The Urban Dog

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The Urban Dog

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Exciting challenges, creative solutions. Pick up serious skills while having a great time!

Workshops
*Scent Work
* Dog Sports Foundations
* Utilise Toy Play
* Cooperative Care (for owners & veterinary staff)
*Urban Freestyle

📍 Message me to book Available courses: https://bookwhen.com/theurbandog
For more info: [email protected]

12/10/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who joined the last Devon weekend. It was lovely to see you all and I always come away from these weekends so inspired ❤

The final Devon Training Weekend of the year is now open for booking (6-8th November)!

*Friday (Cullompton, outdoor)
Pop-up scent (gun oil) workshop

*Saturday (Silverton, indoor)
Urban Freestyle & Toy Play Workshop

*Sunday (Kentisbeare, indoor)
Advanced Search Challenges

Also coming up this month: the Beginner scent detection hybrid group is starting, with an option on this weekend for an in-person practice session.

There may also be one 1-2-1 space available this weekend, so get in touch if you're interested.

Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and welcoming some new ones before we wrap up the year!

Book here:
https://bookwhen.com/theurbandog

30/09/2026

Only a few days and I see you in Devon :).

If you haven't yet, it's time to sn**ch the last spaces!
Message me if you aren't sure a session is a right fit for you.

https://bookwhen.com/theurbandog

One of my favourite group pics 😍.

22/09/2026

Are Urban Freestyle beginner sessions suitable for puppies?

I've been asked this a few times lately, and the answer is most definitely yes!

Training in the real world is essential for developing life skills, and if sports are in your future, it's an absolute necessity.

What do we do?

Depending on the group, we work on a variety of obstacles, tricks, and obedience elements. It's great fun, but we're also building important skills such as:

✅ Focus and engagement with you
✅ Working around distractions
✅ Confidence in different environments
✅ Real-life training skills

We may move between different areas during a session, giving dogs the opportunity to be able to train in multiple locations. This is such an invaluable experience for young dogs.

So, if your puppy can do a couple of basic exercises and is happy to take treats or play with a toy in different environments, you're very welcome to join us. 😊

And if your puppy already knows a bit more, don't worry. I'll give you exercises that are appropriate for their level, so everyone can progress at their own pace.

If you know someone with a puppy who might benefit, please share this with them. And if that someone is you, why not join us on Saturday 3rd October in Exeter? We'd love to see you there!

https://bookwhen.com/theurbandog

21/09/2026

Update: taken now. I have one last 1-2-1 spot for the Oct 3-4th weekend in Devon (I'm there from the 2nd of October Friday pm), please message me for that asap.

Also, we have a fun pop-up scent session on Friday the 2nd in Cullompton with spaces, come have a go!

We are doing another 'mystery searching' on Sunday the 4th, I hope you are ready for my story :D.

Book here:
https://bookwhen.com/theurbandog

18/09/2026

Hybrid Detection Foundation

I'm starting a new format for beginners who want to learn the foundations of detection training (scent work).
We'll be using Kong as a starter odour and a reliable sit & stare indication - as in the video below.

This hybrid format allows for better progression with ongoing feedback, challenges & accountability between in-person sessions.

Includes:
-WhatsApp group with weekly homework, video demonstrations & challenges
-Opportunity to ask training questions as they arise & share clips for feedback
-discounted in person training rates for group or 1-2-1 sessions

This program is designed for teams who are happy to take their time to build a strong indication and happy to do homework (around 3x5mins per week on most weeks in the first two month, later you have more flexibility).

Progression to other detection odours are included.

If this is something you'd be interested in, or have any questions, please let me know and I share more details!

Message here, or [email protected]

13/09/2026

A huge thank you to all the teams who came to our latest Devon weekend!

I'm a little late with this thank you as the dogs and I travelled straight from Devon to a PhD week in Cardiff, but I couldn't let it go unsaid...

I'm so bloody proud of you all! ❤️

We always do a lot of real-life training, and this weekend was no exception. In the photo, you can see Hannah and Griffin playing with full focus while a huge group of people walks by. Add sheep behind the fence, families, dogs, and plenty of other distractions, and you'll know why this is such a big win, especially if you have an adolescent dog.

Our UF groups trained beautifully in a fun but challenging environment while working through the Core Elements and beyond.
Next up is our Exeter town tour, which is always full of surprises... and paid extras 😜.

Our Friday night Cullompton pop-up finished just as football started nearby, so the dogs ended their searches with that extra distraction. We had a slightly trickier higher hide and larger areas to clear, but the dogs absolutely smashed it. Join us next time for some cool area searches!

The toy workshop on Saturday afternoon was an absolute blast. I think the dogs surprised their owners with just how cool they really are! If you missed it, definitely come along next time.

I also had the pleasure of working with several 1-2-1 teams. We made plans, made progress, and had plenty of fun along the way.

And my Sunday evening search teams never disappoint. We worked through three searches: • First the team moved between two seqrch areas with handler guidance and challeneged with some pooling odour. • One featured some sneaky hide placements. • One was a large outdoor area to clear.

Thank you all for making it such a fantastic weekend. I hope to see you again on the 3rd-4th October!

https://bookwhen.com/theurbandog

04/09/2026

Can't wait to see you all this weekend!

I have some last minute detection & toy play workshop spaces, join us, the weather will be dog friendly 😁.

https://bookwhen.com/theurbandog

27/08/2026

Utilise Toy Play workshop
5th of September (and 3rd of October)

I've been getting a lot of enquiries about whether this workshop is suitable for puppies, and the answer is most definitely yes!

It's amazing what you can achieve with reinforcement when you start early and have a great plan. So yes, bring along your puppies and young dogs.

I'm also here to help with problem-solving and to build exercises like this one:
Calling off a chase at the very last second.

If you've met P, you'll know how much he loves toys. He loves chasing them and grabbing them. Yet this exercise is fairly easy for him because of the building blocks we've put in place.

This is a fantastic mental and physical challenge in its own, and it's also a stepping stone towards a sport exercise. But you can probably imagine the confidence I have in being able to call him in everyday life.

Book here:
https://bookwhen.com/theurbandog

18/08/2026

Back by popular demand: Toy Play Workshop

5th of September, 2pm at Silverton, Dogs Matter barn
https://bookwhen.com/theurbandog/e/ev-sk2xf-20260905140000

There's more to toy play than you might think!

As a reward-based trainer involved in dog sports, toy play is a topic I've immersed myself. I truly believe there's so much untapped potential when it comes to playing with toys.

Building great toy play starts with both you and your dog having fun. But it can also help dogs learn to think clearly in high arousal, reduce conflict around rewards, and you can teach complex skills that can be applied in everyday life and sport.

Whether you're looking for a more effective reward for your chosen sport or simply want to strengthen your relationship with your dog, the skills you'll build in this workshop have practical applications everywhere.
For some dogs, more advanced toy play provides the outlet they've been missing. Without relying on endless repetition or purely physical exercise, you can create the best party your dog has ever been to.

Different breeds often enjoy different aspects of play. Whether you have a gundog, herding breed, terrier, shepherd, or crossbreed, I'll have plenty of ideas and exercises for you to explore.

If your dog isn't interested in toys or has resource guarding tendencies, please get in touch before booking to discuss whether this workshop is the right fit for you and your dog: [email protected]

This workshop includes individual coaching and attention for each team. Dogs will be rotated throughout the session and will need to wait comfortably in your vehicle between turns.

A second Toy Play workshop will be held on 3rd October. Attend either workshop on its own or join both to build your skills further.

Ready to unlock the power of play?

06/08/2026

Here are some of the teams (my phone battery died for the second group) working through challenges on the Advanced Scent from last weekend.

This area is busy, open and gave us a good variety of vehicles, and all sorts of piles to work with.

One of the hides were on these metal sheets, just under the top layer. The odour was blown to the tractor, so the dogs had to investgate, then dismiss that and move on. They showed signs early that it's a bit higher hide, and then found a way to indicate :).

Some of the teams also got the mission of clearing the area, so they didn't know the number of targets hidden. The handlers were way more thorough 😁.

Well done to all the scent teams working ❤️

Address

Exeter

Opening Hours

1pm - 6pm

Telephone

+447583553515

Website

http://theurbandog.co.uk/, https://bookwhen.com/theurbandog

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