Skills and feelings
Know what kind of help your dog needs.
A dog that pulls on every cobbled hill needs a skill. A dog that panics at fireworks or barks itself hoarse on the stairs needs help with feelings. Edinburgh has plenty of both kinds of dog, and sorting out which one yours is makes every conversation with a trainer shorter and cheaper.
Choose your path
Six kinds of help, priced plainly.
Each guide sets out what the training involves, a general price in pounds and the questions worth asking before you book.
Private Lessons
A private lesson is one trainer, one dog and one owner working on the cues and habits you choose, usually for 45 to 60 minutes.
£40 to £80 per lessonRead the guide →
Puppy Courses
A puppy course is a short run of one-to-one lessons covering the basics: toilet training, a name response, sit, down, a happy recall, gentle handling and settling alone.
£120 to £250 per course of lessonsRead the guide →
In-Home Visits
Some problems only show up in one place: the front door, the stairs, the kitchen.
£50 to £100 per visitRead the guide →
Obedience Programmes
An obedience programme strings several lessons together so skills build in order: attention, sit and down, lead walking, stay, recall and then distractions.
£300 to £800 per programmeRead the guide →
Behaviour Help
Behaviour work deals with what a dog feels, such as fear of strangers, frustration on the lead or distress when left alone, rather than only what it does.
£250 to £700 per behaviour planRead the guide →
Board and Train
During a board and train, a trainer works with your dog every day for a couple of weeks, then teaches you to keep the skills going.
£1,200 to £2,000+ for a 2 to 3 week stayRead the guide →General estimates in pounds. The trainer you choose sets the final price.
About these pages
A guide, not a sales pitch.
Dog training in Scotland follows the same ideas as anywhere else, but the access rules, the weather and the housing are different. This guide sets that out for Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Each page ties the advice to local conditions such as tenements, shoreline, hills and farmland. The details come from public sources, not paid listings.
About this guide →Calm, steady training
Quiet progress, one cue at a time.
Training is mostly patient repetition. These frames show dogs settled and paying attention.
Service areas
The capital and the places around it.
Tenement stairs, coastal paths, new towns and hill farms all ask different things of a dog. These pages say what changes.
How it works
Read, ask, compare.
- 01
Read the guides
Each page explains what a kind of training involves and what shapes its cost.
- 02
Write your questions
Use the lists here so you can put clear questions to any trainer.
- 03
Compare in writing
Line up length, content and total price before you commit.
Trainer availability
Where things stand just now.
We are lining up professional trainers in Edinburgh, and nobody is taking requests from this site yet. Use the guides to work out what suits your dog while you wait.
- No form, so nothing to send or wait for
- Prices shown in pounds throughout
- Notes on eight places across the Lothians
How to use these pages
Local detail. Plain limits.
From K9PN. See the Disclaimer for details.
Good questions
Before you begin.
How much does dog training cost around Edinburgh?
General estimates run from about £40 to £80 for a private lesson, £120 to £250 for a puppy course and £300 to £800 for an obedience programme. Behaviour plans are about £250 to £700, and board and train stays £1,200 to £2,000 or more.
What does the Scottish Outdoor Access Code expect of dog owners?
Dogs should be under proper control, on a short lead or kept well away from livestock, and kept clear of ground-nesting birds in the breeding season. Read the Code and any local signs.
Does Scotland have its own dog laws?
Yes. The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 lets councils issue dog control notices, and dog fouling and microchipping rules apply too. Check the Scottish Government and your council for current details.
Can this site connect me with a trainer?
Not at present. There is no form and requests are closed.
How can I help a dog that fears fireworks?
Gradual sound training, a safe den and calm routines can help. Speak to your vet if the fear is severe.
Can I train a dog in a tenement flat?
Yes. Mat settling, calm greetings and a wait at the door all work well, and stair manners matter to your neighbours.