Dog training in East Sussex
Training clubs and accredited trainers in East Sussex, 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 East Sussex
Dog Obedience Group
Training clubPortslade, East Sussex · BN41 2LE
Puppy classes · Group classes · One-to-one · Good Citizen awards
Kennel Club listed group founded 1978; classes at St Nicolas Parish Centre, Portslade.
- Runs Good Citizen awards
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Eastbourne & District DTC
Training clubHalland, East Sussex · BN8 6BT
Agility · Obedience
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Hastings & St Leonards Dog Training Club
Training clubSt Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex · TN37 6QT
Puppy classes · Group classes · Good Citizen awards
Club founded 1954; Wednesday puppy and Good Citizen classes at St Lukes Church Hall, Silverhill.
- Runs Good Citizen awards
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Tenterden & District DTC
Training clubSt. Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex · TN38 8EA
Agility · Obedience
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19
Accredited trainers in East Sussex
Berwick Obedience
TrainerUpper Dicker, East Sussex
Group classes · One-to-one · Good Citizen awards · Obedience
Run by a Kennel Club Accredited Instructor; classes at Upper Dicker and Cade Street.
- Kennel Club Accredited Instructor
- Runs Good Citizen awards
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Howl School For Dogs
TrainerHastings, East Sussex
Puppy classes · One-to-one · Reactive dogs · Online
One-to-one puppy and behaviour sessions across Hastings, Bexhill and Brighton, plus online.
- APDT UK member
- ABTC registered
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19
Just over the border
The closest clubs and trainers outside East Sussex, measured from the middle of the ones above.
Pawprints Dog Training
Trainer · 26 miles awayCrawley, West Sussex · RH10 5DF
Puppy classes · Group classes · One-to-one
Six-week Puppy School courses at Tilgate Community Centre in Crawley and at Broadbridge Heath and Warnham near Horsham.
- ABTC registered
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Clever Paws Training Club
Training club · 27 miles awayLingfield, Surrey · RH7 6JU
Agility · Good Citizen awards · Obedience · Puppy classes
- Runs Good Citizen awards
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Ashford Dog Training Club
Training club · 28 miles awayAshford, Kent · TN26 2NJ
Puppy classes · Group classes · One-to-one
Reward-based club since 2005; puppy and eight-week basic courses at Hamstreet and Kingsnorth.
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Sevenoaks & District Dog Training Society
Training club · 28 miles awaySevenoaks, Kent
Puppy classes · Group classes · Agility
Club since 1963; puppy and basic lifeskills courses at Brasted, agility near Tonbridge.
- APDT UK member
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Puppy School Sevenoaks & Tonbridge
Trainer · 28 miles awaySevenoaks, Kent
Puppy classes · Group classes · One-to-one
Puppy School tutor; six-week puppy courses at Ide Hill, Sevenoaks Weald and Tonbridge.
- Member of another accrediting body
WebsiteChecked 2026-10-19Maidstone Activity Dogs
Training club · 28 miles awayMaidstone, Kent · ME16 9LX
Agility · Good Citizen awards · Puppy classes
- 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 East Sussex
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 East Sussex 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.