Bienvenue à La Belle Vilaine
Self-catering, holiday cottages on the South Brittany/Loire Atlantique border in France.
Pet-friendly family run gite accommodation where dogs are welcome.
Residential Dog-training Courses now running - optional extra, fees apply.

We now also offer Residential Dog Training Courses with Elaine - a fully-registered Professional Dog Trainer
Certificat de Capacité No. 56-313 awarded by the Prefet du Morbihan - obedience, clicker training,
heelwork to music and agility.

Optional Residential Dog Training Courses

I have been training dogs (and their owners) voluntarily both privately and, more recently, for French Dog Clubs since 2003. I am now a qualified, professional dog trainer. I began competing in agility in 2009 and this year (2011) was selected onto the Pays de La Loire Regional Agility Team with my 9 year old Sprollie, Gracie. In 2011 my young Border Collie, Haïyla, began competing and is doing very well. Gracie and Haïyla are home-trained. I am also a qualified teacher of foreign languages.

Many, many of our previous guests at our holiday cottages have benefited from my training over the years and their thanks and enthusiastic feedback spurred me on to work towards my qualifications and goal of becoming a Professional Dog Trainer. Three of these families have already booked their holiday with us for 2012 and have included the Training Course Option. Thanks for your support guys !

Option 1 : Basic obedience training with an introduction to clicker, shaping and heelwork to music – for puppies or older dogs
Option 2: Agility

The Dog Training Course cost is £120 (in addition to gite rental) - this includes 6 hours of one-to-one training with me*, split into four sessions - 3 of which will be morning sessions, leaving you free to visit the region for the rest of the day. The fourth session will be an afternoon or evening session. Your course will include an individualised training plan (and access to some agility equipment for practice during your stay). *The price includes all handlers and dogs staying together in one gite.

*Obviously, no individual dog will work over the whole session. The time will be split between the handler(s)'s dogs – the rest of the session will be devoted to explanation of techniques, answering your questions and working towards your training plan(s). The aim of the course is to give the handler the tools necessary to enable continuation of training over a longer term. I am training the handler to train their dog. It goes without saying that in order for progress to be made, training should be continued both between sessions and after the course has finished.

Agility courses are for levels from foundation to intermediate and work upon various aspects - including handling and walking courses for the handler and for the dog: obstacle recognition, body awareness and balance, focus, drive and control (start line, 2-on-2-off contacts, rear cross awareness, independence on entering and driving through weaves ....) - at a level to suit both you and your dog.

For more advanced agility competitors or trainers there will be the opportunity to rent the use of the full course during their stay and to compete in either Brittany or the Loire regions (subject to availability of places – which are beyond our control). We will take care of the paperwork for entries (entry fees currently around 12 euros per dog per day) and accompany you to the show, competing alongside you and translating where necessary.

I also offer help with behavioural issues. I have helped many dogs overcome issues, for example fussy-eating, aggression and bike/car-chasing. In late 2010 I was called by an English couple living locally, who were at the end of their tether with their warring Jack Russels and were on the verge of rehoming one of them. After discussing the routine at home and observing them and their dogs, I put together a plan of action. I visited them on two more occasions over the next month. There was no more talk of rehoming - the two little dogs were co-existing happily! I have kept in contact with them and am happy to say they are still happy!

I only use positive training methods and later this year I am attending an Accredited Agility Instructor course in the UK to add to my French qualifications. In June I will be attending a 2-day seminar on Behaviour Adjustment Training - a method that I have used, with astounding results, in the past and about which I want to learn more in order to help more dogs and their families.

Use of the Flyball run is free to all guests.

In 2011 over 40% of the 42 weeks booked were return visits! The bookings for 2012 are reflecting that. All of these return bookings were people with dogs and the vast majority have trained with me during each of their holidays here and found great benefit. Of the 9 weeks dog training courses booked for 2012 nearly 50% are return visitors who have previously trained with Elaine). That says it all !

A bientôt en France !
Elaine

Home About Us Accommodation Activities Availability Beaches Book Contact Us Dogs Links Local area Nature notes Photos Rates Where we are Wildlife. Volvo page Resources Site Map

La Belle Vilaine