Life Skills Group Dog Training in Coffs Harbour.

Yes. Life Skills includes practical, reinforcement-based dog obedience training in Coffs Harbour.
We work on loose lead walking, recall, settling, duration, engagement and focus around real-world
distractions. The aim is not perfect obedience in a quiet class. It is useful behaviour you can
take into everyday life.

Before class, you will receive details about where to park, what to bring and how to prepare your dog.

You will arrive around 10 minutes early so your dog can toilet, have a drink, check in and settle into the environment.

Once class starts, Will will explain the goal of the session, demonstrate the exercise, then coach each team while they work through the skills.

Some exercises are completed together. Others are completed one at a time while the remaining dogs practise settling, watching calmly or staying on their place beds.

Dogs are given breaks to decompress and process. Learning does not only happen during repetitions. Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs happen once a dog learns to come down from arousal and relax.

Life Skills is not a social free-for-all. Dogs do not meet or play with each other. They are there to have fun with their people, not to treat class like a play date.

Dogs learn that class time means working with their handler, building engagement and staying calm around other dogs without needing to interact with them.

That matters because real life is full of dogs your dog does not get to meet. We want your dog to learn that seeing another dog does not automatically predict excitement, frustration or play. It simply becomes another part of the environment they can acknowledge before choosing to re-engage with you.

You do not need to train for an hour every day. For most dogs, 5–10 minutes at breakfast and dinner most days is enough to make meaningful progress.

Some of the work is structured, but it is always connected back to everyday life. Breakfast, dinner, walks, waiting at doors, getting out of the car, settling on a bed and moving past distractions can all become training opportunities.

A little more work now saves a lot more work later.

If you miss a few days, you are not ruined. Life happens. The early weeks build the foundations for everything that follows. If you miss one class, we can usually help you catch up. If you know you cannot attend several sessions, it is usually better to wait for another intake.

Six dogs gives us the right balance between real-world distraction and individual coaching.

There are enough dogs in the environment for your dog to practise useful skills around genuine distractions, without creating a class where anyone disappears into the crowd.

Every handler gets time. Every dog gets seen. Exercises can be adjusted for the dog in front of us instead of forcing everyone through the same drill.

You have access to Pocket Trainer Support via WhatsApp throughout the program.

Send a question or a short video of your homework if something is not quite working. That gives me a chance to see what is happening, help you adjust the exercise and keep your training moving before the next class.

Please bring:

• Plenty of food your dog values. Using part of their normal meal can work well, and some dogs benefit from a lighter meal before class if appropriate for them.
• A treat pouch. We have a small number available for sale.
• High-value food for more difficult exercises.
• A tug toy if your dog enjoys play.
• A flat collar.
• A 6 foot / 2 metre lead.

Please avoid bungee leads and head halters for class.

Treat pouches are available to purchase if you need one.
We also recommend bringing a dedicated tug toy that your dog
only gets to enjoy during training to help build its value.

Throughout the program we use high-value

P.S. Pet Treats
,
a locally owned business based in Coffs Harbour.