How much does dog training cost in the UK?

Training is a fundamental part of your dog’s development. If you both put in the work you’ll avoid common behaviour issues and improve you and your pup’s quality of life for years to come. 

You’ll probably want to spend time training your dog yourself, but lots of us also benefit from a bit of help from the professionals.

Find out the best approach to training your dog from puppyhood onwards, and how much you can expect to pay for sessions with a professional dog trainer around the UK.

The true value of dog training

Training your dog isn't just about teaching it to sit or stay. You need to build that bond between you, socialise your dog and work on their confidence in lots of different situations.

Untrained dogs can be anxious, fearful, and difficult to control. In the worst cases, untrained dogs are a danger to themselves or others. Living with a reactive or destructive dog can be a daily source of stress for you both.

There are massive benefits to getting your dog’s training in check, including:

• Behaviour management – To help your dog develop good manners and obedience.

• Communication – To help you convey commands to your dogs, and for your dog to respond appropriately.

• Bonding – To improve the social and emotional connection between you and your dogs.

• Safety – Make sure your dog can navigate the world without getting hurt, or hurting others.

• Socialisation – Helps your dog interact with other humans and animals in a positive manner.

• Regulatory compliance – This is for dogs that need to meet certain behavioural standards (for example, guide dogs or assistance dogs).

• Confidence – So that your dog can adapt to new situations without fear or anxiety.

It’s never too early (or too late) to start training. The earlier you begin, the quicker your pup will be comfortable around other dogs and people – which means you can be more confident out and about with them too.

What types of dog training are available?

If you don’t feel confident going it alone with training it might be worth looking at a professional training course.

There are plenty of different types of dog training courses available, including: 

• Group puppy or obedience training

• One-to-one sessions at home or out and about

• Specialist training for aggression, reactivity, separation anxiety and other issues

• Residential training or intensive doggy ‘bootcamp’

• Fun and sporty classes, like flyball or hoopers

Even if you pay for professional classes and sessions, you’ll still need to put in plenty of work of your own. Try our dog training tips, talk to other dog owners, and draw up a training plan that suits you and your dog. 

Dog training prices

We checked prices with 22 professional dog trainers all around the UK in January 2025 and found that the average price of puppy group training was £19.10 per class. Group training for adult dogs was only fractionally more expensive – the average cost of group training sessions for adult dogs was £19.31.

Often classes had to be booked in blocks, so a course of five or six puppy classes would cost around £100-120.

The average cost of a one-to-one dog training session is £60.47, but prices ranged from £30-100 per session of around an hour. Trainers usually ask you to attend an initial consultation or assessment as well, which usually costs more.

Here’s the average cost of different types of dog training in the UK in 2025:

*Prices may vary significantly based on a range of factors. These figures are based on research conducted on 17 January, 2025. 

Training sessions with a focus specifically on aggressive behaviour were more expensive, with an average cost of £67.50. But ask your trainer what you need – many cover reactivity and resource guarding, for example, in their standard one-to-one session fee.

For a really concentrated hit of training there are residential dog schools dotted around the country. Some have set course lengths, like two or four weeks, but we standardised them in our research to give a one-week training cost. The average cost of a week of residential dog training is £749.75 – but with prices from £350 in Manchester up to £1,225 for a course in London.

What affects the cost of dog training?

As you can see from our research, the variation in costs from one trainer to another is significant. Some of the things that affect the price of dog training near you are: 

• Location – Training costs can be higher in certain areas, especially London.

• Trainer experience – More experienced trainers typically charge more.

• Training methodology – Certain training methods cost more due to the skill and years of handler training required.

• Class size – Classes that have fewer dogs will typically cost more.

• Dog breed – Certain breeds of dog are notoriously stubborn. While some trainers love a challenge, others might charge extra. 

• Duration and type of course – Longer or more specialised courses will be more expensive.

Is dog training worth the cost?

No dog should have to make their way through life without a firm grounding of dog training.

By putting in the hours – and sometimes the financial commitment – you’re making your dog more resilient, confident, and happier. 

The cheapest option isn't always the best. Try to find an approach that fits your dog’s needs: if you’re going the professional route, look for qualified trainers with positive reviews and a training philosophy that you agree with.

Does pet insurance cover dog training?

Puppy classes and general training are something you’ll need to budget for – they’re not covered by insurance.

But if things have gone seriously awry with your dog’s behaviour, speak to your vet. They’ll be able to recommend a qualified behavioural trainer to help with your dog’s specific issues.

Your dog insurance might even cover the cost. All our policies cover the cost of behavioural treatment where they’ve been recommended by your vet.

Get £15,000 lifetime vet fee cover with our Complete policy.

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