First
Steps Together
Group puppy class
Classes held on Wednesday evenings
in The Oast Rainham, Kent
Take advantage of our special offer:
Book Puppy & Continuation Class with 15% off!
From overwhelmed
to confident puppy owner
in 6 weeks
You brought home a new bundle of fur and joy - and now what?
There's so much information out there,
but where to start and who to trust?
So much content, and with it so much contradiction...
All you want to do is what's best for your puppy and your family, but you can't help feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed...
You've come to the right place!
First Steps Together is a foundation puppy class that I designed to help people just like you. In fact, it is the class that I wish existed when I got my puppy!
It will help you to:
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Be clear about your next steps by providing just enough information and in the right order to help you navigate first weeks with your puppy.
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Feel at peace that you're doing the best for your pup, as all 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?
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All basic puppy class content - sit, down, stay, leave, foundations of lead walk and recall - build strong foundational skills for a happy life with your pooch
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Learn to calmly resolve common puppy struggles (toilet training, nipping and biting, stealing objects) - get proven strategies that will help you address these challenges once and for all
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Understand how dogs learn - unlock life-long success in whatever training or dog sport you decide to take on next
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Learn to read dog body language - 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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Teach your dog the skill of calmness - 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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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
Upcoming courses
(6 weeks duration)
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Wed 6th May - 6:30pm (booked out)
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Wed 3rd June - 5:30pm (spaces available)
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Wed 17th June - 6:30 pm (spaces available)
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Wed 15th July - 5:30 pm (spaces available)
* If you'd like even more personalised support I also offer 1-2-1 puppy package - for more info email dogsgobanana@gmail.com .
this class is perfect for:
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Puppy owners who 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 the full vaccination set
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Puppies up to 6 months of 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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Puppies that have not been fully vaccinated yet
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Banned breeds
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Puppies that are older than 6 months*
* Check our Growing Together continuation group class, or get in touch to discuss other 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
Puppies
What age should my puppy be for training?
Your puppy is learning from the moment it's born - so better be ready to support them on the journey!
The First Steps Together class is suitable for puppies from 12 weeks (or as soon as they have completed their vaccinations) to 6 months. For older pups and dogs above 6 months check out our Growing Together advanced class.
I have two puppies, can I join with both?
Multiple puppies from the same house-hold are welcome, but each has to have a handler. One person cannot train multiple dogs at the same time, as this would be quite challenging for the handler, the dogs, and could disrupt the class for your fellow students.
My puppy 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?
Yes! Firstly, your dog will have plenty of opportunities to interact with other puppies 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 about socialisation - and also habituation - in simple terms allowing 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. 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.