Introduction

We are Conker’s Club: dog trainers who champion a balanced approach, with a strong focus on partnership and communication. Our original goal was to produce guides for our clients and their dogs, but we couldn't stop writing and decided that maybe other people would like our take on how to be a happy pack. Our philosophy is to remove as many ‘barriers to entry’ as possible from dog training, which is why this core book will always be free for everyone.

While it has its place, and we use it as part of this book, obedience isn't where training stops. Your dog needs to learn how to be a well adjusted member of your family and society, which means they have to learn what is acceptable and what isn't in your lives together.

When you bring a dog home you take on the responsibility to them but also to your community. As much as we like to think our actions only affect us it's just not true, we are part of an ecosystem. If our dogs run up to other people without their consent we don't know the consequences we are just hoping it goes well. We could be setting back someone who is working through a fear, we could be ruining the walk of someone desperately trying to work with their reactive dog. Although they are more extreme examples, the point is we just don't know and we should be checking in first.

We believe that a truly successful relationship with your dog has to be a partnership based on trust and understanding, which we build with the training in these chapters.

‘Perfect’ dogs aren't our goal here- you won’t end up with a robot for a puppy. Conker isn't perfect and we don't want him to be. He is a cheeky boy and that's why he's captured the hearts of so many people. He doesn't always do what he's asked instantly; he will have the classic bulldog long think on it. But because of the lessons outlined in the following chapters, he is set up to make the right choices.

(Coming Soon)

Each chapter also contains a link which will take you to a video of the same information. The exercise guides are in bullet point form so you are able to quickly refer to them when needed. We recommend that you read this all the way through at least once before attempting any training, as you will be able to spot when different parts compliment each other.

We hope this book helps you in your journey with your pack!