Training Assessment
Our training assessments are a 10-15minute meet with a member of our training team.
The assessment will help distinguish which would be the best course for you if you are unsure between Level One, Reactive Rover or a Private Training Session.
These are held onsite the DSPCA, Mount Venus Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
There is a €25 charge on the assessments which is redeemable off any course booked at the assessment.
As our assessments are in high demand if we can help you from the information provided we will send you the most suitable course & action to take by email.
To request an assessment please complete the below form:
Private Training
Private training sessions are ideal for dog owners looking to work on specific issues. The sessions are tailored specifically to you and your dog and the issues you are having.
They are the perfect opportunity to have all family members together during training, we offer these in your home (specific areas only), onsite the DSPCA in Rathfarnham, in Bushy Park, Terenure and in St Anne’s Park, Raheny.
The training session will last an hour and a half, and our trainer will work with you on the practical elements needed to help you and your dog.
After the session, you will be emailed a tailored training plan.
What can be covered during a Private Training session?
Topics Covered:
- All puppy basics. Ideal for puppies that have not completed their vaccinations: Toilet Training, Crate Training, Play Biting, Chewing, Mouthing & more
- Basic Level One Obedience Training
- Separation Anxiety
- Destructive behaviour
- Demand Barking
- Lead Work
- Recall
- Counter Surfing
- New Baby Preparation
- Reactivity
- Resource Guarding
Locations, Dates and Booking
Private Training onsite at the DSPCA, Bushy Park, St Anne’s Park, or in your home.
Training Sessions last approximately 90 minutes with our senior or head trainer, you will then receive a full training program by email.
Price List (Per Session Approx 1.5hr)
€220.00 with a DSPCA Dog Trainer or Head Trainer
€240.00 for in your home training
€250 for a Behaviorist Session
There is a charge of €45.00 per additional dog from the same household.
Training Method: Our methods are Positive Reinforcement only. No aversive methods are used and will not be permitted during the training session.
Terms & Conditions:
If you need to change a session, please provide us with 48-hour notice or you forfeit the session and it is non-refundable & we cannot reschedule. Like our courses & workshops, these sessions are non-refundable at any stage as our income goes directly to fund the work of the DSPCA Animal Shelter.
Book a One To One session with a DSPCA Dog Trainer or Head Dog Trainer
Book a Behaviorist One To One session
Book a Behaviorist One To One session
Book a One To One session with a DSPCA Dog Trainer
Puppy Play Session
Our Puppy Play Sessions are for all puppies up to 6 months of age. These are a socialisation session, no formal training takes place.
Puppy socialisation teaches puppies how to behave and be happy and relaxed when around humans, other dogs, other animals and the world around them. Puppy socialisation can also help puppies have a better relationship with their owners and become used to being in a range of environments and scenarios.
During our Puppy Play Session your puppy will display a range of behaviors including chasing, ‘wrestling,’ play growling, yips of excitement and yips meant to say ‘back off.’
This type of play is normal and occurred whilst your puppy was with his or her litter-mates and must continue with their peers throughout their puppyhood. Like people, puppies have a variety of personalities and play styles. However, in general puppies are ideally suited to safely teach each other the rules of canine engagement, to help other pups learn impulse or self-control, and to help pups develop good ‘bounce back’ skills.
There are two groups;
- Up to 5KG
- 5KG +
Locations
DSPCA, Mount Venus Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
Saturday 29th March 2025, 10.00AM – 11.00AM
Saturday 5th April 2025, 10.00AM – 11.00AM
Saturday 12th April 2025, 10.00AM – 11.00AM
Saturday 26th April 2025, 10.00AM – 11.00AM
Saturday 3rd May 2025, 10.00AM – 11.00AM
Saturday 10th May 2025, 10.00AM – 11.00AM
Saturday 17th May 2025, 10.00AM – 11.00AM
Saturday 29th March 2025, 11.30AM – 12.30PM
Saturday 5th April 2025, 11.30AM – 12.30PM
Saturday 12th April 2025, 11.30AM – 12.30PM
Saturday 26th April 2025, 11.30AM – 12.30PM
Saturday 3rd May 2025, 11.30AM – 12.30PM
Saturday 10th May 2025, 11.30AM – 12.30PM
Saturday 17th May 2025, 11.30AM – 12.30PM
Puppy Starter School
The Puppy Starter School is a 3 week course, ideal for younger puppies up to 6 Months!
Throughout the 3 weeks we cover the early on behavioural issues many new puppy owners experience, while your puppy socialises with the other pups. No prior training knowledge is required in order to participate in our Puppy Starter School.
Fee: 3 Week Course – €160.00
Duration: 1 Hour class each week consecutively unless stated otherwise.
Topics Covered:
- Getting settled in
- Body handling
- Socialising
- Play styles
- Toilet training plan
- Play biting
- Chew training
- Crate training
- Harness desensitisation
- Enrichment
Tuesday 15th April – 29th April, 7.30PM – 8.30PM
DSPCA, Mount Venus Rd, Rathfarnham, D16
Tuesday 20th May – 3rd June, 7.30PM – 8.30PM
DSPCA, Mount Venus Rd, Rathfarnham, D16
Puppy Training
This course is ideal for puppies from fully vaccinated up to 6 Months of age.
Socialisation on lead is necessary to have a well-balanced happy puppy.
Personal attention in all our classes is our priority. You will never be alone! No prior training knowledge is required in order to participate in our Puppy Manners Course however we do recommend our Puppy Starter School & Puppy Social Sessions which you can do while completing your Puppy Training course.
Fee: 4 Week course is €175
Duration: 1 Hour class each week consecutively unless stated otherwise.
Topics Covered:
- Socialisation
- Sit
- Lie Down
- Stay
- Recall
- Focus & Attention
- Go to “Bed”
- Leave it
- Loose Lead Walking
- Handling Exercises
Saturday 5th April – 26th April, 11.15am – 12.15pm
St Catherine’s Park, Lucan, Co Dublin
Sunday 13th April – 11th May, 9AM – 10AM
(Class break Easter Sunday)
Red Stables, St Anne’s Park, Raheny, D3
Saturday 19th April – 10th May, 11.15AM – 12.15PM
Bushy Park, Terenure, Dublin 6W
Thursday 24th April – 15th May, 7.15PM – 8.15PM
DSPCA, Mount Venus Rd, Rathfarnham, D16
Sunday 27th April – 18th May, 10.30AM – 11.30AM
Marlay Park, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
Sunday 4th May – 25th May, 9.00AM – 10.00AM
Red Stables, St Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 3
Sunday 4th May – 25th May, 11.30AM – 12.30PM
Corkagh Park, Greenisle Road. Clondalkin, Co Dublin
Saturday 10th May – 31st May, 11.15am – 12.15pm
St Catherine’s Park, Lucan, Co Dublin
Saturday 24th May – 14th June, 11.15AM – 12.15PM
Bushy Park, Terenure, Dublin 6W
Sunday 8th June – 29th June, 11.30AM – 12.30PM
Corkagh Park, Greenisle Road. Clondalkin, Co Dublin
Monday 9th June – 30th June, 7PM – 8PM
DSPCA, Mount Venus Rd, Rathfarnham, D16
Saturday 14th June – 5th July, 11.15am – 12.15pm
St Catherine’s Park, Lucan, Co Dublin
Saturday 19th July – 9th August, 11.15am – 12.15pm
St Catherine’s Park, Lucan, Co Dublin
Level One Training
Welcome to Level One Obedience Training! This class is designed for dogs and owners who are ready to start building a strong foundation of basic obedience skills. Whether you’re a first-time dog owner or just looking to improve your dog’s behavior, this class will teach you the essential commands and techniques for a well-mannered companion.
In this course, you and your dog will work on:
- Sit: Teaching your dog to sit on command, creating a calm and controlled response.
- Stay: Helping your dog understand the importance of staying in his/her bed or specific place.
- Come: Developing a reliable recall, ensuring your dog comes back to you when called.
- Leash Walking: Teaching loose-leash walking, making walks more enjoyable and less stressful.
- Leave It: Introducing the “leave it” command to prevent unwanted behaviors like chewing or picking up inappropriate items.
& Much More!
The class focuses on positive reinforcement techniques, using treats, praise, and encouragement to motivate your dog and create a fun, interactive learning experience. You’ll also learn how to communicate effectively with your dog, fostering a deeper bond while developing a respectful, well-behaved pet.
This class is ideal for puppies and adult dogs who need to master the basics and create a positive foundation for future training. By the end of the course, you’ll have a better understanding of your dog’s needs, and your dog will be on their way to becoming a confident, well-mannered companion.
Fee: 4 Week course is €175
Duration: 1 Hour class each week consecutively unless stated otherwise.
Age Groups:
- From Fully Vaccinated – 6Months
- 6Months + (No dog is too old!)
Topics Covered:
- Sit
- Lie Down
- Stay
- Recall
- Focus & Attention
- Go to “Bed”
- Leave it
- Loose Lead Walking
- Handling Exercises
Saturday 5th April – 26th April, 10AM – 11AM
St Catherine’s Park, Lucan, Co Dublin
Sunday 13th April – 11th May, 10AM – 11AM
(Class Break Easter Sunday)
Red Stables, St Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 3
Saturday 19th April – 10th May, 10AM – 11AM
Bushy Park, Terenure, Dublin 6W
Sunday 27th April – 18th May, 9AM – 10AM
Marlay Park, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
Sunday 4th May – 25th May, 10.00AM – 11.00AM
Red Stables, St Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 3
Sunday 4th May – 25th May, 10.15AM- 11.15AM
Corkagh Park, Greenisle Road, Clondalkin, Co Dublin
Saturday 10th May – 31st May, 10AM – 11AM
St Catherine’s Park, Lucan, Co Dublin
Saturday 24th May – 14th June, 10AM – 11AM
Bushy Park, Terenure, Dublin 6W
Sunday 8th June – 29th June, 10.15AM – 11.15AM
Corkagh Park, Greenisle Road, Clondalkin, Co Dublin
Monday 9th June – 30th June, 8PM – 9PM
DSPCA, Mount Venus Rd, Rathfarnham, D16
Saturday 14th June – 5th July, 10AM – 11AM
St Catherine’s Park, Lucan, Co Dublin
Saturday 19th July – 8th August, 10AM – 11AM
St Catherine’s Park, Lucan, Co Dublin
Level Two Training
Take your dog’s obedience skills to the next level with our Level Two Advanced Obedience Training class! Designed for dogs who have already mastered basic commands, this class will refine your dog’s behavior and introduce more challenging commands and distractions to strengthen your bond and enhance their focus.
In this course, you and your dog will work on:
- Advanced Sit, Stay, and Come: Adding distance, duration, and distractions to your dog’s basic commands to ensure reliability in real-world situations.
- Place: Teaching your dog to go to a specific location (like a mat or bed) and stay there until released, no matter the distractions.
- Heel: Mastering loose-leash walking with your dog walking directly by your side, even in busy or distracting environments.
- Leave It (Advanced): Strengthening your dog’s ability to resist temptations and distractions, even in high-stress situations.
- Impulse Control: Helping your dog learn to wait for permission to greet people, eat food, or access toys, promoting patience and self-control.
The class will also challenge your dog with more complex distractions and environments, teaching them to remain focused and well-behaved even in the face of everyday distractions, like other dogs, noises, and people. You’ll learn how to continue building your dog’s self-confidence while reinforcing a calm and obedient mindset.
This course is perfect for dogs who have completed a Level One Obedience class and are ready to expand their skills. With a focus on consistency, advanced techniques, and positive reinforcement, you’ll be well on your way to having a highly obedient, well-mannered dog in any situation.
Fee: 4 Week course is €175
Duration: 1 Hour class each week consecutively unless stated otherwise.
Topics Covered:
- Fading food out as a lure
- Leash walking throughout a crowd
- Impulse control
- Doggy push-ups
- Food manners
- Jumping up at guests or friends you meet on the street
- Door manners when guests come to visit & for entering through a doorway
- Find it/Search
- Enrichment
- Give & drop
- Fun Tricks
Thursday 24th April – 15th May 2025, 8.30PM – 9.30PM
DSPCA, Mount Venus Road, Rathfarnham, D16
The Terrible Three
Recall, Leash Manners, Jumping up!
Is your dog jumping up on guests, pulling on the leash during walks, or not coming when called? This specialized training course is designed to tackle these common challenges and help your dog become more polite, controlled, and responsive.
In this course, you and your dog will focus on:
-
Jumping Up: Learn how to stop your dog from jumping on people, whether they’re greeting guests or simply getting too excited. Through positive reinforcement techniques, you’ll teach your dog to remain calm and keep all four paws on the ground.
-
Loose Lead Walking: Tired of your dog pulling on the leash during walks? This section will teach you how to encourage your dog to walk calmly by your side, making walks more enjoyable and less stressful for both of you. You’ll learn the key techniques to encourage loose-leash walking, even in distracting environments.
-
Recall (Come When Called): A reliable recall is essential for your dog’s safety and your peace of mind. This part of the course will focus on teaching your dog to come back to you when called, no matter what distractions are around. You’ll build a strong recall that ensures your dog responds every time.
This course uses positive reinforcement methods to encourage good behavior and reinforce your dog’s focus and impulse control. You’ll gain valuable skills and confidence in handling common behavioral issues while strengthening your bond with your dog. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience with training, this class is perfect for dogs and owners who want to improve their everyday interactions and create lasting, positive habits.
Fee: 3 Week course is €170.00
Duration: 1 Hour class each week consecutively unless stated otherwise.
Topics Covered:
- Recall, coming when called with distractions
- Focus & Attention with distractions
- Jumping up and self-control
- Leave it – Take it
Tuesday 15th April – 29th April 2025, 8.30PM – 9.30PM
DSPCA, Mount Venus Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
Wednesday 23rd April – 7th May 2025, 8.30PM – 9.30PM
DSPCA, Mount Venus Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
Tuesday 20th May – 3rd June 2025, 8.30PM – 9.30PM
DSPCA, Mount Venus Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
Well Behaved Walkies
This is a two-week Workshop that solely focuses on Loose Lead Walking & Rocket Recall.
These are the skills needed to have your dog under effectual control in public places.
Fee: 2 Week course is €120
Duration: 1 Hour class each week consecutively unless stated otherwise.
Topics Covered:
- Building your dog’s confidence in public places
- Loose leash walking
- Friendly greeting dogs and people
- Reading your dog’s body language
- Walking to heel on and off leash
- Recall with distraction
- Keeping yourself and your dog entertained on walk
Locations, Dates and Booking
The below two workshops are held by our Canine Behaviorist & Head Trainer Enda. These workshops would not be a suitable environment for a Reactive Dog.
Sunday 9th February & 16th February 2025,
11.15AM – 12.15PM
Reactive Dog Training
This course is particularly suited to lead reactive dogs, our aim is to help change your dog’s reaction towards those overwhelming situations and triggers when out and about on walks.
During this course we will provide support to owners and show you how to teach them alternate behaviour to barking, lunging, etc. all using reward based, positive reinforcement techniques.
This course is not about finding a ‘Eureka’ moment or ‘fixing’ a reactive dog, but rather it’s about giving you as a dog owner a set of tools that you can use to better handle and manage your dog.
We train you the owners who will then implement the training with your dog during and after the course duration.
It is a requirement of this course for dogs to be muzzled and wear a training harness or any other equipment recommended by your trainer.
Because of the nature of this course, places are very limited, so early booking is advisable to avoid disappointment.
Fee: €320.00
Duration: 4 Week Course; 1 Hour class each week consecutively unless stated otherwise.
Please note Week 1 is a seminar held via ZOOM, then week 2, 3 & 4 are held onsite the DSPCA in Rathfarnham with your dog.
Locations, Dates and Booking
Wednesday 16th April – 7th May, 7.15PM – 8.15PM
Agility Training
Beginner Level
We are delighted to bring back our Agility Training at the DSPCA, this fun course will take you and your dog right through from the basics of agility to running a full agility courses – over hurdles, through tunnels and tyres and over contact equipment such as the A-frame and dog walk. Suitable for all dogs over the age of 15months!
This is run as a 4 week course or as week by week workshops.
Advanced Agility
This level is suitable for dogs that can weave, basic contacts have level one beginner agility completed.
This is a 4 week course.
Location: DSPCA, Mount Venus Road, Rathfarnham, D16
Dates and Booking
Saturday 5th April – 26th April 2025, 3.45PM – 4.45PM
(4 Week Course)
Saturday 12th April – 26th April 2025, 2.30PM – 3.30PM
(3 Week Course)
Saturday 14th June – 5th July 2025, 1PM – 2PM
(4 Week Course)
Saturday 14th June – 5th July 2025, 2.15PM – 3.15PM
(4 Week Course)
Tuesday 1st April – 22nd April 2025, 5PM – 6PM