Why Neutrality Matters in Dog Training

In our training, neutrality is always the aim. Of course, the journey to get there varies greatly depending on your dog and why they struggle to remain neutral around others.

We've all been there, right? You're in the real world, trying to get some practical training in, and suddenly, an out-of-control dog runs over and spoils the moment. It feels like you’ve taken five steps backwards. Striking the balance between getting real-life practice and avoiding unwanted or unpleasant encounters with unknown dogs can be really tricky.

So, why are we aiming for neutrality?

A neutral dog is an absolute joy to live with. It doesn’t mean turning your dog into a robot or making a sociable dog anti-social. Instead, it’s about helping your dog understand that the things they find exciting, like other dogs or people, aren’t that exciting. It means your dog can walk calmly through the park or down the street, without launching into chaos every time they see another dog. They simply walk on by.

But what if my dog wants to play with other dogs?

This approach isn't about denying your dog fun. My dogs still get to play with dogs I know and trust. It's not about being a control freak, it's about ensuring their interactions are safe and appropriate. If something were to go wrong, I know the other owners can handle it sensibly. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case with unfamiliar dogs. Many owners don’t fully understand their dog’s body language or don’t have a reliable recall, and that can lead to some really unpleasant experiences.

My goal is always to have a dog that can walk through a park, town centre, or forest trail without feeling overwhelmed. Whether that overwhelm is from fear, frustration, or over-excitement. When you’re consistent, your dog learns that the outside world doesn’t need their constant attention. The result? A calm, confident dog who can just enjoy being a dog.

Neutrality Classes: Real-Life Practice, the Right Way

Our neutrality classes are designed to give you that essential real-world practice, in a controlled, supportive environment. There are no free-for-alls. Instead, we focus on proofing against the things we all face in daily life.

We cover a wide range of skills, including:

• Close passes with other dogs

• Refusing food from strangers

• Dogs approaching from behind

• Recalling around distractions

• Settle training (perfect for beer garden season!)

You’ll never feel alone in these sessions. We’re always on hand to make sure every dog benefits, no matter what their individual challenges are. The class size is kept small so you get both a variety of dogs to work around and plenty of personal guidance.

Most sessions are held at our secure field, but for dogs who are ready, we also venture into the real world to train around unpredictable distractions.

Why It Matters

A neutral dog has a bigger, better world to enjoy. They're easier to take out, safer in busy environments, and happier overall. For all those reasons, neutrality will always remain one of our top priorities in training.

👉 Book your space in our next Neutrality Class