History

• Pauline Gloyens has loved dogs since her childhood, when her first dog, a Cairn terrier, shared her family's Paris apartment. Gloyens moved from France to England at the age of 22, and after several trainers tried unsuccessfully to tame her Labrador retriever, Lucy, Gloyens decided to try the do-it-yourself method. She got a job at a large training facility, eventually passing her Association of Pet Dog Trainers exam and opening Surrey Dog Training in 2003. The APDT UK promotes "kind, fair and effective training," a philosophy Gloyens embraces as well.
  
  

Location

• Surrey Dog Training is located in the southeastern England county of Surrey and is near the towns of Guildford and Cranleigh. The facility also covers Woking, Godalming, Farnham, Haselmere and the surrounding areas, according to its website, www.surreydogtraining.co.uk. All training is done outdoors in Shamley Green, near Guildford. Occasionally, trainers also will visit an owner's home for a pre-vaccination puppy visit or a "prepare for your puppy" training class.
  
  

Classes

• Several of the organization's classes are geared toward puppies, such as the "prepare for your puppy" home visit, during which time prospective owners can get professional advice on welcoming the puppy, crate and house training, and preventing destructive behaviors. Pre-vaccination visits focus on puppy behaviors such as chewing and play biting. Once the puppy has settled into its new home and gotten its vaccinations, Surrey Dog Training offers starter classes. These classes begin teaching puppies ages 6 months and younger basic commands such as "sit" and "stay." Older dogs with little or no training may also enroll in starter classes, and refresher courses called "improvers" are offered for graduates of the basic classes. Gloyens and her staff also teach courses in clicker training and walking with a leash.
  
  

Approach

• At Surrey Dog Training, the emphasis is on positive reinforcement. The facility's intention is to focus on a dog or puppy's strengths in order to build both its confidence and its bond with its owner. On its website's Tips page, Surrey Dog Training advises praising good behaviors while ignoring unwanted ones. It also advocates consistency, with all family members using the same commands and following the same rules, and clarity. Getting the puppy or dog's attention before speaking a command and holding short training sessions several times a day are also key pieces to the Surrey Dog Training approach.
  
  

Time Frame

• Surrey Dog Training requires a commitment of approximately six weeks to complete the puppy and adult starter classes, as well as the training walk courses, though more walks can be scheduled if necessary or desired by owners. Classes are usually scheduled between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekdays, with Saturday classes held between 9 a.m. and noon. Clicker training and recall training courses are usually held in three, one-hour sessions, and home visits typically last about one hour.