Dog Training in Durham
Valorant K9 Academy offers structured, practical training designed to help you build a better-behaved dog and cultivate a better relationship. We are based in Durham – we offer dog training services from puppy work through to problem behaviour.
Whether you are starting with the basics, tightening up obedience or working through more challenging behaviour, our services are designed to be practical, tailored to the individual and built for real life.
We are not interested in making your dog look good for five minutes on a quiet field – we create reliable progress that carries over into everyday situations.
Adam specialises in working with dogs that have behavioural issues, including reactivity, aggression and resource guarding. That said, his knowledge and experience go far beyond problem behaviour alone! Adam is extensively experienced in training dogs of all ages, temperaments and ability levels, whether the goal is obedience, confidence building, behaviour modification, or even more advanced real-world control.
His experience has been built over many years working with dogs across a wide range of settings, including rescues, daycare centres, grooming & boarding environments, dog handling & security services, expert witness cases involving dangerous dogs, online education and, latterly, the development of virtual dog training academies.
Adam brings a profound depth of knowledge to every dog he works with, combining practical experience with high training standards. As a NePoPo® New Gold Graduate, he is trained to one of the most complex & respected standards in modern dog training, an approach which now forms part of the approach at Valorant K9 Academy.
Dog training in Durham focusing on real progress
A lot of dog training sounds good on paper but falls apart when you involve real life. Busy streets, other dogs, people, cafés, traffic, pressure, distraction – these situations are where a trained dog stands apart from an untrained dog.
At Valorant K9 Academy, the aim is to build dogs who can function properly in the real world. That means improving obedience, engagement, handler communication, and overall control in a way that is useful beyond the training session itself.
The online Academy content also reinforces this broader approach, with lessons covering obedience, puppies, reactivity, aggression, lead work, place command, and real-life training examples.
1-to-1 dog training in Durham
For the vast majority of dog owners, 1:1 sessions are the best starting point because they allow the training to be tailored properly rather than forcing every dog into the same system. Whether you need help with recall, lead manners, place work, focus, neutrality, or general obedience, our training services are built around the dog in front of you and the goals you want to achieve.
They are all 1:1, with an option to join our group services within our Academy membership.
Obedience Packages
The Bronze Obedience Package
£395.005 sessions for dogs with a smaller list of minor obedience issues such as jumping up, loose lead walking or settling in the home. We first look at why those gaps exist before teaching new skills.
The Silver Obedience Package
£745.0010 sessions for dogs with a more significant gap in obedience training, including recall work where needed. We assess how your dog learns best, then build reliable new skills.
The Gold Obedience Package
£945.0015 sessions for dogs needing more substantial obedience work, with scope to progress into advanced obedience such as off-lead heelwork, extended down stays and sport-based obedience.
Behavioural Packages
The Bronze Behavioural Package
£345.00A 3-session package tailored to the individual owner and dog, therefore is most suitable for dogs with mild behavioural issues. The contents of the sessions will depend on what your individual dog needs.
The Silver Behavioural Package
£495.005 sessions is suited to dogs who are reactive, and perhaps also have some additional minor behavioural issues such as separation anxiety, nervousness (to a stimulus), or demand barking. The contents of this package are tailored to the issues the dogs present with.
The Gold Behavioural Package
£945.0010 sessions and is suited to dogs who are severely reactive and/or have issues with aggression and/or guarding. We tailor the contents of these sessions according to the individual dog.
Academy Membership
For dogs that are advanced enough, 1:1 training works especially well when combined with the group neutrality & obedience classes offered via our Academy membership, followed by the even more advanced sessions taking place in various locations such as the city centre, the coast, or popular walking locations.
These group settings are essential to practise the skills learned in your 1:1 sessions: learning & practising new skills in a controlled., 1:1 environment (perhaps with our stooge dogs at most) is very different to being alongside other people’s dogs in a natural way, even if the other dogs are also trained to a high standard.
This group practice will give you the skillset & confidence you need to be around the general public’s untrained dogs, who are a law unto themselves! The ongoing practice will keep your new skills fresh and ensure that you are always ready for any situation with your dog.
Online Academy Rates
Membership includes:
Monthly Pack Walk
Access to Full Training Videos Online
Private WhatsApp Group
and EXCLUSIVE group training sessions for dogs of all abilities.
Membership options currently include:
£19.99 monthly
£199.99 yearly
£499 lifetime
Why choose Valorant K9 Academy for dog training in Durham?
We offer training suitable for those who want better advice than merely ‘give your dog a Lickimat’ – we understand dogs on a complex level, and we give honest advice & guidance to facilitate lasting change. Valorant K9 Academy also offers a practical & structured approach to training that focuses on
the dog in front of you. That means no fluff, no generic advice, and no pretending every dog needs the same plan.
We take a realistic approach to dog training; we know that good training is not about gimmicks, quick hacks, and especially not about saying what people want to hear.
Good dog training is about structure, consistency, and knowing how to progress the individual dog in front of you.
The best results usually come from:
- The Right Starting Point
- Clear Handling
- Realistic Expectations
- Good Repetition
- Progression Into Real Environments