Honestly? For most dogs and most owners, the best answer is both and we'll explain why below. But if you're weighing up whether to go it alone or book onto a course, the right choice depends on your dog, your confidence level, and what you're trying to achieve. There's no single correct answer that suits everyone, and we'd rather help you work out what's right for your situation than push you towards a class you don't need.
Quick Answer
You can absolutely train a lot of the basics yourself sit, down, recall, loose lead walking with patience, consistency and reward-based methods, and many owners do this very successfully.
Training classes add real value on top of that: structured guidance, socialisation with other dogs, and an experienced eye to spot and correct small mistakes before they become habits.
For puppies, classes are particularly worthwhile for safe, controlled socialisation.
For specific behaviour problems (reactivity, aggression, severe anxiety), a qualified behaviourist isn't optional extra polish it's genuinely the safer and more effective route.
Most owners get the best results from a mix of the two: DIY practice at home, topped up with occasional professional input.
Can I Train My Dog Myself?
Yes, and you probably already are, whether you realise it or not. Every time you feed your dog, let them out, or respond to their behaviour, you're teaching them something. Formal training is simply doing that on purpose, with clear goals.
DIY training works well for:
- Basic obedience cues (sit, down, stay, leave it)
- Everyday house manners (not jumping up, waiting at doors, settling calmly)
- Recall in low-distraction environments, gradually built up
- Loose lead walking
The RSPCA notes that successful training is a rewarding part of dog ownership and a great way to bond with your dog, and their step-by-step guides for teaching things like sit, lie down and stay are designed for owners to use at home. If you're consistent, patient, and reward-based in your approach, there's no reason you can't teach a huge amount yourself.
What DIY training requires from you
- Little and often — five to ten minutes, a few times a day — works far better than one long weekly session.
- Everyone in the household needs to use the same words and the same rules.
- Progress isn't always linear, and that's completely normal.
- Willingness to learn. Reading up on reward-based methods (rather than outdated dominance-based advice) makes a real difference to results.
When Are Training Classes Worth It?
Classes earn their cost in a few specific ways that are genuinely hard to replicate alone:
Socialisation, especially for puppies
This is probably the single biggest reason to consider puppy classes. Puppies have a key socialisation window (roughly up to 16 weeks) where positive exposure to other dogs, people, and everyday sights and sounds shapes their confidence for life. A well-run puppy class gives this in a safe, controlled, vaccinated environment. Far more reliably than random encounters at the park.
An experienced eye on your technique
A trainer can spot small timing errors, unclear body language, or inconsistent cues that you might not notice yourself, and these little things often explain why progress stalls.
Structure and accountability
Booking a weekly slot genuinely helps some owners stay consistent, in the same way a gym class can be easier to stick to than a home workout plan.
Group distraction practice
Training around other dogs and people in a controlled setting is a stepping stone between "training in my kitchen" and "training in a busy park" a gap that trips a lot of DIY training up.
Specific behaviour problems
This is where classes tip from "nice to have" into "genuinely important." Reactivity, aggression, severe fear, and separation-related distress need an experienced, qualified behaviourist not general group classes, and not guesswork. Getting this wrong can make things worse and, in some cases, compromise safety.
Common Mistakes to Avoid With Either Approach
| Mistake | Why it happens | What helps instead |
| Assuming a class alone will "fix" a dog | Progress needs practice between sessions too | Treat classes as guided homework, not a one-off cure |
| Giving up on DIY training after a few days | Results take longer than expected | Stick with short, consistent sessions over weeks, not days |
| Choosing a trainer based on price alone | Cheapest isn't always best value | Check qualifications and methods, not just cost |
| Using aversive equipment or advice found online | Some older training advice relies on correction and dominance | Stick to reward-based methods recommended by vets and welfare charities |
| Skipping socialisation because "training classes are for later" | Puppy socialisation window closes quickly | Start puppy classes as early as your vet advises, based on vaccination status |
Myths and Misconceptions
"Only badly behaved dogs need classes."
Not true at all. Many owners attend classes purely for socialisation, confidence-building, or simply to strengthen an already good relationship. It's not a sign of a "problem dog."
"A good trainer can fix any dog in one session."
Reputable trainers will usually recommend a course of several sessions plus practice at home, rather than promising an instant fix. Be cautious of anyone guaranteeing overnight results.
"DIY training isn't as good as professional training."
Plenty of well-behaved, happy dogs are trained entirely by their owners at home. Classes add value, but they're not the only path to a well-mannered dog.
"If my dog is disobedient, I need a firmer hand, not more patience."
Firmness in the sense of raised voices or physical correction tends to create anxiety rather than clarity. Most obedience issues improve with clearer, more consistent, reward-based training. Not sternness.
Why Won't My Dog Listen on Walks?
Walks are one of the hardest environments for a dog to concentrate in new smells, other dogs, wildlife, joggers, traffic. Recall and loose-lead walking need to be built up gradually, starting somewhere low-distraction like your garden or a quiet street, before testing them in busier places.
A few practical tips:
- Start in a safe, enclosed space. A secure garden or a fully fenced field hire session is ideal for practising recall without the risk of your dog running off.
- Make yourself more interesting than the environment. High-value treats (think chicken or cheese, not everyday kibble) and an excited, upbeat voice go a long way.
- Don't wait for a crisis to call your dog. Practise recall regularly when there's no urgency, so it's a well-rehearsed habit before you need it in a tricky moment.
- Use a longline while training outdoors. A training lead gives your dog freedom to explore while still allowing you to guide them back safely genuinely useful during the recall-building stage, and something our in-store team is always happy to help you choose the right length and material for.
If your dog is reactive, easily overwhelmed, or has a strong prey drive, it's worth reading our guide to loose lead walking and considering a session with a qualified, force-free trainer or behaviourist rather than relying on trial and error.
How to Train a Dog to Listen: The Basics That Actually Work
Start with positive reinforcement, not correction
The RSPCA is clear that successful training is a rewarding part of dog ownership and a lovely way to bond, with all training being reward based. Rather than punishing what you don't want, reward what you do want. It's more effective and doesn't risk your dog's trust in you.
Keep sessions short and positive
Five to ten minutes, a few times a day, beats one long, frustrating session. Dogs (especially puppies) have short attention spans, and short sessions keep training feeling like a game rather than a chore.
Get the timing right
Rewards need to arrive within a second or two of the behaviour you want, or your dog may not connect the two. A clicker or a consistent marker word ("yes!") can help bridge that gap precisely.
Reward generously to start with
Early on, reward every single correct response. You can reduce the frequency of treats later, once the behaviour is reliable but cutting back too soon is one of the most common reasons training seems to "stop working."
Be consistent with words and expectations
Pick one word per behaviour and stick to it the whole household included. "Down" shouldn't mean lie down one day and get off the sofa the next.
End on a win
Finish each session with something your dog already knows well, so training always ends on a success and a reward.
Setup and Equipment: What Actually Helps
You don't need a cupboard full of gadgets to train a well-behaved dog but a few things genuinely make the process easier:
| Item | Why it helps | Do you need it? |
|---|---|---|
| Soft, pea-sized training treats | High reward value without overfeeding | Genuinely useful, especially early on |
| Treat pouch | Keeps rewards accessible for good timing | Nice to have, not essential |
| Training lead / longline (2–10m) | Safe freedom for recall practice | Very useful for outdoor recall work |
| Clicker | Precise, consistent marker for timing | Optional — a marker word works too |
| Front-clip harness | Reduces pulling without discomfort | Useful if lead manners are a work in progress |
Practical Tips to Take Away Today
- Start basic obedience at home. You'll likely make faster progress than you expect.
- Book a puppy class primarily for socialisation, even if you're confident training the basics yourself.
- Treat classes as guided practice, not a substitute for training between sessions.
- Choose a trainer using reward-based methods and a recognised qualification.
- Don't wait to seek behaviourist support if you're seeing signs of fear or aggression. Earlier input tends to mean an easier fix.
- Combine both approaches where you can. DIY consistency plus occasional expert input tends to get the best results.
How long does it typically take to improve a dog's listening skills?
Most owners see noticeable improvement within two to four weeks of consistent, short daily sessions, though full reliability around big distractions (other dogs, wildlife) can take several months. Older dogs and those with a longer history of inconsistent training may take a little longer, but progress is achievable at any age.
Can certain breeds be harder to train, or is it always about the owner's approach?
Breed does play a role — working and herding breeds are often bred to respond quickly to commands, while independent or scent-driven breeds (like many hounds) can take longer to engage with obedience training. That said, technique and consistency generally matter more than breed for day-to-day listening.
Is it normal for a rescue dog to take longer to listen?
Yes. Rescue dogs are adjusting to a new environment, new routines, and sometimes an unknown training history, so patience is especially important. Building trust and a settled routine often needs to come before formal obedience training really takes hold.
Will neutering or spaying affect how well my dog listens?
Neutering can sometimes reduce hormone-driven distractions such as roaming or reactivity to other dogs in season, which may indirectly help focus. It's not a training shortcut on its own, though, and shouldn't be relied on to fix obedience issues by itself — speak to your vet about what's right for your individual dog.
Should I use the same commands in another language if I got my dog from abroad or a rescue?
Not necessarily. dogs don't understand language in the way we do; they learn to associate a sound with an outcome. You can retrain any dog on new English commands from scratch, regardless of what (if anything) they were taught before, using the same reward-based approach.
Conclusion
If your dog "won't listen," the encouraging news is that this is almost always fixable with patience, the right approach, and a bit of consistency not a sign of a badly behaved dog or a lost cause. Start small: pick one command, practise it in short daily sessions with generous rewards, and gradually build up distractions as your dog succeeds.
If you'd like a hand getting started, pop into your local Smith's Pets our team is always happy to talk through training treats, longlines, and harnesses suited to your dog, and point you towards trusted local trainers if you'd like extra support.
You can also browse our dog training and behaviour categories for related guides.
