Puppy Training Classes · Concordia Hall, St Leonards

Give your puppy the best start

Small group puppy classes for local pups and their parents — four Thursday evenings, three intro sessions at our dog day school, and a month of learning together.

Send an enquiry Reserve your place — £175
  • Perfect for all pups under 6 months
  • At least two trainers at every class
  • Three day-school intro sessions included

Small group evening classes

For your puppy — and for you

The Fairy Tails are pleased to provide group puppy training classes for local pups and their parents. Classes are held at Concordia Hall, St. Leonards on Thursday evenings at 6pm.

Puppy training is a crucial aspect of raising a well-behaved and happy dog. Our group training classes include teaching your puppy basic commands, socialising them with people and other dogs, and establishing a positive relationship between you and your furry companion.

A puppy settling on its mat at a Fairy Tails class in Concordia Hall
Class night at Concordia Hall

The line we won’t cross

Pain-free dog training — and exactly what that rules out

We are pain-free dog trainers. Nothing we put on your dog, and nothing we do with your dog, is designed to work by hurting them — no choke chain, no prong collar, no electric collar, not on the toughest case, not on the worst day.

  • We never use: Choke chains

    A sliding metal loop that tightens around your dog’s neck whenever the lead goes tight, and only loosens when the pressure comes off. Repeated use can damage the windpipe, and a sudden jerk can strain the neck or spine.

  • We never use: Prong collars

    Metal links with inward-facing points that press into the skin around your dog’s neck every time the lead tightens. Repeated use can bruise, break the skin and damage the nerves underneath.

  • We never use: Electric collars (e-collars, shock collars)

    Contact points on your dog’s neck that deliver an electric shock by remote control. Even on “low”, it works by being unpleasant enough to stop the dog — who may link that to whatever they were looking at, often the other dog.

What we use instead

Positive reinforcement dog training, applied properly — and it works on the hard cases too, not only the easy ones.

Read what choke chains, prong collars and e-collars actually do to a dog →

  • Positive reinforcement. We pay for the behaviour we want with food your dog will actually work for, plus toys and play — so they learn what to do, not only what to avoid.
  • Work kept below your dog’s threshold. We set the distance and duration your dog can cope with, then close the gap as they steady, rather than correcting them for not coping.
  • Counter-conditioning. We change how your dog feels about the thing they react to, rather than suppressing the reaction and leaving the feeling underneath. On our training programmes that work happens where the problem does: the high street, cafés, traffic, the seafront.
  • Ordinary, well-fitted kit. A well-fitted harness, a non-retractable lead, a collar with an ID tag — ordinary kit, nothing corrective. Your programme’s own kit list is the one to pack from.

Why we say pain-free, not force-free: a lead, a collar, a harness, a muzzle where safety requires one, a nail trim, grooming restraints, a bathing noose, holding a dog steady in a busy street — every one of those applies a degree of force, and not one of them is there to cause pain. Force-free isn’t a promise any trainer can honestly keep. Pain-free is.

Why choose group classes

Puppies are sponges — let’s make it count

Start training early

The ideal time to start training your puppy is as early as possible. Puppies are like sponges, absorbing information and learning quickly during their early weeks. Our classes are perfect for all pups under 6 months old.

Two dog trainers

There will be at least two dog trainers present at our group classes, using and teaching positive reinforcement techniques to help your pup learn happily.

Socialisation

It’s important to expose your puppy to various environments, people, and other dogs to promote socialisation. This helps prevent fear and aggression issues as your puppy grows. Group classes and exposure to the dog school is an ideal opportunity for your pup!

What you will learn

Training will include basic commands such as sit, stay and come, plus we can help with the following:

  • Diets and nutrition
  • Building strong foundations
  • More advanced commands
  • Long lead training with distractions
  • Day school sessions
  • Training with hand signals
  • Explore and master dog law
  • Learn body language and voice tones to help your pup focus
Henry, a young cocker spaniel, out on the lead in town

What’s included: the course includes four sessions spread over one month plus three intro sessions to The Fairy Tails dog day school.

The course, week by week

One month, four evenings — a plan that builds

  1. 1

    Week 1

    The foundations

    Mastering basic skills — sit, down and settle — plus your first homework: good home habits that help prevent future issues such as separation anxiety and other common puppy challenges.

  2. 2

    Week 2

    Out into the world

    A revision of week one, then we introduce walking outside — loose-lead walking, walking techniques, engagement and responsiveness, and more good habits for home.

  3. 3

    Week 3

    Recall

    The week devoted to recall training — the skill that keeps your puppy safe and earns them their freedom.

  4. 4

    Week 4

    The real world

    Everything comes together with a practical session outside, in a real-world environment.

Week 2, out in the world

A class night

One hour on a Thursday, well spent

Every class night has the same friendly rhythm — arrive, warm up, learn, practise, and head home with homework. Here’s how the hour unfolds.

  1. 6:00pm

    Arrive & settle

    Mats down, a sniff and a hello — pups settle beside their parents with a few calm treats while everyone arrives.

  2. 6:10pm

    Warm-up

    Name games and focus exercises — easy wins that switch every puppy into learning mode.

  3. 6:25pm

    The week’s skill

    The main lesson of the night, broken into puppy-sized steps you practise together.

  4. 6:40pm

    Practice & socialising

    Short, supervised mixing between pups — confidence-building and controlled, never a free-for-all.

  5. 6:55pm

    Q&A + homework

    Your questions answered and the week’s homework set, so the progress carries on at home.

  6. 7:00pm

    Home time

    Tired brains, waggy tails — see you next Thursday.

Where and when: Concordia Hall, St. Leonards — Thursday evenings at 6pm. Courses run on a rolling basis: book your place and we’ll contact you to slot you into the next available course.

Beyond the commands

How will your pup benefit?

Enjoyable classes

Puppies have short attention spans, so it’s important to make training a positive experience.

Building confidence

Exposure to a variety of stimuli during classes will help them learn to adapt and feel comfortable in different situations.

Professional trainers

Your puppy will experience structured training and socialisation opportunities under the guidance of professional trainers.

A strong foundation

Establishing a strong foundation of obedience early on will contribute to a well-mannered and well-adjusted adult dog.

Tilly, a young shepherd puppy, settling by the seafront
Enzo and Miles waiting nicely together outside a café

Building a bond with your puppy

Puppy training classes can significantly strengthen the bond between you and your puppy. Training establishes a form of communication between you and your puppy. Through consistent commands and cues, your puppy learns to understand your expectations, and you learn to interpret their responses. This mutual understanding fosters a sense of connection.

Understanding your pup

Through training classes, with the help of our trainer you can gain insights into your puppy’s personality, preferences, and learning style. Similarly, your puppy becomes attuned to your cues and expectations. This mutual understanding deepens the connection between you and your furry friend.

A positive experience

The use of positive reinforcement, such as treats, praise, affection and play reinforces the idea that good behaviour leads to positive outcomes. This positive feedback loop strengthens the bond as your puppy learns that following your guidance brings rewards.

What our puppy parents say

A graduate pup’s story is on its way to this spot.

Out in the real world

Classes are just the start. Here are some of our dogs staying calm and focused where it really counts — around town, in cafés, at the park and down on the seafront.

Tilly, a Fairy Tails dog — relaxed on a busy street
Tilly · Relaxed on a busy street
Enzo & Miles, a Fairy Tails dog — settling at the café
Enzo & Miles · Settling at the café
Neo, a Fairy Tails dog — calm at the café
Neo · Calm at the café
Betty, a Fairy Tails dog — loose lead by the seafront
Betty · Loose lead by the seafront
Frankie, a Fairy Tails dog — settling on the park path
Frankie · Settling on the park path
Henry, a Fairy Tails dog — focused at the park
Henry · Focused at the park
Calm in the café — skills that stick

Included with your course

Three sessions at dog school, on us

Your course includes three intro sessions to The Fairy Tails dog day school — supervised play, enrichment and gentle structure alongside our regular school dogs.

For a young puppy it’s socialisation gold: new people, new dogs, new places and new routines, all carefully managed by the same team who take your classes. It’s also the perfect head start if you think day school might become part of your pup’s week.

Explore the day school

Booking

How to book your place

Puppy training classes are £175 per course and include four evening sessions spread over one month, plus three intro sessions to The Fairy Tails dog day school. To reserve your place simply book online and we will then contact you to book you in to the next available course. Alternatively please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information.

Who can join — entry requirements
  • Classes are perfect for all pups under 6 months old.
  • Vaccinations up to date — DHP, Leptospirosis and Kennel Cough (the same set our day school asks for, since your course includes three day-school intro sessions).
  • The day school’s admission rules apply during your three intro sessions — including that females in season can’t attend the day school while they’re in season. We’ll walk you through the rest when you book.
What to bring on class night
  • Plenty of high-value treats, chopped small
  • A flat collar or fitted harness, plus a normal lead (no extendable leads)
  • A mat or blanket from home for settle work
  • Your puppy’s vaccination card (first class)
  • A favourite toy
  • Water and a bowl for your pup

Good to know

Puppy class questions

When should we start?

As early as possible — puppies are like sponges, absorbing information and learning quickly during their early weeks. Our classes are perfect for all pups under 6 months old.

My puppy hasn’t finished their vaccinations yet — can we still book?

Yes — book your place, and we’ll time your start around your pup’s jabs. Classes and the day-school intro sessions need DHP, Leptospirosis and Kennel Cough vaccinations up to date, so if your puppy is mid-course, get in touch and we’ll plan the right start date together.

My puppy is nervous (or a little bitey) — is a group class right for them?

That’s exactly what early classes are for. Groups are kept small, there are at least two trainers in the room, and mixing between pups is short and carefully supervised. If we honestly think a group setting isn’t the right fit for your puppy, we’ll say so and point you to a better route.

What if we miss a session?

Life happens — let us know as soon as you can and we’ll do our best to help you catch up. The weekly homework keeps things moving at home, and we always begin the next class with a revision of what came before.

Can the whole family come along?

We’d love the whole household on board — that’s how the training sticks. Bring a partner or older children if you like, with one main handler per pup on the night. Just let us know who’s coming when you book.

Ruby, a young spaniel, focused at the café

More puppy pathways

Not quite the right fit? There’s a route for every pup

Do-it-yourself puppy course

Free · at your own pace

Prefer to work at home? Our free week-by-week DIY puppy course covers skills, confidence, socialisation and toilet training — written by the same trainers.

Start the free course

Puppy School

Puppies 12–16 weeks old

£1,200 for 4 weeks

The full residential start: toilet training, obedience foundations and structured socialisation, with daily reports home. Puppies travelling to us board for the whole four weeks; local families can keep the boarding flexible.

Puppy School

How much walking does your pup need?

Free tool · no booking

Puppies need far less formal walking than most people expect — too much impact on growing joints can do lasting harm. Our dog exercise calculator works out a daily figure from your pup’s breed and age, and explains the five-minute rule behind it.

Try the exercise calculator

Let’s talk

Tell us about your puppy

Send us a few details and we’ll be in touch about the next available course — or answer anything you’d like to know first.

What would you like help with? (tick any)

Prefer to talk first? Call us on 01424 300668 or WhatsApp us on the same number .

This page was last reviewed and updated .