Our curated list of the best professionals in the Gateshead area.
With Saltwell Park and the Angel of the North nearby, trainers in Gateshead are skilled at teaching dogs to be well-behaved in both busy public spaces and more open parkland.
20 Sheldon Grove, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 4JP
Milan has an incredible amount of knowledge and clearly understands the psychology of dogs better than anybody else we have spoken to. His approach is direct and clear, which made training Reggie our anxious miniature Dachshund simple, and made him much more confident and relaxed. We also felt that Milan really took the time to understand Reggie, not just reacting to his behaviour in the moment, but taking the time to understand his personality and desires - and communicating that to us clearly and consistently.
We are the very happy owners of Crispin. As lovely as Crispin is, he is reactive and prone to barking at other dogs and can strain on the lead to get them. Not knowing anything about Crispin’s background, his behaviour left us struggling with how to best manage him. Enter Milan and Konner. Thanks to them and their knowledge and support, we’ve already seen improvements in Crispin and now have a much better understanding of him, but more than that, we feel we’ve been trained as well! After our eye-opening in-person sessions, we know what Crispin is capable of. There’s light at the end of the tunnel! Now, it’s a case of managing Crispin’s environment and following the techniques Milan and Konner have shared to change Crispin’s behaviour for the better. Thank you guys!
We've recently completed the 30 day training programme with Milan and it's an understatement to say it's been a game-changer for us and our dog, Max. We've had Max for 4 years now, rescued from Greece via a fab charity (Healing Paws), and while he's very happy, settled, and loving with us and close family, he's always been very nervous when out in public with lots of people, around strangers, and just in unfamiliar situations. We went to Milan hoping to make Max more comfortable on walks, less reactive to unfamiliar places/people, and less of a guard dog in the house (very reactive to people coming in, the doorbell, etc). Milan's guidance has helped us achieve exactly that. In our first call, we broke down the problems, and Milan advised techniques we should do to make Max more comfortable and get the engagement with him that we were missing on walks. We sent daily updates via WhatsApp, which Milan always responded to, and amended our approach as needed as per his guidance. The three face to face sessions were extremely helpful too - Milan explained Max's behaviour, what we were doing right/wrong, and always had ways of breaking down exercises further for Max to build up to the longer-term goal. We couldn't recommend Milan and Konner at Smart Dogs highly enough - it's been the best thing we've done for Max, we can see huge progress, 100% a worthwhile investment. Before we spoke to Milan, we were concerened Max had too many issues that were the result of being a rescue dog and that there was just no way around them. We were completely wrong - Milan's understanding of dogs, ability to explain the reason beind behaviours and how to approach them is second to none. If you're thinking about giving this a go, go for it!
Great service. Teddy make good progress and loved Konnor 🐶
We cannot recommend Milan enough! Throughout our training journey, Milan has been excellent at breaking down training concepts and getting us to fully understand how and why we are training different behaviours. He has been incredibly patient and knows the solution to every issue we have come across with our dog Bonnie - you're a dog genius! Milan genuinely cares about dogs and has continued to check in with Bonnie even after we have finished our training sessions with him. Milan has taken us from being first time dog owners (with a newborn baby), who were struggling with a reactive, anxious dog to being confident dog owners who now have an amazing family dog. Thank you so much!
270 Park Rd, South Moor, Stanley DH9 7ED
From the moment we brought our puppy Millie to Lee at School of Dogs, we knew we were in the best hands. Lee’s depth of knowledge, endless patience, and kind, positive training methods have made all the difference. He doesn’t just teach obedience—he teaches how to live well with your dog and truly bring out the best in them. Thanks to Lee’s supportive guidance, we’ve learned how to help Millie thrive and feel confident as dog owners. His gentle approach creates a safe space for learning, and every session leaves us feeling empowered and connected. Millie also attends the doggy day care at School of Dogs, and the care from Lee’s team is beyond wonderful. They treat her like one of their own—gentle, kind, and attentive in every way. We cannot recommend Lee and School of Dogs highly enough. If you want your dog to be taught with warmth, expertise, and genuine love, this is the place to be.
We have just completed 5 weeks of training with Lee for our cockapoo puppy Marley. We are extremely grateful for Lees training and support. Marley has came on leaps and bounds. If your looking for a great dog trainer then Lee is definitely your man. Thanks Lee for all your help.
We were recommended to school of dogs after Lee trained another family dog that was perfectly trained and thought the school would be perfect for our puppy Ralph. It was a pleasure to take Ralph to Lee’s puppy classes. In the five weeks we’ve spent with Lee, Ralph has progressed and has come on leaps and bounds especially with his walking to heal and recall. We look forward to working with him in the junior classes to advance Ralph’s training further. 😀
So happy to introduce our friends and their rescue puppy to Lee and School of Dogs. We trained our Staffie Sky with Lee and can honestly say he's brilliant. Phoebe enjoyed her first lesson :-)
Thanks so much Lee. We just completed the 5 week puppy course and it was fantastic. Really helpful!
Community Centre, Monkchester Rd, Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 2LJ
We joined Cris' intro puppy class which was incredibly helpful to learn the skills needed to be a successful dog owner. Each class is a focused session learning fundamental skills that you can take home and practice with your puppy. Classes are limited to small numbers, allowing your puppy to adjust to the presence of other dogs without over excitement. The lessons were so valuable we signed up to the follow on course. Recommend to anyone that wants to learn fundamental dog skills and increase their confidence as a dog owner.
Started with our Australian Shepard puppy this summer. The courses were really well structured to teach him the basics and also to help us learn how to train which was incredibly valuable. Great sessions with a small group for a nice calm environment. Would definitely recommend to anyone new to dog training like ourselves.
Cris has helped me and my partner with our two white swiss shepherds after struggling with walking the both of them as well at attending puppy classes with them individually. The attention to detail is amazing and the support you receive is personalised to your needs. Thanyou so much Cris from us all especially Ozzy and Luna! 🐾
Rosie had a bad experience with a bull terrier and went from a happy friendly dog to a nervous anxious dog. Rosie would react to every dog we came across, also anxious with people she didn't know. Her tail would be tucked in and she'd be cowering behind me. Contacted Cris who came to both Rosie and my rescue. Not only did she help train Rosie but she helped train me and taught us both so much. With only 4 lessons we went from having anxious walks to happy walks where Rosie wouldn't react to other dogs her tail was up and she was back to her happy confident self. Our lives are so much better, I can't thank and recommend Cris enough the way she talks and explains things and situations was superb. Thank you
Cris is a superb trainer and I wholeheartedly recommend her classes and 121 support. I have a 15 month old lab and have been working with Cris for the last year. It’s not my first experience of dog training and all trainers are not the same. My top tip is to do your homework and really look for the right person to work with you. Cris is friendly, knowledgable and has excellent professional qualifications. She focuses on building the confidence of both dogs and their handlers. She has a wealth of experience to draw on and classes are so much fun. Our lab cannot wait to get into the hall and give Cris (in)appropriate levels of licks and wags. Not every dog owner wants to have competitive obedience levels for their mutts but Cris understands that and I do believe every one of us should see the levels of joy and bond that even the simplest training can bring our mutts. Learning what your dog loves and finds challenging and how you can support them is so rewarding. Cris is a very safe pair of hands and you can trust her to help you and your beloved pooch have a safe and fun-filled life together.
6 Ellington Cl, Ouston, Chester-le-Street DH2 1UD
Can’t recommend Vicky enough , I have attended the puppy classes with 2 of my dogs over the last 12 years and it has given them the best start . We are looking forward to starting the follow on course with Ruger in the next few weeks to build on the things we have learned.
Excellent company. Extremely professional and very reasonable prices. Would wholly recommend it to anyone looking for dog advice.
We were so close to returning our puppy because of him biting our daughter so much. We booked a home visit consultation and the 6 week puppy starter class and because of Vicky's help we managed to curb some of the more worrying behaviour. Vicky gives guidance and advice in a way that makes sense and helped us understand our puppy's behaviour, then what we can do to curb and manage this. She doesn't claim to have a magic wand or a quick fix, but if one thing doesn't work she will suggest something else, such as changing the reward or changing the command given. In class we found Vicky to be patient, recognising the different temperament of each dog there and their nature (because of their breed). When trying different commands and techniques she demonstrated first and encouraged us to persist, but acknowledged that it is hard work training a puppy. The lay out of the class was helpful and she recognised what dogs got on well and what dogs to keep well apart. Our pup loves Vicky (the treat lady!) and always loved going to class. Thanks to Vickys help our little one really is a good dog (well, most of the time!). Thank you, Vicky, for giving us the tips needed to make our home a happier home, giving us the confidence needed to continue training at home and helping us learn how to curb behaviour that could have led to something serious happening if things continued the way they were. And a big thank you for being there in between classes too, answering WhatsApp questions and emails.
Firstly, it is so important to know that Vicky is one of the few fully qualified and appropriately accredited dog trainers in the area so you know that you're getting someone who actually knows what they're doing. Vicky was excellent with us and gave us the skills and confidence to get our puppy through her classes. She's come so far by just learning the basics and we hope to continue to the next steps because our dog loved coming so much.
Absolutely loved the little learners course it was great fun and we learned so much that we are already benefiting from both at home and out and about. The group was just the right size and all the puppies got equal amounts of attention. Vicky was professional and informative and made the impossible look easy at times. She was also happy to pick up questions outside of the class. I couldnt recommend Have a Good Dog highly enough.
Lead Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE17 7AU
Lyndsey has saved my sanity! Calm, patient and encouraging with help in training primarily me and Nova, in understanding how my dog 'works' and in doing so we work together and getting to understand what makes Nova tick. Friendly and approachable with laughs along the way, and the tears from my frustration turning into a joy of learning. Invaluable :)
Lyndsey's guidance has been invaluable, I'm so pleased I booked our first 1-1 when I did. Dora is my first dog, and it was a huge shock to the system. Dora and I have attended 1-1's, Savvy Spaniel, Teenage Dirtbag and Gundog Foundations. I've come away from every session so much more positive and enthusiastic, and seeing Lyndsey with her own dogs inspires me to be the very best for Dora. Lyndsey clearly knows her stuff - that goes without saying - but she's also very approachable, and makes training fun for the dogs and their humans. Dora still has a way to go but we now love our 'walks' together. Sylvia and Dora
We started at Lyndseys with a crazy very boisterous cocker puppy. We've attended group classes, 1-2-1 sessions and even had a home visit. Lyndsey is extremely knowledgeable, patient, kind and professional and with her help we still have a very energetic dog (he IS a cocker) but is well trained, controlled and a joy to be with. We can't thank lyndsey enough for passing on her expertise and high level of training with our dog and would highly recommend her. Unfortunately she hasn't managed to train my husband yet. 🤣
Brilliant coach, really gets the best results from your dogs, friendly and very professional. She has a great understanding of how dogs learn, and train, we would not go to anyone else.
Bramble loves coming to Lyndsey’s for gundog training. We’ve learnt so much over the years. Lyndsey teaches kindly and sympathetically, the group classes are always run really well with something for all abilities. I can really enjoy my time with my dog, and be proud of what she can do, because of the training with Lyndsey ☺️. Can’t wait to start taking my new puppy to her puppy classes. Fully recommend to anyone, gundog or otherwise.
Welcome to your guide to the best dog trainers in Gateshead. This town on the south bank of the River Tyne is a great place for dog owners. Finding a trainer who can help your dog be a polite companion is key. Our list focuses on professionals who use positive, modern, and effective training methods.
Whether you need a puppy class for essential socialisation, one-to-one obedience sessions to improve leash skills, or advanced training, you'll find an expert here. The trainers we list are experienced in handling the needs of dogs in the Gateshead area.
For more significant behavioural challenges like anxiety or reactivity, we recommend a certified dog behaviourist. These specialists, serving the Gateshead area, can provide detailed assessments and create a tailored behaviour modification plan to help your dog feel more secure.