The 5 best dog trainers in Newcastle who can sort even the trickiest pups
People love saying a dog is a man’s best friend, and most of the time that’s true. But if you’ve ever dealt with a dog that thinks “sit” is just a suggestion, you’ll know it’s not always that simple.
The thing is, dogs don’t misbehave just for fun. There’s always something going on underneath it. It would make life a lot easier if they could just talk it out with us, but since that’s not an option, that’s where the experts come in.
Trainers know how to build a connection between owners and their pups so things actually start clicking. That’s what compelled us to look for the best dog trainers in Newcastle!
Keep reading to meet the ones who’ve tamed dogs into very well-behaved good boys and girls.
How much does dog training cost in Newcastle?
Dog training in Newcastle generally ranges from £50 to £90 per hour for private 1-to-1 sessions, while intensive behaviour modification packages can start from £350.
1. Smart Dogs Training
Address: 20 Sheldon Grove, Gosforth
Business hours: Monday to Sunday: Open 24 hours
A lot of people don’t understand that dogs you can’t control don’t mean they’re automatically bad. Sometimes, they’re just not understood, and that’s exactly what Smart Dogs Training is for.
Instead of polishing obedience, their team tries to figure out why your dog misbehaves in the first place through their free 15-minute consultation.
Here, even the owner during dog interaction is also assessed. They make it known that perhaps it’s not about the dog anymore, but how the owners handle their furry pals.
That’s why we appreciate that the team makes sure owners understand how to continue training at home. A trainer who doesn’t transfer knowledge back to the owner is basically renting out good behaviour temporarily.
We also loved their flexibility. They offer in-home sessions, outdoor training, online coaching, or a mix.
Response times (especially in online coaching) are sometimes delayed, though. It can be annoying during active training when quick feedback is needed.
Rosie’s loose lead walking has greatly improved
“Our 5 year old Lab/Staffie rescue dog Rosie has greatly benefited from the training sessions with Milan (and Konnor at the start)…as have I! I’m learning how to understand Rosie’s behavior on walks and respond accordingly. As a result, Rosie’s loose lead walking has greatly improved and she’s less reactive to other dogs. We’re currently working on Rosie’s behavior as she gets closer to other dogs with the aim of her being calm and neutral around them. In going through this process I’m learning that time & patience is important. The in-person training sessions are excellent and the daily WhatsApp messaging provides great followup support…”
Christine Wade, Google review
I can now walk him on a lead without being anxious
“My little 6 month old Bleu is like a different puppy in so many positive ways! I can walk him on a lead without being anxious and he now knows how to settle and be more obedient generally. Milan and Konner are highly professional, talented people and they’ve made me so proud of my little pup! He’s smashed his training due to these guys being top of their game. They are like magic…the level of training is top class and I would recommend anyone who needs any help to ask these guys! Konner has been so informative and helpful and I can’t thank Them enough.”
Angela Norton, Google review
2. The Newcastle Dog Trainer
Address: Daverson Hall, Elmwood Ave
Phone: +44 789 395 0688
Business hours: Monday to Sunday: Open 24 hours
The Newcastle Dog Trainer deliberately leans into the harder cases. So if your dog has issues with anxiety, reactivity, and fear, they can definitely help with that.
We saw their approach in client feedback. One owner worked with Denise, who quickly identified anxiety in her reactive dog and even linked it to early trauma.
In another case, they also didn’t just look at one dog in isolation but picked up on the dynamics between two dogs in the same household. We loved how thorough they are at reading the situation, and not just following a script.
At the same time, they don’t ignore the basics. They just approach them differently. Their puppy training gets positive feedback, but even there, the emphasis is on building confidence and preventing future behavioural issues.
It’s also useful that they give access to ongoing support, like training dashboards, videos, and a Facebook group.
For those who just want a quick polish on manners, though, they might feel like overkill (and expensive). Their packages creep into the £1,000 range, reflecting the intensive work they put in.
He is very knowledgeable and great at what he does
“We have just completed the puppy training classes course with Jake. He is very knowledgeable and great at what he does. Our Cockapoo puppy Tallulah was 6 months old when we started these classes and we have seen her confidence grow over the weeks. She has learned important skills like loose leash walking, heal, middle and most importantly recall. I highly recommend this course to anyone with a puppy.”
Cheryl Jones, Google review
Would recommend for all new dog owners
“Great 6 week program to help give your puppy a really good start in learning commands, jaake was very knowledgable and helpful always ready to answer questions. Gave each group individual time when trying out the new commands to help support them, Would recommend for all new dog owners.”
Joann Proud, Google review
3. Ruff Diamond Dog Training
Address: Community Centre, Monkchester Rd, Walker
Phone: +44 787 942 2131
Business hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 9 AM – 8 PM
- Friday: 9 AM – 9 PM
- Saturday: 9 AM – 6 PM
- Sunday: 9 AM – 5 PM
We suggest Ruff Dog Training for building long-term habits and strong owner-dog relationships. If you’re willing to put in the work with your dog, it’s a good choice!
Cris, who has over 20 years of professional experience, leads it. Even though you can expect solid technical skills from him, he’s also kind and non-judgmental. He meets people where they are without making them feel like they’ve already failed.
He keeps everything intentionally small-scale. Group classes are capped at four dogs, which might not sound revolutionary until you compare it to the usual chaos of larger puppy classes.
Training-wise, it’s firmly reward-based. It’s structured, with clear progressions from puppy basics to adolescent behaviour and even rescue dog integration.
Between the in-person sessions, video feedback, and even a private Facebook group, there’s a sense that you’re not just dropped after the class ends. One owner even said the provided online course helped reinforce what he’d already learned.
Just remember that he’s high in demand, so we suggest booking him early.
There are only positive approaches to training which is great
“My puppy Harry has just completed his KC Good Citizen Foundation Course with Cris at Ruff Diamond. Although I’ve had lots of dogs, this is my first puppy and I’ve learned so many great techniques, skills and approaches. I also have the online video course which I find invaluable to help cement my learning with the visual prompts and examples. Sometimes I don’t get it right at first , but with the support i have received we have come a long way. There’s only positive approaches to training which is great. Harry knows that Cris ‘speaks puppy dog’ and he’s pleased that I’m learning! Next step – the Junior Course. Thank you Ruff Diamond!”
Pamela Roberts, Google review
We really appreciate all the fab advice and support
“We really appreciate all the fab advice and support Cris gave during the puppy course. My aim in attending was to learn how to do loose lead walks and honestly the progress we have made with this has been great 👍🏻 Thank you Cris. Will continue to follow on social media and keep an eye on future courses.”
Nathan Catherall, Google review
4. Barking Mad Dog Training
Address: Stone Lodge Cottage, Newbiggin Ln
Phone: +44 793 972 1513
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 9 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: 9 AM – 9 PM
If you get the sense that a lot of dog trainers lean either too rigid or too fluffy, Barking Mad Dog Training seems to sit comfortably in the middle.
From what we’ve seen, they have a flexible setup. You’ve got group classes for puppies, one-to-one sessions for more specific issues, and online coaching for convenience.
We appreciate that because not every dog learns the same way. And based on what clients have to say, they don’t force you into one lane too.
A big part of their training is positive reinforcement. They don’t use harsh corrections, which is great for those who want a calmer relationship with their dogs.
From what we’ve heard, they usually start with online coaching. Sometimes they would even send daily videos, then slowly progress to in-person sessions. For most people, this approach led to noticeable improvements quickly.
That said, pricing does come up as a slight downside. It’s on the higher end, so this isn’t for those with a limited budget.
I would thoroughly recommend her to anyone looking for a dog trainer
“I recently got a new puppy and was in two minds about hiring a professional trainer, but I have to say that choosing Barking Mad was the best decision I made. Donna is such a lovely woman who is very responsive to mine and my pup’s needs, gives brilliant feedback and has tailored the training to what I want out of my dog. I would thoroughly recommend her to anyone looking for a dog trainer.”
Jo Faichen, Google review
Donna is the most friendly and patient trainer
“We are so please we found Donna to help us with the training of our puppy. We had booked the puppy 4 week course and some 121 sessions along side to help in some areas in a natural environment. Donna is the most friendly and patient trainer who really creates a relaxed atmosphere to get the best results from you and your dog. Will definitely be training with Donna again in the future and can 100% recommend her services.”
James Drinkeld, Google review
5. The South Shields Dog Trainer
Address: Charles Taylor Foundry, Unit 2 Former, Temple Town, South Shields
Phone: +44 789 395 0688
Business hours: Monday to Sunday: Open 24 hours
Everyone who trains using games would definitely have fun and be motivated to keep learning, whether that’s with people or dogs. At South Shields Dog Trainer, that’s how they do it.
The play-centred method taps into how dogs actually learn. It’s through engagement, reward, and curiosity.
Owners said that compared to rigid drill-style training like the ones they’ve tried before, this method helped their dogs build stronger long-term behaviour changes.
What also stood out to us was how often owners mentioned progress happening outside the sessions. That’s usually the real test.
Nathan, who leads the training, often came up when we started talking to clients. People said he’s very patient, and he adapts his approach depending on the dog.
That said, group classes seem to fill up quickly. For some people, that’s just a minor inconvenience. For those who want immediate training, it could be a dealbreaker.
Patient, knowledgeable, and really understands dogs
“Nathan has been fantastic training Athena. He’s patient, knowledgeable, and really understands dogs. The progress she’s made is amazing and his guidance has been easy to follow at home. Athena is much more confident, and happier. Highly recommend Nathan!”
Gabby Guy, Google review
Very friendly but professional approach
“Nathan has a very friendly but professional approach.Nathan immediately established a good relationship with our puppy and through careful observations of his behaviour he was able to offer us very helpful advice . Over a number of sessions Nathan’s advice and training proved very beneficial. We are now continuing with the recommendations that were made. Rory has responded very well to the training sessions that were tailor made for him. I would recommended Nathan to anyone looking for help with their dogs behaviour.”
Susan Smith, Google review