Training to become a Puppy School Tutor
How Long Will It Take?
The course consists of approximately 65 hours of tuition (see below for details) and further time is needed for self-study and developing the skills/ability needed for puppy training. Although dependant on your previous experience with dogs and also on how much time and effort you can put in, it takes approximately 5 - 8 months from the time you begin the course to the time you are ready to start running classes.
Application and Interview Process
Puppy School is open to applications from prospective tutors all year round and the first step is to complete an online application form.
For a summary of the skills and experience that we are looking for from new applicants, please see the What Are We Looking For? page. If you think you might have what we need, please complete the Application Form.
There is space to upload an informal video too - please use to introduce yourself and your dog(s). Show us what you can do with them or just tell us a little bit about you and your pets. Don't let the video part put you off sending in an application, but please don't be shy, we would really love to see you interacting with a dog and it helps us get to know you before we meet.
If you would prefer to have an informal chat about your suitability prior to application, please use the 'Get in touch with us!' form below and tell us how, and when, it is best to contact you.
Once we have received your application, it will be sent to the Regional Manager for your area. You will receive a reply and, if you meet our requirements, a time will be arranged for an informal phone interview and chat to go through further details. They will then guide you through the remainder of the process, including getting you booked onto a course.
The Puppy School Tutor Training Course
We run our Puppy School tutor training courses in Spring and Autumn of each year. Places are limited (up to 10) to ensure everyone gets the individual attention they need, especially on the practical course.
The Puppy School Tutor Training Course consists of the following:
- A 2-day face-to-face introductory weekend where we cover a range of subjects such as 'how we learn skills' to 'improving your coaching technique' (with teachers Catherine Tomlinson and Gwen Bailey) (usually held in Worcestershire)
- 25 hours of live online lessons (evenings) on a vast range of subjects, including how to run the Puppy School syllabus, spread over a 3-month period (with teachers Catherine Tomlinson, Gwen Bailey and other experienced tutors with special knowledge)
- During this time, you will receive video coaching from your Regional Manager to help you learn the essential skills and techniques needed to run the puppy classes
- A 3-day practical course working hands-on with real puppies (and their owners), and practising all elements of the Puppy School course with those who teach us best, the puppies themselves! (usually held in Gloucestershire, teachers are Gwen Bailey and Claire Luscombe)
- Correspondence course of home study comprised of practical exercises and observations
The correspondence course is a series of exercises with questions, the answers to which must be submitted by the tutor prior to them running their first Puppy School classes. The questions require the tutor to carry out a number of practical training and observational activities with dogs (rescue dogs, puppies, their own dog, borrowed dogs) as well as training a new behaviour to another species – in the past, we have had tutors training pigs, chickens, cats, sheep and even alpacas!
The correspondence course is a great opportunity to further develop a range of training skills, ensuring that the tutor has first-hand experience of a range of different breeds, ages and personalities of dog prior to them running classes for themselves.
All parts of the course must be successfully completed before the 'Puppy School Puppy Class Tutor Certificate' is awarded and you are eligible to begin running Puppy School classes.
Getting Up and Running
Throughout the process of setting up and running classes, all tutors are supported by a highly experienced Regional Manager who will be available as their first point of contact for any queries or concerns. Regional Managers visit tutor classes every six months, allowing them to help tutors fine tune and improve their classes.