise. They will have access to the information you provide when booking about areas that you have identified as key goals and what you would like to achieve from the session(s).

What age must my dog be for your courses?

For our Adult Dog Training classes your dog needs to be aged five months or upwards. If your dog is slightly younger than the suggested age but you feel they may benefit from attendance, please contact us on trainingclasses@battersea.org.uk.

Can I register more than one puppy or dog?

We recommend that if you wish to attend with more than one dog, you book them onto separate sessions, so that each dog can be given your full attention during the training. If this is not possible, each dog should have its own human for the session.

I’m not based in the UK. Can I still attend?

Yes, but please be aware that all classes are delivered in English, and our class times are GMT.

How many people from my household can attend the classes?

We encourage everyone in your home to be actively involved in training, so all members of the household are welcome to join. To get the best from each class, we need dogs and owners alike to remain as focused as possible. With this in mind, we ask that you consider the age and attention span of all family members you choose to involve in the session.

Is there a discount for booking multiple classes?

Our Adult Dog Training classes costs £15 per class and there are eight different training topics. You do not have to book all eight and you can attend them in any order, but we cannot offer any discounts for people booking more than one

Do I need to have attended any other training with my dog prior to these classes?

You do not have to have attended any previous training classes, and you also do not have to book all Battersea’s classes. They have been designed as standalone sessions so you can attend them in any order.

How can I get in touch?

If you would like to get in touch with any questions about the classes before booking you can contact our team on trainingclasses@battersea.org.uk.

How to train your dog The Battersea Way | Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

Published 22 Jun 2023 • Updated 30 Jun 2026

As lovable as they are, training dogs can be hard work!

A person in a red and white polka dot dress crouches down to a white scruffy dog while during trick training

Since 2020, we have been running online training classes led by our expert Canine Behaviour and Training team, supporting owners and their dogs as they learn Battersea-recommended techniques. We’ve seen over 1,000 dogs and their owners attend our classes and while these have been a valuable resource in helping owners, we've decided to redirect our focus and resources toward areas where we can make a more significant impact.

One of these areas is our Behaviour and Advice Line, which offers personalised support and guidance to pet owners. By concentrating our efforts here, we believe we can provide even more effective support to those that need our help.

We appreciate the dedication and hard work that has gone into delivering our online training sessions and are confident that this shift will allow us to better support both owners and dogs and cats.
As well as our Behaviour and Advice Line, we still have our training videos with our expert staff and tips in our free pet care guide, which pet owners can be directed to.

If you have any questions about this, please contact dog.behaviour@battersea.org.uk or call 020 3887 8347. Or register your interest below so you can be the first to hear if we launch any new classes or additional support.

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Canine Behaviour team

Battersea’s Canine Animal Behaviour Team are experts in dog behaviour and welfare. The team is made up of trained professionals with decades of combined experience. They specialise in assessing, rehabilitating and supporting dogs using positive, evidence-based methods.

Their trusted guidance helps owners understand behavioural challenges and build stronger relationships. They make sure Battersea remains a leading voice in canine behaviour and welfare. Read more about the team

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