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Our curated list of the best professionals in the Gilesgate area.
With its local parks and strong community feel, trainers in Gilesgate focus on creating well-behaved family pets that are a pleasure to own and live with.
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!
14, Skillion Business Centre, Langley Moor, Littleburn Industrial Estate, Durham DH7 8HG
We can’t recommend Kev highly enough! Odie struggles with dog reactivity, and we honestly thought walking calmly near other dogs might never be possible. Within seconds of working with Kev, we saw a complete transformation — our boy was walking confidently right alongside another dog. The level of skill, knowledge, and calm no-nonsense approach was nothing short of magic. If you’re looking for someone who truly understands dogs and gets results, look no further.
We had a great experience with Kevin and received really helpful tips for daily work with my athletic, strong, playful, and nervous dog.
Took our 9 month old cocker spaniel for his first training session yesterday with kevin. We booked the session to get help with pulling on the lead and reactivity with dogs as he becomes very hyper when out for walks if he sees another dog. Within 5 minutes he was walking by our side with full attention on us. Kevin also brought out another dog and the difference in Arlo was amazing again full focus on us and not the dog. I took Arlo out for a walk today and came across 2 dogs who were barking and pulling to get at him and again he sat and just looked up at me instead of reacting. Iam so grateful to Kevin as the difference in the first 24 hours has been huge already
Brought my reactive dachshund to Kevin for an initial assessment and within 25 mins he had him walking past other dogs while maintaining a loose lead. More practice over the next few weeks but thanks to Kevin’s advice huge progress has been made already. Thanks again 👍
I had never owned a puppy before, and although my husband has had several dogs in the past, his offshore work commitments meant I initially found looking after our Labrador puppy quite overwhelming. Red turns one next month, and she has grown into such a well-behaved young dog. The dietary guidance we received made a significant difference, and my husband and I were very diligent in doing our homework between training sessions. When Red was just five months old, we had a distressing incident where our neighbour’s German Shepherds jumped on us. This understandably left her nervous and unsettled around larger dogs. I mentioned this to Kevin during her next class, and he worked patiently with her to help her regain confidence. It was worth every penny—we couldn’t recommend their service highly enough to other dog owners.
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.
Durham Ln, Peterlee SR8 3UL
Me and the wife took dexter and hunter there it was nice and clean grass cut well there haha good time running free
Great very secure and clean areas.
Great place for dogs 🐕 and owners
6 Coldingham Ct, Sacriston, Durham DH7 6XG
Sarah was fantastic, she explained reasons for certain behaviour and showed us how to deal with it in a positive way. After only a week our dog has learnt so much. I can't thank her enough 😊 I would highly recommend her!
For anyone looking for dog behaviour help you'd be in great hands here. Sarah is so lovely with dogs and all of her training done in a positive and enjoyable way for them. Thank you so much Sarah for your amazing help and advice.
Finding qualified dog trainers in Gilesgate means connecting with professionals who understand the unique character of this historic Durham neighbourhood. From training puppies near the picturesque River Wear to managing reactive dogs along Gilesgate's traditional terraced streets, our certified trainers deliver personalised obedience training, behaviour modification, and puppy socialisation programmes tailored to this close-knit community.
Serving Gilesgate, Old Durham, and surrounding areas including Carrville and Belmont, we've successfully trained over 850 dogs in the past eight years. Our expertise addresses the specific needs of dog ownership in this area, from navigating the historic streets near St Giles Church to enjoying riverside walks along the Wear and accessing Durham's excellent network of local parks.
Gilesgate presents distinctive training requirements shaped by its mix of Victorian terraces, student accommodation, and proximity to Durham city centre. The area's narrow pavements and close-quarter living mean dogs need excellent lead manners and the ability to remain calm when encountering neighbours, delivery personnel, and the constant foot traffic along Gilesgate Bank and Church Street.
Our trainers specialise in addressing Gilesgate-specific challenges including traffic desensitisation along the busy A690, adapting to terraced housing with limited outdoor space, and building confidence for dogs navigating the steep hills characteristic of this Durham neighbourhood. We understand local walking routes including paths to Maiden Castle Sports Park, Pelaw Woods, and the popular riverside walks that Gilesgate residents frequently use for daily exercise.
We provide comprehensive dog training services throughout Gilesgate, covering DH1 postcode areas and extending to neighbouring communities. Our trainers regularly work near local landmarks including Gilesgate Community Centre, St Giles Church, and along the scenic routes near Old Durham Beck, utilising quiet streets and open spaces for effective training sessions.
We serve all areas from Lower Gilesgate near the city centre to Upper Gilesgate towards Carrville, and across residential streets surrounding Sherburn Road. Our mobile service brings professional training directly to your home, with initial consultations typically scheduled within 48 hours of contact, whether you live in a traditional terraced house or modern accommodation near Durham University's sports facilities.
Our puppy programmes establish essential foundations during the critical 8-16 week socialisation period. We introduce young dogs to Gilesgate's environment including traffic noise, university students, cyclists navigating narrow streets, and the various terrains from cobbled areas to riverside paths. Training covers house training for properties without gardens, basic commands, and controlled socialisation that prevents future behavioural issues.
Gilesgate's close-proximity living often reveals reactivity challenges. Our programmes address leash reactivity on narrow pavements, barrier frustration in terraced properties, and fear-based responses. Using positive reinforcement, we help dogs develop calm behaviours when encountering other dogs and people on busy streets like Gilesgate Moor or along popular walking routes to Pelaw Woods.
We develop reliable recall essential for safely enjoying nearby open spaces including walks along the River Wear, Maiden Castle fields, and Pelaw Woods. Training incorporates distance commands and emergency stops, ensuring dogs respond reliably despite distractions from wildlife, other dogs, and the diverse activities found in Durham's green spaces accessible from Gilesgate.
Dog training in Gilesgate typically ranges from £35-65 per hour for private sessions, with 6-week packages averaging £240-450. Group classes cost £10-18 per session. Mobile services throughout Gilesgate incur no additional travel fees, making professional training accessible for all local residents.
Excellent training locations include the riverside paths along the Wear, quieter streets in Old Durham, early mornings at Maiden Castle Sports Park, and Pelaw Woods for distraction training. We also utilise residential streets during off-peak times for practical lead work and real-world behaviour practice in everyday environments your dog will encounter regularly.
Professional dog training in Gilesgate creates well-adjusted companions suited to this historic neighbourhood's unique character. Our evidence-based methods address the specific challenges of urban terraced living while building confident dogs capable of enjoying everything Durham offers. Whether you're in a student area or established residential street, investing in professional training ensures your dog thrives in Gilesgate's vibrant community. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and begin your journey toward a perfectly trained dog.