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The Great Dog Programme
Seven nights of residential dog training. A better foundation for everyday life.
Love your dog, but wish walks were easier, recall was more reliable, and everyday manners were a little more polished?
Our Great Dog Programme combines individual, reward-based training with a comfortable seven-night stay at The Dogchester.
Your dog receives 120 minutes of individual training daily, divided into shorter sessions to suit their needs, concentration and training goals.
We do the structured teaching while your dog stays with us, then show you how to continue the progress together at home.
Good dogs deserve good training.
Not every training difficulty is a major behavioural problem. Sometimes a dog simply needs more practice, clearer communication and consistency.
Our Great Dog Programme is designed for suitable dogs who need help developing practical everyday skills.
Rather than trying to squeeze another appointment into a busy family calendar, your dog stays with us while our team delivers structured individual training throughout the day.
Each day’s training is divided into Six 20-minute or eight 15-minute sessions. We can adapt the session structure according to your dog’s ability to concentrate and learn.
Between training sessions, dogs enjoy appropriate exercise, enrichment, nature walks, rest and a comfortable place to relax.
This is not about creating a robot dog. It’s about helping your dog understand everyday expectations and giving your family practical tools that work.
Everyday skills that make a real difference.
We’ll discuss the things that matter most to your family and agree up to three realistic priorities for your dog’s stay.
Recall & Coming Back
Building a rewarding recall, engagement and better responses to your cues around suitable distractions.
Loose-Lead Walking
Teaching attention and comfortable walking skills without relying on corrections or intimidation.
Polite Greetings
Helping enthusiastic dogs learn more appropriate ways to greet people without jumping up.
Focus & Listening
Strengthening attention, responsiveness and the ability to work with their human even when life gets exciting.
Settling & Calmness
Developing useful relaxation routines, stationing skills and calmer everyday habits.
General Life Skills
Reward-based foundations such as waiting, leave it, drop, self-control and cooperative everyday manners.
Important: These are examples, not a fixed curriculum or guarantee of results. We select achievable goals based on your dog’s age, temperament, learning history and individual needs.
Much more than daily training sessions.
A successful training stay needs thoughtful routines, rest, communication with owners and a plan for what happens after your dog comes home.
Comfortable Dogchester accommodation, chosen around your dog’s needs and availability.
Your dog receives 0 minutes of individual, reward-based training daily, delivered as either Six 20-minute or eight 15-minute sessions, according to their concentration, needs and training goals.
Up to three agreed training goals, based on the skills that would make life easier at home.
Examples of what we’re teaching, how your dog is progressing and what we’re working towards.
Appropriate exercise, sniffing, mental enrichment and other activities to support wellbeing.
Quiet opportunities to relax and process learning rather than constant stimulation.
Practical guidance and a training summary to help you understand your dog’s new skills.
We demonstrate key exercises and explain how to continue the training after collection.
Support while you put your training plan into practice at home.
A welfare-focused approach that considers the whole dog, not simply a list of commands.
Short sessions. Consistent learning. Proper rest.
Dogs learn best when training is enjoyable, achievable and suited to their individual abilities.
Rather than expecting a dog to concentrate for an uninterrupted hour, we spread their daily training across shorter sessions.
Your dog receives one hour of individual training each day, usually divided into Six 20-minute or eight 15-minute sessions.
Between lessons, they have time for appropriate walks, enrichment, downtime and sleep. We want dogs to remain comfortable, engaged and motivated throughout their programme.
Every Great Dog starts with a conversation.
Residential training isn’t suitable for every dog, and we don’t believe in selling a programme without first understanding what your dog needs.
Tell Us About Your Dog
Explain their age, temperament, training history and what you would most like help with.
Suitability Review
We’ll review the information and discuss whether The Great Dog Programme is the right fit.
Assessment If Needed
A Trial Night or additional assessment may be recommended before a residential stay.
Agree Goals & Dates
Once approved, we confirm your dog’s training priorities, availability and next steps.
Basic training and behaviour modification are different.
The Great Dog Programme focuses on teaching useful skills and improving everyday manners.
However, some dogs aren’t struggling because they’re missing a skill. They may be frightened, anxious, highly frustrated or experiencing strong emotional responses.
Dogs showing significant aggression, reactivity, fear or anxiety may require a specialist behaviour assessment and an individual behaviour-modification plan instead.
We will always recommend the appropriate service rather than placing a dog into an unsuitable training programme.
We’ll help you choose.
Tell us what’s happening with your dog, what you’ve tried and what you hope to achieve.
Our team can help determine whether general training or specialist behaviour support is the more appropriate route.
Ask About Your DogGreat Dog Programme FAQs
How much individual training will my dog receive?
Your dog receives 120 minutes of individual training daily, generally split into Six 20-minute or eight 15-minute sessions. We select the most suitable structure for their needs.
Is this a residential behaviour modification programme?
No. This programme focuses on practical obedience, manners and everyday training skills. Dogs with more complex emotional or behavioural difficulties may need our separate specialist Behaviour Modification Programme.
Can I choose what my dog learns?
Yes. We agree up to three main training goals before your dog’s stay. The plan is tailored to their current skills, learning history and suitability.
Will my dog be fully trained after seven nights?
We can’t guarantee a particular result or promise that any dog will be fully trained in seven nights. Our goal is meaningful, welfare-focused progress and practical skills you can continue developing at home.
Do I need to continue training at home?
Yes. Your handover, written plan, summary video and 14 days of follow-up support are designed to help you maintain and build on your dog’s learning.
Does my dog need to be sociable with other dogs?
Not necessarily. Social Club is assessed separately, and suitable dogs can receive individual activities instead. All dogs must still meet our handling, health and residential suitability requirements.
Can I book the programme immediately?
We begin with an enquiry and suitability discussion. Once we understand your dog’s needs, we can confirm the appropriate training route and available dates.
Better manners. Better communication. A happier life together.
Seven nights of tailored residential training at The Dogchester for £995 for the complete Great Dog Programme.
With one hour of individual training daily, tailored learning goals, a comfortable residential stay and practical owner support.
Tell us about your dog and the skills you’d love them to learn. We’ll review their suitability and help you take the next step.
The Dogchester · Lesmahagow · South Lanarkshire · Convenient for the M74