Dog Training County Durham

Based in County Durham, Rewards Dog Training bring a new way to train your dog to the area, offering group, social, and 1-2-1 training to help owners live in harmony with their dogs.

Got a new puppy?

Teenage Tearaway driving you mad?

Anxious, nervous or reactive dog that makes your walk more of a chore than a pleasure?

Adopted a rescue dog and want to help them settle into your home successfully?

Looking for more training in a relaxed and fun environment?

Our training packages

Puppy Training

Home Start Puppy Package

Group Puppy Classes

Advanced Puppy Classes (up to 18 months old)

Teenage Tearaways

1 to 1 Home Sessions

(Up to 3 years old)

Behaviour Training

1 to 1 training available in person or online

Why Rewards dog training?

I have always been passionate about looking at your dog from nose-to-tail, including their food, environment and lifestyle. I specialise in home training courses for puppies, teenagers and dogs of all ages, shapes and sizes to help you work on any behaviours, issues or training. By working in your home (and using your local walks) you get the chance to work in the place where you need help the most to build a lifelong, happy and positive relationship.

WHY HOLISTIC Dog Training?

According to the dictionary, Holistic is defined as “the belief that the parts of something are interconnected and can be explained only by reference to the whole”. It means treatment of the whole person (or canine), taking into account mental and social factors rather than just the symptoms.

The reason I wanted to concentrate on Holistic Training is because I passionately believe that getting the dog you want as part of your family is not just about training. Everything in the environment, food, exercise routine and your lifestyle will affect your dog or puppy. It’s not just about teaching them to sit and give paw (although that can be fun!). Teaching life skills is all about how we interact with with our dogs right from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed.

That’s not to say I encourage micro-management of your dog. I’m far too lazy to be “on it” with my dogs 24/7. But I do like my dogs to have time out to be a dog and to chill out or entertain themselves. I want them to settle down when I’m working from home and still be up for a walk.

So what does my way of training include? It means that I will come in and look at the food you’re feeding. I’ll be able to understand the environment that your dog lives, plays and sleeps in. We can discuss what you want for your dog. If you want a companion or a dog that needs a lot of exercise or just a family dog we can look at how you can achieve that. And we’ll do it in a way that suits you and your dog best.

Each owner and each dog I work with is treated as an individual. It means that what I teach for one dog might not work for your dog. Or what I teach you and your dog might not work for someone else. But you can be assured that I will help you to get the dog you want for your lifestyle while staying true to the welfare and care of your dog.

Dog Owner Reviews

The Liebling Family

“Five stars for Sara at Rewards Dog Training. It was a pleasure working with Sara who is calm, understanding and her knowledge of dogs was educational as well as interesting. She really helped us bond with our puppy, Nala, particularly the relationship with my two year old (who loved joining in on our training sessions) will be everlasting. Sara was flexible and reliable. I would highly recommend her, especially for families with young children looking to get a puppy.”

Kerina and Chris

“Recently completed the home puppy course with Sara. Wow! What can I say? It’s really helped me and my puppy. We have gone from strength to strength with Sara’s guidance which really helped my confidence. We made the right choice in Sara in starting off Aoife and her training. For anyone with a puppy it’s a must!”

The Hitchens Family

“Soon after bringing home our delightful cockapoo pup, Twiglet, we had a Preschool Puppy Session with Sara in our home. She met the family including our slightly bemused cat! This visit gave us reassurance that we were on the right track and also tips and advice for the forthcoming days and early weeks with a new pup. I would thoroughly recommend Sara’s dog training skills and, importantly, her friendly and approachable manner ensuring that each encounter is enjoyable with laughs along the way!”

Steve and Angela

“I wanted to have some basic training for our 12‑week‑old English Bulldog, Mabel, and opted for some 1‑2‑1 lessons as primarily she wouldn’t be awake for the classes in the evening, so having them at home really helped. Sara clearly has a vast and in‑depth knowledge of dog‑training techniques and tips/advice etc., and Mabel absolutely loved her. I would have no hesitation in recommending Sara and can only thank her for the help and advice shared for Mabel.”

🐾 Dog Training FAQ's 🐾

What areas do you cover for dog training in County Durham?

We provide dog and puppy training across Durham, Chester-le-Street, Hartlepool, Newton Aycliffe, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Seaham, Houghton-le-Spring, and surrounding areas. If you’re unsure if we cover your location, just get in touch.

Can you help with behaviour problems like pulling, barking, or reactivity?

Absolutely! Our 1:1 sessions are tailored to your dog’s needs and can cover loose lead walking, recall, barking, chewing, anxiety, reactivity, and more.

Do you train older dogs as well as puppies?

Yes, it’s never too late to start training. We work with dogs of all ages and breeds to improve behaviour, focus, and confidence.