Dog training in County Durham
Training clubs and accredited trainers in County Durham, each checked on its own website. Dog training is not regulated in the UK, so every trainer listed here says they belong to a body that assesses its members.
Training clubs in County Durham
Newton Aycliffe Dog Training Club
Training clubNewton Aycliffe, County Durham
Puppy classes · Group classes · Good Citizen awards · Obedience · One-to-one
Not-for-profit club set up in 2021 running group courses, puppy and adolescent socialisation, competition obedience and KC Good Citizen.
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19
Accredited trainers in County Durham
Curlabull Canine Training
TrainerConsett, County Durham · DH8 8DX
Puppy classes · Group classes · One-to-one · Good Citizen awards · Obedience · Agility
Good Citizen classes in Consett, rally at Leadgate and agility at Waterhouses.
- Kennel Club Accredited Instructor
- Runs Good Citizen awards
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19DogScentric
TrainerDarlington, County Durham
Puppy classes · Group classes · One-to-one · Gundog
Accredited Gundog Trainers Academy instructor. Focus on gundog breeds and spaniels.
- ABTC registered
- Member of another accrediting body
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Have A Good Dog
TrainerLanchester, County Durham
Puppy classes · Group classes · One-to-one
Also a full member of the APBC. Puppy classes run on Sundays at Lanchester.
- APDT UK member
- ABTC registered
- Member of another accrediting body
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Rewards Dog Training
TrainerCoxhoe, County Durham
Puppy classes · Group classes · Good Citizen awards · One-to-one
Thursday evening puppy beginner class at Wilson Vet Group, Bishop Auckland, and Saturday Good Citizen Puppy Foundation course at K9 Freedom
- Kennel Club Accredited Instructor
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19
Just over the border
The closest clubs and trainers outside County Durham, measured from the middle of the ones above.
Betsy's Dog School
Trainer · 19 miles awayNewcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Puppy classes · One-to-one
PACT accredited. One-to-one sessions at home and locally, no group classes.
- ABTC registered
- Member of another accrediting body
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Ruff Diamond Dog Training
Trainer · 19 miles awayNewcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Puppy classes · Group classes · Good Citizen awards · One-to-one · Online
Puppy, starters, junior, Kennel Club Good Citizen and rally classes at Walkerville Community Centre on Fridays and Monkchester Community Cen
- APDT UK member
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19The Newcastle Dog Trainer
Trainer · 19 miles awayNewcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Puppy classes · Group classes · One-to-one · Online
Six week puppy and adolescent classes at a Tyne and Wear community venue, plus one-to-one training and an online puppy course.
- APDT UK member
- ABTC registered
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19K9 Academy
Trainer · 22 miles awayNorth Shields, Tyne and Wear · NE29 6TS
Puppy classes · Group classes · Good Citizen awards
Kennel Club Good Citizen classes for puppies, adolescents and adult dogs at an indoor and outdoor venue on Victoria Street, North Shields.
- Kennel Club Accredited Instructor
- APDT UK member
- Runs Good Citizen awards
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Diamond Dog Behaviour and Training
Trainer · 23 miles awayWelton, Northumberland · NE18 0LJ
Puppy classes · Group classes · One-to-one · Reactive dogs · Obedience
Also offers residential training and licensed boarding.
- APDT UK member
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Dog Tales Puppy and Dog Training
Trainer · 24 miles awayStokesley, North Yorkshire
Puppy classes · Group classes
Five week Puppy Club in Great Ayton and Stokesley, plus Pupstars and a weekly puppy social club in Stokesley.
- IMDT member
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19
How to choose a class
Ask what methods they use. A good class rewards the behaviour it wants with food, toys and praise, and will not use prong, choke or shock collars, or punish a dog for getting it wrong. Our training guides explain why that matters.
Ask to watch a session before you book. Look for small groups, room between dogs, and an instructor who explains what to do and why. A nervous dog should be allowed to watch from a distance rather than being pushed into the middle.
Check memberships yourself. Memberships on this page are as each club or trainer states them. You can search a trainer's name on the APDT and ABTC search pages.
Questions about dog training in County Durham
Is dog training regulated in the UK?
No. Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer or behaviourist, and the titles are not protected. A government taskforce on responsible dog ownership recommended exploring regulation in September 2026, but for now membership of an assessing body is voluntary.
What does APDT or ABTC membership mean?
Full members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers have had their practical skills assessed while teaching a live class, and agree to use kind, fair methods. The Animal Behaviour and Training Council keeps a register of trainers and behaviourists who meet its standards. You can check a trainer's name on each body's own search page.
What is the Good Citizen scheme?
The Royal Kennel Club's Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme is the largest dog training programme in the UK, with four award levels: Puppy Foundation, Bronze, Silver and Gold. It is open to any dog, pedigree or crossbreed, and around 1,700 training clubs take part.
Should I choose a club or a trainer?
Clubs are usually the cheaper option and suit puppies and everyday manners in a group. A trainer is better for one-to-one help, a nervous or reactive dog, or a specific problem. Several of the trainers listed in County Durham run group classes too.
When can my puppy start training classes?
Training starts at home the day your puppy arrives. For classes, most puppy courses ask that vaccinations are complete or under way, so check with your vet and with the class before you book.
Nearby counties
Search the full UK directory to sort every club and trainer by distance. Directory last reviewed 2026-10-19.