Spring Park Dog Training School

About Us

We are a small team of experienced volunteers, instructors who have owned and trained dogs and people for many years.

Steve Woods has run Spring Park Dog Training School since 2009, but has been a dog training instructor for 35 years.

Elaine and Xana joined Steve some years ago to give you a varied training experience, combining joint and one-to-one training in every lesson.

Becky and Pat have also joined the team as regular instructors.

Xana also runs her own Grooming and Boarding business, which can be found at https://brinkleysgrooming.wixsite.com/boarding

Where are we?

We meet at Greystones Scout Hall, Ravenswood Crescent, West Wickham, BR4 0JH

Finding Greystones

At the junction where Pine Avenue turns off Ravenswood Crescent (there is a postbox on the corner), you will see a footpath leading to Blake Park. Go down the footpath, keeping to the right, and you will see an open gate in the chicken-wire fence and blue double doors to the hall. This is the entrance to Greystones - there's a sign to the right of the doors. Just come in, we'll be there.

When do we meet?

We operate on Monday evenings (all through the year except for Bank Holidays, but we close for August.

Class 1 (Newcomers - for puppies, rescued or rehomed dogs): 7:30 - 8:05 pm

Walking to heel
Hand signals as well as the spoken commands, in case your dog should lose hearing because of age or injury.
We teach you a daily Healthcheck for your dog, as a bonding exercise as well as a wellbeing exercise.
Recall
Sit, Stand, Down
Teaching your dog to look for you when off lead.
Wait and Stay
Teaching your dog to allow you through a door first.
Food manners
Grooming

Class 2: 8:10 - 8:40 pm

Sit, Stand, Down
Heelwork including about turn, cones, etc
Starting the Retrieve
Stay
Weaving between dogs
Watch me
Recall
Wait

Class 3: 8:45 - 9:15 pm

Send away to box
Scent: Find it
Continental finish
Full Retrieve
Long recall
Recall to Heel
Distance Control: short distances
Recall line-up
Leave it, including food and off-lead
Stays: handlers move to Hall doors
Left about turn
Tightening-up exercises

Class 4: 9:20 - 10:00 pm

Stays: handlers leave the hall
Exercises without vocal commands
Scent discrimination
Drop on Recall
Stay / Wait pairs challenge
Difficult Stays
Exchange dogs
Send away to anything
Distance Control: to length of hall
Pickup
Walk backwards