Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs help with dog training. Alex helped turn my psycho Border Collie who wanted to chase every car he saw, into a loving family pet and best friend.
Breeds we work with
Dog training for every breed
In over 15 years Alex Cooper has worked with more than 10,000 dogs, from Chihuahuas and Dachshunds to Cane Corsos and German Shepherds. Whatever you own, we have trained it before. Tell Alex about your dog in the form.
Reviews
What owners say
I came to Alex for the first time with my 13 month old Mali after spending alot of time searching for the right trainer for us. …
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I came to Alex for the first time with my 13 month old Mali after spending alot of time searching for the right trainer for us. I had been having a number of issues with getting Finn's focus at key moments such as recall and wanted to work on his engagement. Alex quickly started noting some of the issues that we were facing and gave easy to understand demonstrations of the corrections that would help us start to fix the problems. The session wasn't just good because of this, but Alex's extensive knowledge of the Belgian Malinois breed gave an amazing insight into the smaller things that were so important. I would recommend Alex to anyone having similar issues.
Amazing training. Alex is an extremely experienced and knowledgable dog trainer that always get results. I have german and belgian shepherd who are both quite a handful. Alex has taught me how to effectively work with them and how to push them on. …
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Amazing training. Alex is an extremely experienced and knowledgable dog trainer that always get results. I have german and belgian shepherd who are both quite a handful. Alex has taught me how to effectively work with them and how to push them on. We make great progress every time!
Why breed matters in dog training
Breeds were developed for jobs, and the job shapes the dog you live with. A Border Collie wants to work and gets frustrated without it. A Dachshund was bred to hunt independently underground, so recall takes patience. A Belgian Malinois has drive to spare and needs an outlet. A French Bulldog is sociable and stubborn in equal measure. None of this is an excuse for bad behaviour, but it tells us where to start and which goals come first.
Every programme at Essex Dog Trainer is planned around the individual dog, and that planning starts with the breed. The training then happens where you need it to work: at our secure training field in Roxwell, west of Chelmsford, in your home, and out on real walks.
Training options for any breed
- Residential dog training – an intensive course, typically 3 weeks, with the training handed back to you at the end. From £850p/w.
- 1-2-1 dog training – private sessions at the Chelmsford field or in your home. First 1.5-hour session £160 at our Chelmsford field, or £190 at your home.
- Puppy training – from 8 weeks old, so the breed's strengths are channelled from the start.
- Day training – a full day of obedience and socialisation with Alex, from £90/day; larger breeds join the Big Dog Club.
- Protection dog training – assessment and training for suitable dogs.
Breeds we are asked about most
- German Shepherd training
- Rottweiler training
- Doberman training
- Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) training
- Cane Corso training
- Dachshund training
- Cockapoo training
- Cocker Spaniel training
- French Bulldog training
- Labrador Retriever training
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier training
- XL Bully training
- Border Collie training
- Cavapoo training
- Labradoodle training
- Springer Spaniel training
- Golden Retriever training
- Beagle training
- Boxer training
Gundog breeds. Labradors, spaniels, retrievers, pointers and setters are trained here for family life: recall away from scent and birds, a loose lead and calm manners at home. We don't offer gundog work or field-trial training.
Every breed page below is written for that breed: what they are like to train, the format that suits them, prices and where we train. Display names are corrected spellings; page addresses are unchanged.
- Beagle
- Belgian Shepherd (Malinois, Tervueren, Groenendael)
- Border Collie
- Boxer
- Cane Corso
- Cavapoo
- Cockapoo
- Cocker Spaniel (working and show)
- Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
- Dachshund
- Doberman
- Dutch Shepherd
- English Springer Spaniel
- French Bulldog
- German Shepherd
- Golden Retriever
- Labradoodle
- Labrador Retriever
- Poodle (all sizes)
- Presa Canario
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Rottweiler
- Siberian Husky
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Weimaraner
- XL Bully
We also train Airedale Terrier, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American Bulldog, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Kelpie, Australian Shepherd, Basenji, Basset Hound, Bearded Collie, Bedlington Terrier, Berger Blanc Suisse, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bichon Frise, Black Russian Terrier, Bloodhound, Boerboel, Boston Terrier, Bouvier des Flandres, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Bully Kutta, Cairn Terrier, Caucasian Shepherd, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Central Asian Shepherd, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested Dog, Chow Chow, Collie (Rough and Smooth), Coonhound, Dalmatian, Dogue de Bordeaux, English Mastiff, English Setter, Eurasier, Flat-Coated Retriever, Fox Terrier (Wire and Smooth), French Spaniel, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees (Pyrenean Mountain Dog), Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Greyhound, Harrier, Havanese, Hungarian Vizsla, Irish Setter, Italian Greyhound, Jack Russell Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Leonberger, Lhasa Apso, Lurcher, Manchester Terrier, Mastiff, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Schnauzer, Neapolitan Mastiff, Newfoundland, Norwich Terrier, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Old English Sheepdog, Olde English Bulldogge, Patterdale Terrier, Pitbull, Pointer, Pomeranian, Pug, Saluki, Samoyed, Schnauzer, Scottish Terrier, Shar Pei, Shetland Sheepdog, Shih Tzu, Shikoku, Spinone Italiano, St Bernard, Tibetan Terrier, Welsh Corgi, Welsh Springer Spaniel, Welsh Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, Whippet, Yorkshire Terrier, and every other breed and crossbreed. Tell Alex about yours in the form.
Frequently asked questions
Do you train all breeds?
Yes. In over 15 years Alex has worked with more than 10,000 dogs, from toy breeds to the large guarding breeds. If your breed is not in the list, tell Alex about your dog in the form.
Are some breeds harder to train?
Every breed has traits that make some goals easier and others slower. Independent hunting breeds take longer on recall; high-drive working breeds need an outlet before they can settle. The plan is built around the breed and the individual dog.
Do you train XL Bullies and other large guarding breeds?
Yes. Large and powerful breeds are a big part of our work, in 1-2-1 sessions, residential courses and the Big Dog Club. Use the form to talk through your dog.
Is there a Cockapoo training page?
Yes: Cockapoo training in Essex. We train Cockapoos regularly, as puppies and adults, in 1-2-1 sessions and on residential courses.
Keep reading
Residential dog training
A board and train course, typically 3 weeks, trained at the field and in busy real-world places.
From £850p/w
Dog behaviourist
For pulling, recall, puppies, reactivity, aggression or anxiety: Alex finds the cause and shows you what to do.
£160 first session
Prices
Every option side by side, priced up front.
Get help
Not sure which option suits your breed?
use the form or email hello@essexdogtrainer.co.uk and tell us the breed, the age and what is going wrong. Send an enquiry.
Prefer email? hello@essexdogtrainer.co.uk
Get help with your dog
We reply Monday to Saturday, usually within the hour, by email.
Thanks, .
We reply Monday to Saturday, usually within the hour, by email.
What happens next:
- Alex asks a few questions about your dog.
- He tells you which option fits and what it costs.
- You pick a date if you want one.
Nothing by the next working day? Check your spam folder, or email hello@essexdogtrainer.co.uk.
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