1:1 Dog Training in Guildford

Kind, practical dog training for puppies and adult dogs across Guildford

A friendly dog trainer for Guildford dog owners

When walks feel more like an olympic sled pull, recall disappears the moment the lead comes off, or visitors are greeted with a full body launch, it can be exhausting. You are not failing your dog, and they are not being “naughty” for the sake of it. They are simply doing what has worked for them so far.

I offer reward-based, 1:1 dog training for owners in Guildford who would like clearer, calmer and more enjoyable everyday life with their dog. We will work at a pace that suits you both, using kind, practical methods that make sense in the real world.

I’m ABTC and PACT certified, with no harsh tools or one-size-fits-all approach. We’ll focus on understanding what your dog is telling you, and finding the simple steps that help you both move forward with confidence.

Whether you have a brand-new puppy, a tazmanian-devil adolescent, a rescue dog finding their feet, or an adult dog who needs a little extra guidance, I can help with that.

Recall

Does your dog suddenly become very selective about hearing you once they are off lead? Together, we will build a recall that is rewarding, reliable and realistic for the distractions your dog finds difficult.

Loose Lead Walking

Walking should not leave you feeling like you have been dragged down the pavement. I will help you understand why pulling happens and give you straightforward exercises to make walks calmer and more connected.

Jumping Up and Excitable Greetings

If your dog thinks every visitor deserves a flying cuddle, we can teach them a calmer way to say hello without taking away their personality or their joy.

Puppy Skills

Getting the foundations in place early can make everyday life much easier. I can help with toilet training, settling, socialisation, chewing, biting, lead skills, recall and the little things that quickly become big things if they are left to grow

Calmer Behaviour

For dogs who find it hard to switch off, get overexcited, or seem to be permanently on the go, we will look at their individual needs and build practical routines that help them feel more settled.

What 1:1 dog training looks like

No two dogs are the same, so there is no one-size-fits-all plan. I will get to know you, your dog and the situations that are causing stress, then give you clear, manageable steps to work on between sessions.

My approach is ethical, reward-based and non-judgemental. Training should feel like something you can enjoy together, not another thing on your already too long to-do list.

You will leave with a better understanding of what is driving your dog’s behaviour, plus the tools to make progress in everyday life.

WHY CHOOSE US…

We stand by five key principles in our training.

ETHICAL

Your dog's welfare comes first with kind, ethical training methods

NON-JUDGMENTAL

It's about how we move forward, not what has happened before

FUN

Training should be fun, not a chore, so that'll you'll both enjoy it

UNDERSTANDING

I’ll help you better understand your dog’s motivations, build stronger relationships, and improve your teamwork

QUALIFIED

Fully qualified and certified by the Animal Behaviour Training Council (ABTC) and the Professional Association of Canine Trainers (PACT), so you can be sure you're in safe hands

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 8 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Victoria Jennings 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Steve has been working with me and my 18 month staffy cross for the last 8 weeks. He is a great guy and has given me all the tools to continue training stop the lead pulling.  She is definitely much better already so now it’s down to me to continue the good work and make sure we get there on every walk. Would definitely recommend Steve and Proud Dog Training
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Shaun Adams 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can actually walk Archie now! His pulling ended up causing me a shoulder injury a while back when he caught me off guard, so it was getting to the point where I was worried every time I'd take him out that it could happen again. On Steve’s advice we changed the harness we were using, worked on him engaging with us more on walks, added in some new activities at home, as well as other pieces, and Archie is now so much calmer on walks. I’m enjoying walking him again now, so thank you Steve!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Henry Davis 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Steve’s been great, helping us with Diva’s issues with recall and building her confidence walking in busy environments. The support in between sessions was really helpful too. Would highly recommend. Thanks again Steve
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Aisha Kilbride 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Where to even begin?! I couldn't recommend Steve at Proud Dog more! We completed his 8-week programme with our dog, Dodger, and it's honestly been one of the best investments we've made.

We wanted help with Dodger's recall and his habit of jumping up, and the progress has been incredible. Steve's approach is calm, supportive and was completely tailored to us. Everything is broken down into simple, manageable steps, so it never felt overwhelming.

The combination of meeting in-person as well as the video feedback and ongoing support between sessions meant we always felt confident and knew exactly what to work on. Steve didn't just help train Dodge - he gave me the confidence and understanding to continue making progress since we finished our programme. As we're quite local we get to see Steve and his dog Sam on walks sometimes, which is always super nice.

If you're looking for a trainer who genuinely cares and uses kind, effective methods, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Proud Dog.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Lindsey Wells 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Steve was a complete joy to work with and was very patient and friendly. We like to ask a lot of questions  and he was always happy to answer them, both during sessions and in-between. We still have a couple sessions left, but the training has already really helped Poppy’s recall and she’s much more engaged with us. Super happy, thankyou!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Rebecca Cole 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Steve is wonderful with our dog! He has done both training hours with our 8 month old black lab as well as drop ins and walks. His communication is wonderful and we highly recommend his services.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Samantha Tufo 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I booked some training with Steve to help with my Cockapoo Buzz and his terrible lead pulling and recall. I was nervous to have 1:1 training but Steve instantly put me at ease. We’re both loving the sessions and Steve is great at reading him and deciding when he needs a break and when he’s ready for the next step, and Buzz is already so much better than he was! Very excited to continue our sessions and would recommended Steve to anyone needing training support.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sue Wylie 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Steve has worked MIRACLES with my boy Harry, who at 10 & a half years old has had lots of social issues with other dogs for most of his life, but he has managed to getting him walking side by side with his own dog and also not on his halti just leading from his collar, no pulling, no whiping around at his dog or others.
It gives me huge assurance to know that Harry is safe with him when out on a walk, having a calm and enjoyable exercise routine. Thank you Steve

Ready to enjoy life with your dog a little more?

If you are looking for a supportive dog trainer in Guildford, I would love to hear about your dog and what you would like help with. Start with a free call and we can work out the best next step.

Explore the Training Transformation Programme | Explore puppy training | Contact Proud Dog

GUILDFORD FAQ's

Do you offer 1:1 dog training in GUILDFORD?

Yes! I offer 1:1, reward-based training support tailored to you, your dog and the issues causing you stress.

Can you help with my Puppy? recall, pulling and jumping up?

Absolutely. We can work on all the great puppy foundations like recall, loose lead walking, jumping up, settling, drop and all the other fun skills you want to teach them

What training methods do you use?

I use kind, ethical and reward-based methods to increase the behaviours we want to see. There are no harsh tools that cause pain, fear or intimidation.