Dog training in Dorset
Training clubs and accredited trainers in Dorset, 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 Dorset
Dogs Actfully
Training clubHolwell, Dorset · DT9 5LP
Agility · Good Citizen awards · Group classes · Puppy classes
- Runs Good Citizen awards
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Sherborne Vale DTC
Training clubMilborne Port, Dorset · DT9
Agility · Good Citizen awards · Obedience · Puppy classes
- Runs Good Citizen awards
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Wessex Dog Training Club
Training clubWareham, Dorset · BH20 5AD
Obedience · Agility · One-to-one · Group classes
Indoor centre at Stoborough Village Hall; outdoor field at Lytchett Matravers (BH16 6ER).
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19
Accredited trainers in Dorset
Fleur's Happy Hounds
TrainerDorset
Puppy classes · Group classes · One-to-one
Also lists TCBTS membership. Site says Dorset but names no venue town.
- APDT UK member
- ABTC registered
- Member of another accrediting body
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19K9 Training Centre
TrainerWest Moors, Dorset · BH22 0HZ
Puppy classes · Group classes · Good Citizen awards · One-to-one
Monday evening classes at West Moors Memorial Hall, Bronze to Gold.
- APDT UK member
- Runs Good Citizen awards
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Ringwood Dogs
TrainerThree Legged Cross, Dorset
Puppy classes · Group classes · One-to-one
Training club classes held at Bransgore (Hampshire border); also offers daycare and boarding.
- IMDT member
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19
Just over the border
The closest clubs and trainers outside Dorset, measured from the middle of the ones above.
The Friendly Dog Club
Training club · 19 miles awayBarton-on-Sea, Hampshire · BH25 7FN
Group classes · Good Citizen awards · Gundog · Agility · Online
Kennel Club listed CIC; Good Citizen classes at Barton-on-Sea; a trainer is a PACT member.
- Runs Good Citizen awards
- ABTC registered
- Member of another accrediting body
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19The Doghouse FTF
Trainer · 25 miles awayYeovil, Somerset · BA21 5HA
Puppy classes · Group classes · One-to-one · Online
Qualified tutor with the Puppy School network; classes at The Doghouse Unit, Buckland Road.
- Member of another accrediting body
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Charismatic Pets
Trainer · 27 miles awayWarminster, Wiltshire · BA12 9DX
Puppy classes · Group classes · One-to-one · Reactive dogs · Online
Training centre with clinical behaviourist (APBC, PACT).
- APDT UK member
- ABTC registered
- Member of another accrediting body
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Yeovil & District Canine Society
Training club · 31 miles awayKingsdon, Somerset · TA11 7LL
Ringcraft · Puppy classes
Wednesday evening ringcraft and puppy socialisation at Kingsdon Village Hall.
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Frome Dog Training Club
Training club · 33 miles awayWestbury, Wiltshire · BA13 4LP
Puppy classes · Obedience · Agility · One-to-one · Group classes
KC registered community club at Heywood Equestrian Centre.
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Doggy Dilemmas
Trainer · 37 miles awayDevizes, Wiltshire
Group classes · Good Citizen awards
Good Citizen examiner at all levels, based at Worton; also offers boarding.
- Runs Good Citizen awards
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 Dorset
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 Dorset 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.