The Discovery and Training Process

ABTC Recognised Training Programme

Our Puppy School Tutor Training Programme (which contains everything you need to start classes, including all the business modules such as marketing and accounting) incorporates the Puppy School Instructors Course (the part of our training programme which gives you the knowledge and understanding to become an Animal Training Instructor (ATI)).  The Puppy School Instructors Course is fully recognised by the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC).  The ABTC is the governing body which sets and maintains standards of knowledge and practical skills needed to be an animal training instructor and maintains the national Register of appropriately assessed practitioners.  

NB:  The assessments for the ABTC ATI are done once the Puppy School Tutor Training Programme is complete.  There are two assessments, the written Knowledge and Understanding assessment, and the Practical Assessment, which is done once you have gained sufficent experience in running classes.  While the ABTC ATI is desirabe and aspirational, it is not needed to begin running Puppy School puppy classes.

Although we only run one tutor training course per year, Puppy School is open to applications from prospective tutors all year round and the first step is to complete the online form. (For a summary of the skills and experience we are looking for from new tutors, please see the 'What Makes a Good Puppy and Dog Training Instructor?' page.) 

Join Us Here

Once we have received your details, you will be contacted by our Operations Manager to arrange a discovery call. This is just an informal chat that gives you the chance to ask questions and for us to help you decide if our course might be right for you. 

After the call, if you wish to proceed and we think you would make a good Puppy School tutor, we will send your details to the Regional Manager for your area who will contact you to guide you through the remainder of the process.  They will also become your mentor during your training as well as through the rest of your time with Puppy School.

The Territory Protection Model

At Puppy School, each tutor is allocated an exclusive territory in which they advertise and run classes. This ensures there is no competition between Puppy School tutors within the same area.

Having other Puppy School territories nearby can actually be beneficial, as it strengthens overall brand recognition and often increases client enquiries across neighbouring areas.

If an applicant wishes to join Puppy School but lives within an already allocated territory, we will always explore ways to accommodate them. One option is to become an Associate Tutor. Associate Tutors are full members of Puppy School, attend and complete the same Puppy School Tutor Training course, and can work towards the ABTC ATI qualification in exactly the same way as full Tutors.

Associate Tutors work alongside the Tutor who holds the territory. Typically, the full Tutor manages administration and marketing, provides mentoring and support, and the Associate delivers some of the classes. This collaborative model often works very successfully for both parties.

Alternatively, if available, a trainee may choose to become a full Tutor in a different territory slightly further afield.

Available territories and potential options will be discussed during the discovery call.

(Associate Tutors enjoy the same benefits within Puppy School as full Tutors.)

We run our Puppy School tutor training courses in Autumn of each year.  Places are limited 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 animals learn' and 'improving your coaching technique' (with teachers Catherine Tomlinson BSc(Hons), MSc(Applied Animal Behaviour), PGCE, ATI and CAB with ABTC, puppy trainer for over 20 years and Gwen Bailey BSc(Hons), ATI and CAB with ABTC, Founder and Director of Puppy School) (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 guided coaching via submitted videos from your Regional Manager to help you learn the essential skills and techniques needed to run the puppy classes (approximately 4 - 10 hours depending on your initial experience level)
• 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, Claire Luscombe, and Sarah Smith)
• Correspondence course of home study comprised of practical exercises and observations (how long this takes depends, to some extent, on how experienced you are with animals - it may be quicker for those who already have a lot of handling/observation skills).  The correspondence course require the trainee 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!  It 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.

We accept a variety of ways to deliver your findings and observations, from typed notes through to videos.  We promote multi-learning approaches and are very accepting of different ways of thinking, learning, and recording information.

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. 

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