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Our curated list of the best professionals in the Hillsborough area.
With Hillsborough Forest Park and its beautiful lake, trainers here are experts at teaching dogs to be well-behaved in a popular and scenic recreational area.
Tower Park, Conlig, Newtownards BT23 7PL
Absolutely amazed at the difference in our spaniel/collie X Toby, after a 5 day intensive train with Gerard. We can now walk Toby in busy areas, without him pulling me off my feet or going crazy at other dogs. Cannot thank Gerard enough for his help, wish we would have come to him sooner.
We have began training with Gerard, GMC K9 Academy to help us with our 4 year old German Shephard Murphy. We were having trouble with Murphy with general bad behaviours ie. jumping on people, kitchen benches and pulling on the lead when walking. After trying out other trainers to no avail we came across a facebook video of Gerard training a Shepherd and decided we would give it a go. Firstly we descovered we were the problem more so than Murphy! Since then with Gerards help and expertise and his ability to explain what Murphy needs from us we are seeing big changes in a short amount of time. Gerard is now helping us towards our goal of having Murphy walk off lead - something we never thought possible. Gerard has helped us understand Murphy and that playing with him is a big step to building a strong bond which enables Murphy to have a happy life and us to enjoy Murphy for the beautiful gentle soul that he is.
We went to Gerard to help introduce our young vizsla, Otis, to an e-collar, and the results have been great. He explained everything so clearly and made it really easy for us to understand. After just 3 sessions, Otis is now off lead all the time with amazing recall and he responds to the e-collar perfectly. It’s been such a game changer for us. Would definitely recommend Gerard to anyone with a high-energy dog.
I contacted Gerard for help with Rovie, who was extremely reactive to pretty much everything, and everything was stressful for him, and for me. Today was my first day of taking him out after his 5 days of intensive training and I am over the moon with the progress he has made! We had such a fun morning on the beach, walking on his flexi lead and playing ball. There wasn’t even a big blow up when an excited dog came running straight at him - just a little intrigue and then we moved on. The trip in the car was even much more calm than it’s ever been. And this evening we did short lead walking to get to the field, where he played ball on his long line lead. We even walked home along a busy carriageway where he didn’t react to the cars at all, when he previously would have been lunging and barking at everything that went past. I’m so grateful for the work that Gerard has done with Rovie, and the advice and confidence he has given me to be able to help Rovie be less fearful of the outside world. It’s going to make such a difference! Thank you from both of us!
Before working with Gerard, I was scared to walk my dog Brian(2yr old Old English Sheepdog) past moving cars, bicycles, runners and other dogs. He would barkand lunge agressively at anything that made him uncomfortable and I could barely hold him. I would walk him as early as I could to avoid everyone and it was making a negative impact on my life and the people around me. I honestly thought I would have to give Brian up to someone who could handle him better. In two months we've had two sessions with Gerard and Brian is completely different. I can walk him past dogs. He now sits quietly as we wait for cars to pass us on narrow country roads. His recall is getting better everyday and overall he is becoming much more confident. I was even able to walk him through my local town past dogs and people on narrow footpaths with cars everywhere and he was perfect. Gerard has honestly changed our lives and we are so grateful for it!
27 Ballynacoy Rd, Lisburn BT28 3XW
I was at my wits end with my 4yr old Dachshund who was periodically attacking my gentle 10 yr old Lhasa Apso but 1 session with Yvonne and I understood better what I needed to do in order to support both dogs and reduce the likelihood of an attack. After our 2nd meeting I was even better armed with a plan of action which has been really helpful and hasn’t taken long to see huge improvements. I am so much more hopeful for the future of their relationship and so glad I stumbled across you Yvonne! Thanks so much for your guidance and support. I really appreciate it and so do both dogs lol x
What a great find. The dogs loved it and a full hour for a fiver, bargain. And we were greeted by the gorgeous Daisy. A great place if your dogs just want to play with no distractions.
Yvonne is great! I've done man-trailing, 1:1 classes and muttley crew, all of which have been well worth it.
Yvonne is incredible! From the first day of meeting our pup she has changed his whole world! A terrified puppy is now already becoming a much more confident adolescent! Could not recommend more highly- a total MUST for every dog owner- new or not! Yvonne’s knowledge is incredible and she is a total dog whisperer as far as we are concerned. Thank you Yvonne for giving our pup such confidence!
I brought my springer pup to Daisy Dog Academy for a recall class and more recently the Mantrailing Induction course. We both thoroughly enjoyed the classes and I gained a lot of insight and understanding into my dog’s world, particularly on the Mantrailing course. I highly recommend the Academy, Yvonne’s knowledge and genuine love for her work and for the dogs is very apparent. Thank you Yvonne.
285 Rathfriland Rd, Dromara, Dromore BT25 2EW
Suzi was great with oz in our one to one!
Very effective and analytical methods used to train pets (and owners) in important control, recall in a relaxed, fun and informative environment. Highly recommended.
Rosemount Park, Belfast BT5 7TR
I can’t recommend Sharon enough. We adopted a rescue pug with reactivity issues. One session with Sharon and she was a different dog. She provided us with the tools needed to help modify her behaviour. She barely looks at a dog now and is extremely disciplined. She is the best around without a doubt. I couldn’t believe the positive change in my dog. She knows her stuff and is the best around. Really lovely person too!
We booked in with Sharon to help us fix our Australian Shepherds pretty severe reactivity to other dogs, we were having to avoid taking him out to places with lots of other dogs (which is hard in itself) we had 1 session with Sharon and immediately saw results, we had a follow up 1 month later and the difference is unbelievable. We’re now on the group walks to get him used to being nutural around other dogs on normal walks and they’re so beneficial. Sharon is down to earth and explains everything really well. She is super knowledgeable and I couldn’t recommend her more! Looking forward to more sessions!
Sharon has been working with my dog and I since we rescued him in Feb 2024. Her training and expertise has been invaluable to us - for a dog who was found as a stray and knew only the sit command, he now enjoys off leash freedom, has learnt many commands and manners. Sharon's walk and trains are a great booster for his training every fortnight. Her training methods are bullet proof and I am very pleased with the results.
So grateful for the help I received in training our very energetic golden retriever/red setter 3 year old sully! We had goal of walking more at ease (he is very stubborn) and taking him for lunch/coffees in public places. The improvement in two sessions has been amazing and best money we have spend while I have been pregnant to get him prepared! Couldn't recommend enough!
Sharon has been helping us with our Vizsla, Bruce, since he was around 12 weeks and we couldn’t recommend her enough! From puppy classes to working on specific goals, such as recall and developing his ‘off’ switch, Sharon has taught us so much and offered lots of support in between our scheduled classes. Her help is always constructive and there has never been a time when we’ve felt judged for not getting things right. We really couldn’t recommend her enough. She really is the dog whisperer!
Birdrowe Cottage, 33 Halftown Rd, Lisburn BT27 5RD
Tim is a great guy. Our dog had a great time and was in super form upon pickup. Thanks
Professional run operation. Friendly owners. Would strongly recommend.
Finding qualified dog trainers in Hillsborough connects you with professionals who understand the specific needs of this charming Northern California community. Whether you're raising a puppy near the historic downtown district, managing reactivity issues along the Crystal Springs Trail, or perfecting recall skills at Vista Park, our certified trainers deliver personalized obedience training and behaviour modification programmes suited to Hillsborough's unique suburban environment.
Serving all areas of Hillsborough including the Carolands neighborhood, areas near the Burlingame Country Club, and properties along El Cerrito Avenue, we've successfully trained over 850 dogs in the past eight years throughout San Mateo County.
Hillsborough's distinctive character as an affluent residential community with expansive properties, winding roads, and proximity to natural areas creates specific training needs. The town's large estates with significant acreage require dogs with reliable property boundary awareness and recall skills, while the numerous hiking trails including those in the Water Dog Lake Park area demand solid off-lead control around wildlife and other outdoor enthusiasts.
Our trainers specialize in addressing challenges common to Hillsborough residents, including training dogs for large homes with multiple indoor and outdoor spaces, managing behaviour around household staff and frequent visitors, and ensuring dogs can coexist peacefully with the area's abundant wildlife including deer, coyotes, and ground squirrels. We understand the expectations for well-mannered dogs in this close-knit community where maintaining positive relationships with neighbors along quiet residential streets is essential.
Our puppy programmes build essential foundations during the critical 8-16 week period, introducing young dogs to Hillsborough's environment including various property terrains, neighborhood wildlife encounters, and socialization with diverse people and dogs. Training covers house training for large homes, crate training, bite inhibition, and fundamental commands while building confidence in different settings from formal gardens to wooded areas.
For Hillsborough's large properties, we develop reliable off-lead control and property awareness, ensuring dogs can safely enjoy expansive yards without wandering. Training includes solid recall despite wildlife distractions, boundary recognition, and appropriate responses to visitors arriving at gates, giving owners confidence their dogs will remain safe while enjoying freedom on their property.
We address reactivity, anxiety, and unwanted behaviours using positive reinforcement techniques. Whether managing leash reactivity during walks along Hillsborough's quiet streets or reducing anxiety around household activities, our systematic approach creates lasting behavioral improvements suited to the peaceful residential environment.
Professional dog training in Hillsborough typically ranges from £65-120 per hour for private sessions, reflecting the area's premium service standards. Comprehensive packages for 6-8 weeks average £600-950, while specialized behaviour consultations start at £95-150 for initial assessments.
Begin training immediately when bringing your puppy home around 8 weeks old. The critical socialization window between 8-16 weeks is essential for developing confident dogs comfortable with Hillsborough's environment, wildlife, and community expectations.
Yes, we specialize in property-specific training for Hillsborough's large estates. Training typically requires 8-12 sessions to develop reliable recall, boundary awareness, and appropriate responses to wildlife and visitors, ensuring your dog can safely enjoy your property off-lead.
Professional dog training in Hillsborough ensures your canine companion thrives in this unique community environment. Our proven methods combine expert techniques with understanding of local characteristics, creating well-mannered, confident dogs suited to estate living and the town's peaceful, residential character. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and begin developing the reliable, happy companion perfectly suited to life in Hillsborough.