Training services
At Gentle Steps, we offer:
- Training visits and walks without the client
- Training visits and walks with the client (coaching)
- Enrichment visits
- Walk replacements (like ACE Free Work, Rucksack “walks” and scent work.
More information on each of these follows…
All training of new skills begins in the home and garden. If your dog already has the skills needed (e.g. focus, the ability to disengage from a trigger, a fast 180-degree turnaway, or loose lead walking) but still requires management on their walk, you can use our standard walking service. All our walks include management.
Prices for training without the client:
Single dog:
- 60 min – £18.50
- 45 min – £15.50
- 30 min – £12.50
Prices for training with the client (coaching):
Single dog:
- 60 min – £30.00
- 45 min – £25.00
- 30 min – £20.00 (£17.50 for multiple sessions booked together)
Prices for enrichment visits or walk replacements:
Single dog:
- 60 min – £18.50
- 45 min – £15.50
- 30 min – £12.50
Two dogs:
- 60 min – £24.50
- 45 min – £20.50
- 30 min – £16.50
Any work requested for weekends, after 17.00hrs, or bank holidays will carry a surcharge of £3.
Ruby is waiting for her trainer – “Clare is Coming”
Meet-and-Greet
All training, enrichment and walk replacement services, except for client coaching, require a standard meet-and-greet. This allows you and your dog to get to know your walker/tainer(s) and them to bond with your dog. During this visit, you can raise any worries or concerns. The visit will take about 30 minutes.
We will also discuss access to your home, so you may want to consider the use of a key safe or having two sets of keys available. Your meet-and-greet visit for standard walks or visits is free of charge and is not a commitment to use our services.
We work from a database (Pet Sitter Plus) where your information is held securely and is only visible to you, Alison, and your walker(s). After your meet-and-greet visit, we will send you access to your portal, where you can add information about yourself and your dog. You can also book walks, cancel walks, manage invoices, make payments, and read our Terms and Conditions on there.
Coaching clients do not need a standard meet and greet. All coached training begins with a 45 or 60-minute session with Alison that is foundational to the rest of the training. After that, you will move on to 30-minute training sessions with your trainer. When you book more than one training session with your trainer, there is a £2.50 reduction on every visit.
Flexibility
If you are considering our weekday training walk service, it may help to know that we are happy to accept clients with irregular work patterns, those with school holidays off, and those who want variable days each week.
We ask that you submit your walk requests by 18.00 hrs on Tuesday of the preceding week. This allows for scheduling and gives the Team time to plan their week. However, we will try to accommodate late bookings and can usually cover them. Our walkers do get busy, so the more notice, the better.
Gentle Training Visits and Walks
These are one-to-one supportive and personalised home visits and dog walks designed to meet your dog’s needs.
We practice kindness, empathy, and patience in all our dealings with your dog, and our aim is a calm, enjoyable experience that will leave your dog relaxed and ready to settle.
Training services cater to each dog’s unique needs and requirements, and the visit format will vary. This will be discussed at our Meet and Greet pre-assessment session.
Because these visits and walks are bespoke, they look different depending on your dog’s needs. Most include calming activities, focus training, an element of challenge and confidence-building, sensory enrichment, and teaching ‘tools’ to use on the walks.
Any training must begin at home and in the garden or yard before attempting to use it on a walk. Anxious and reactive dogs find it difficult to learn when faced with their triggers, so skills must be well-practised in a safe environment.
We are also happy to work patiently with any dog who struggles with new people. We’ve had success with many dogs who fear unknown people, even some who took several weeks to be ready to leave the home with us.
Other possible requests include giving food, medication, garden time, and play, or finishing off with a 5-minute wind-down cuddle time.
Gentle Enrichment Visits and Walk Replacements
These are one-to-one, supportive, and personalised home visits designed to meet your dog’s needs when you do not want them to be taken for a walk.
We practice kindness, empathy, and patience in all our dealings with your dog, and our aim is a calm, enjoyable experience that will leave your dog relaxed and ready to settle.
A walk replacement can include activities like enrichment toys and puzzles, ACE Free Work, indoor/garden Rucksack Walks, simple scent work, Parkour, focus work, etc.
We aim to replace the core walk components during each visit. These are physical activity, companionship, mental stimulation, scenting and exploration.
Each visit will finish with a 5-minute wind-down of calming activity and (if your dog enjoys it) cuddle time.
Gentle Training Visits and Walks with Clients
These are one-to-one, supportive client-led training sessions. Suitable for anyone who wants to learn more about how to help their anxious, fearful, low-confidence, reactive or pulling dog.
We practice kindness, empathy, and patience in all our dealings with your dog, and our aim is a calm, enjoyable experience that will leave your dog relaxed and ready to settle.
We will work with you and your dog until you feel confident in working with them alone, unless you want to stop for other reasons.
You can take the training in any direction within our speciality. For more details on the things we can help with, check out our Gentle Training page.
All training walks and visits at Gentle Steps are one-to-one. If you are looking for our standard walks and visits, check out our Walking Services page.
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