What’s New at Derby House Dogs

Written By Christopher Barr

Hi - It’s Chris here! 👋

September Update

This is the first message since Derby House Dogs opened for its first full weekend 4 weeks ago and we’d just like to say: thank you so much for supporting us!

Some updates will come from me, sometimes from Emily, but always with news, plans, and a bit of dog training chat you might find useful.

In the last 4 weeks we’ve:

  • Welcomed over 100 dogs through our brand new gates

  • Run 160 sessions covering everything from free running field hire, through puppy training classes, right down to individual 1:1 dog behaviour sessions

  • Had plenty of you peruse the shop (with a few cheeky thefts along the way!) and kept busy re-stocking with your suggestions

I’m not sure how frequently we’ll send these newsletters. The aim is that they’re not spam – just interesting, useful, and worth a read.

Our Training Approach

We’re a modern, science-based dog training venue. In practice, that means:

  • Using positive reinforcement – rewarding behaviours we want to see

  • Avoiding aversive or punishing methods

  • Always happy to explain why we train this way and why it works

We know this area can feel a bit “grey” if you’re not actively following training methods, so if you’d like to know more about our approach, please do get in touch.

Equipment Rules at Derby House Dogs

For safety and welfare, some equipment is not permitted on-site:

  • Flexible / Extendable Leads – not allowed as they’re an insurance liability (even for field hire)

  • Equipment designed to tighten or cause pain – e.g. slip leads, choke chains, prong collars, or e-collars. If you arrive with your dog on this kit, we’ll ask you to switch before continuing a session.

What’s Next?

We’ve got lots planned for the coming months – new dog training workshops, group classes, and events to get involved in.

In the meantime:

Thanks again for being part of the Derby House Dogs journey. We look forward to seeing you and your dogs soon!

Best wishes,
Chris & Emily
Derby House Dogs

Christopher Barr