Frequently Asked Questions
Questions People Often Ask
It’s natural to have questions before starting training with your dog. Below, you’ll find answers to some of the things people ask us most often, from what to expect at your first session to where training takes place and which service may be right for you. If your question isn’t covered, please feel free to get in touch.
Where should I start?
If you're curious about scentwork, we'd usually recommend starting with a Sniffly Starter. It's a relaxed 1:1 introduction where you and your dog can experience scentwork together and see whether it feels like the right fit.
If you're looking for support with your dog and feel dog training is what you’re looking for, or you're simply not sure what you need, we'd recommend a Natter @ Nostell. It's a chance to talk things through, understand your dog a little more clearly and work out what the most helpful next step might be.
You don't need to have the answers before you contact us. Working that out together is part of what we do.
How much do your sessions cost?
Our current prices (per session) are:
- Sniffly Starter (Initial Introduction Session): £20
- Natter @ Nostell (Initial Introduction Session): £20
- 1:1 Dog Training: £45
- 1:1 Scentwork: £45
There is no obligation to continue after your initial introduction session. We'll simply recommend what we think would be most helpful for you and your dog.
Do you offer group classes?
No. Everything we currently offer is delivered through relaxed 1:1 sessions geared to just your dog and you.
Many of the people who come to Sniffly Dogs tell us that busy classes don't suit them or their dog. Working one-to-one gives us the time and space to understand your individual dog, answer your questions and tailor each session to what you both need.
Is scentwork suitable for every dog?
Almost every dog can enjoy scentwork, some more enthusiastically than others but unless they give it a go, you’ll never know if your dog enjoys it.
Whether your dog is young or old, confident or cautious, energetic or more relaxed, scentwork can be adapted to suit the individual dog.
Some people come because their dog already loves using their nose. Others discover scentwork while looking for a different way to support their dog. Either way, we build everything around the dog in front of us.
And, we always say, if a dog could choose any activity to do, it would be scentwork.
Can you help with puppies?
Absolutely.
Some people come to us before their puppy has even arrived home because they'd like to get off to a good start. Others join us once their puppy is home and everyday life begins.
Starting early can help you build confidence, understanding and good foundations together.
Book in for a Natter @ Nostell to have a chat about learning and life with your puppy.
How many sessions will we need?
There isn't one definitive answer because every dog, every person and every situation is different.
For scentwork, we generally work towards around eight sessions to build solid foundations and help you and your dog become confident searching together. Some dogs move through that more quickly, while others benefit from taking a little longer. We simply work at the pace that's right for the dog in front of us.
Dog training is harder to predict because it depends on what you're looking for support with. Rather than asking people to commit to a long programme, we usually work in blocks of four sessions. This gives us time to understand what is going on, implement learning, make progress, review what's changing and decide together what would be most helpful next.
We'll always be honest about what we think your dog needs and won't recommend more sessions than we believe will genuinely help.
Where are you based?
Sniffly Dogs is based at The Kennels, The Nostell Estate, near Wakefield.
We welcome dogs and their people from across Wakefield, Leeds, Castleford, Pontefract, Barnsley, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Selby, Bradford and the surrounding areas of West Yorkshire.
What if you're not the right fit for us?
We'll tell you.
If we don't think we're the best people to help, we'll always be honest and, where we can, point you towards someone who is.
Helping you and your dog is more important to us than simply filling our diary.
I still have a question
That's perfectly okay.
Get in touch and ask. We'd much rather have a conversation than leave you wondering whether Sniffly Dogs is the right place for you and your dog.