Growing Together
continuation group class
Classes held on Wednesday evenings
in The Oast Rainham, Kent
Our classes are currently full -
Join our waiting list and be the first one to know when we open a new class!
Learn how to build a happy and calm life with your dog
Your puppy is growing in size and maybe also in their confidence and personality.
Or maybe you have an older dog that seem to have forgotten his puppyhood lessons...
They are more independent, and perhaps also testing boundaries. Barking at neighbour's cat, chasing birds in the park, getting really excited around other dogs and then having trouble to calm down.
And you ask yourself - is there anything that I could do to make things a little bit calmer?
The answer is YES!
Growing Together is a continuation class that I designed to help owners like you to truly embed the foundations and make them work in real life.
The course will help you to:
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Reduce craziness and frustration at home and on walks through learning more about your dog's needs and emotions.
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Teach your dog valuable life skills, and learn how to really make them stick.
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Feel at peace that you're doing the best for your dog, as all methods, games and exercises are based on the latest research, kind and ethical training methods.
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Learn in a calm and supportive environment, with small class size (max. 4 dogs) and a trainer that truly cares about your journey.
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Progress at your own pace with printable pdf materials to support your recap and training at home.
What will you learn and how will it help you?
Building on skills learnt in the Puppy Course, we will cover:
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Jumping prevention - because you wanted a dog, not a kangaroo
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Ignoring distractions - to shape a dog that wants to hang out with you, not everyone else
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Strengthening recall - so as they come back when it matters
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Polishing lead walking - becuse you should take your dog for a walk, not the other way around
We'll continue to explore and learn more about:
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How dogs learn - for a life-long success in whatever training or dog sport you decide to take on next
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Dog body language - to understand what your dog is telling you and how to clearly communicate with them, prevent common misunderstandings and reduce frustration on both ends of the lead
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How to build calmness into your daily routine - to mould a dog that is calm around others, that can handle visitors and being left alone - your future self will thank you for creating a calmer life
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Ways to boost your dog's confidence - healthy confidence can help prevent lunging, barking and other undesirable behaviours
Class information
Small class size
Max. 4 dog/human teams
A calmer environment
for you both to learn
6 lessons
45 minutes each
Allowing plenty of time for practice and your questions
Printable
recap sheets
Online access to all games and exercises covered in lessons.
Making practice at home a breeze.
Online support channel
(twice a week)
Get answers to your burning questions without having to wait for the next lesson.
You won't get these elsewhere!
Location
The Oast Rainham
Granary Close, Rainham, Gillingham ME8 7SG
this class is perfect for:
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Owners that want the best for their puppy and look forward to learning together
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Owners that want to understand their dog
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Owners that want a dog that will make good choices without being cued all the time
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Puppies that have completed our First Steps Together course, or other foundation puppy class elsewhere
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Puppies over 6 months, and older dogs (classes are grouped appropriately by age)
IT is not suitable for:
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Owners that view training as a 'tick-box exercise' - we're here to have fun along the way!
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Banned breeds
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Reactive dogs*
* Reactive dogs may need individual assistance first before being able to join group classes. Get in touch to discuss the options (dogsgobanana@gmail.com).
Hear from previous participants...
Silvie brings such a calm, reassuring presence and has an incredible ability to connect with dogs in a way that feels both gentle and effective. You can see that she truly understands them.
The training was mostly games based, which made the whole process enjoyable, the games made learning feel like play rather than hard work.
~ Laura F ~
We’ve just completed puppy training course with Silvie from Banana Dogs, and we can’t recommend her highly enough. It felt like every week built on the last, and there was always something new and fun to work on.
We are incredibly grateful for the experience, and we wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to recommend Banana dogs to anyone.
~ Craig R ~
Why work with me?
Hi, I'm Silvie Cihakova - a certified dog trainer, founder of Banana Dogs, and a proud dog parent to my awesome Cocker Spaniel Stella.
Over the last four years I've helped many dog owners to find calm in the overwhelm that dog ownership can sometimes bring.
I'm truly passionate about teaching owners to understand their dog's personality quirks and specific needs, as if ignored, they may often lead to unwanted behaviours.
I also believe that prevention is the best cure, and that is why I currently focus on puppy classes that are designed to help you become the best owner that your dog could wish for.
FAQs
dogs
What age should my dog be for training?
The Growing Together class is meant for puppies older than 6 months, and older dogs (classes are grouped appropriately by age).
For puppies, check out the First Steps Together class - it is suitable for puppies from 12 weeks (or as soon as they completed their vaccinations) to 6 months.
I have two dogs, can I join with both?
Multiple dogs from the same household are welcome, but each has to have a guardian. One person cannot train multiple dogs at the same time, as this would be quite challenging for the human, the dogs, and could disrupt the class for your fellow students.
My dog is a banned breed, can we sign up?
Currently, my insurance does not allow me to work with banned breeds.
Course
How long is the course, and how long is each lesson?
The course runs for 6 weeks, and each lesson is 45 minutes long.
Does the class cover socialisation?
(Note: Socialisation happens up to 16 weeks of your dog's life. After that we talk about habituation or desensitisation.)
But yes! Firstly, your dog will have plenty of opportunities to interact with other dogs in a calm and structured environment that will help them to learn appropriate behaviour and grow their confidence.
Secondly, you will be provided with relevant information and strategies that will teach you to help your dog to get familiar and comfortable around people, animals, noises and things that they may encounter in their life.
Why is in-person class better than online training?
In-person class will give you the opportunity to ask questions there and then, and get real time feedback on how you're applying any given training. The trainer is also available to answer any questions, not just those prescribed by the lesson plan.
The biggest benefit, however, is that your dog gets a chance to socialise with other dogs, and practice training in a more distracting environment, making it stronger and more reliable.
How long will I have access to the training materials?
The training materials will be available to you for one year from finishing the course. After that your access will be removed (unless you continue to train with us). Whilst you have access you will be able to take advantage of any new materials or revisions that will be released.
Venue
Is the venue indoors or outdoors?
The main hall is indoors, but we have also access to an outdoor area, and we will take advantage of it on warm days and for certain activities.
Where can I park?
Free parking is available at the back of the venue, and there's some street parking available, too. Alternatively, there are two paid train station car parks within 2-5 minute walk.
Is there a bathroom?
Yes, there is a bathroom right next to our hall.
Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
Yes, our hall is on the ground floor and it is wheelchair accessible.
Where can I take my dog before / after class to toilet?
Rainham Recreation Ground is less than 5 minutes from the venue.
Practical
What do I need to bring to classes?
Your dog, lots of their favourite treats, a treat pouch to keep them in, a simple lead (no extendables please), poo bags - that's it.
A water bowl will be available. There will be mats for dogs to settle on. And we also provide cleaning products in case of any toileting accidents.
Do you sell any training treats?
Yes, I carry a stock of 100% meat pâtés (various protein types to cater for any allergies), so you're covered in case you forget to bring treats, or if you simply run out.
How do I pay?
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For classes: Once you book your spot, you will be sent a payment link to pay online. Pre-payment is necessary to secure your spot in the class.
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For pâtés: Both cash and card payment options are available.
What if I have to miss a lesson?
If you are unable to join one of the classes you will still receive the cheat sheets for any games and exercises from that lesson, and so you will be able to catch up in your own time. There is no refund or replacement lesson, as our courses run back to back.