Ingrid Grayling, Penrith, Cumbria

Having spent time looking for a good dog trainer and after having spoken to several I was feeling very despondent as I found some ,to be unhelpful, and several took the hard approach to training which I didn't like and didn't want for my dogs.

Then I found Ingrid's website which i immediately liked. I asked around and found that she had, and has, such a good reputation I liked the fact that she has been established for such a long time.

After speaking to her I felt confident that this was the trainer for me so booked the lessons and went along to see her.

I was amazed after half an hour with my two pointers ,I fully understood where I had gone wrong with my two boys .

Ingrid was kind, supportive ,a wonderfully patient teacher , and i came away full of confidence and knowledge .

This is a super women dog trainer I cant praise her enough I would advise anyone who wants the best for there dogs to go to her. I cant wait for the next visit.

Thank you Ingrid for making my life ,calmer and for helping me to enjoy my dogs more.

Mrs from Cumbria. September 2018.

We are delighted with the training we have just completed with Ingrid. Our rescue dog had some really bad habits that we couldn't resolve and we needed an expert. Ingrid came recommended via one of our friends. The training was really great, it was hard work but it has paid off, Ingrid was a wonderful person to help us, kind and very knowledgeable. We now have a well behaved and trained dog. Highly recommended.

We've just completed a day course with Ingrid and are VERY happy! She is an excellent teacher (and very patient!). She taught us so much in one day and now we are doing our 'homework' back at home with our dog, Milly.

The day course was so much more than we thought when we booked it, Ingrid not only showed us techniques for basic training but really helped us with a bad habit that Milly had developed of barking at other dogs and it was a really fun and informative day, money absolutely well spent.

I must add that Ingrid had came highly recommended by a friend, and now in turn we highly recommend her for any dog training/behavioural issues anyone has. Thank you Ingrid for helping us out in a time of great need!

Dear Ingrid,

Thank you so much for taking the time to train my two puppies. I have enjoyed our training

sessions, they have done wonders I now have two very well behaved babies, and that is a

testimony and of the strength of your training program, including your commitment to me.

Having been a dog owner before, I never realised it was myself that needed the most training to be a good pet owner!!

I feel that your program offers excellent training for pets and their owners, it offers good

experiences for a well-rounded education, and the opportunity to carry on through the life

of our pets.

In particular, I would like to thank you for your kindness and understanding. It was really challenging trying to train two puppies at the same time, especially with my bad heath. I was impressed and overwhelmed by the extra time you spent to help me accomplish the training, even when I thought I could not carry on ....you stepped in and helped! I would have given up if it had not been for your help, you truly went above and beyond.

Your programme has my endorsement as I feel that it will provide any dog owner the tools they to have wonderfully behaved dogs.

I wish you all the best, and once again thanks.

Sincerely,Karen McClellyn

PS Shumba and Shelby send their thanks and promise to be good

I have a 12month old Labrador called Dodger-who lives up to his name.Despite this he is my world and I think here in lies the problem-ME!!!!!! Dogs aren't born bad or unruly,but due to my lack of knowledge or being too soft on him,Dodger started to play up in lots of ways.to the point that mum and I were at the end of our tether and starting to discuss having to re home Dodger with someone who could control him(this thought alone bring tears to my eyes as I think about it!)

I had been to another trainer in my local area,but he was more interested in dating my sister ,so just used to say I was doing fab as I was being dragged along behind the lead-after six months of getting nowhere,we really were beginning to worry.I couldn't have friends come to the house as Dodger would jump up at them and put muddy paw marks or even worse rip their clothes!Walks were a nightmare and his behaviour with our older Lab was alarming.this is when I bumped into Ingrid Greyling at Garstang show.

She discussed her various training plans and what was best for Dodger,me and most of all my budget(to be honest at this point what ever money it would of taken,both mum and I would of some how found and paid.Both mum and I talked to her and she answered all our questions and wasn't pussy,bossy or in any way looking at me as a pound sign as I had found other trainers to be.For me it was how she interacted with Dodger on that day-I could tell she was a dog woman,by the way she handled him-the softness,but firmness in her voice and her kindness as she stroked him(don't ask me to try and explain,but somehow I just knew)

We signed up for training and found dates that best fit in with our work pattern so we could give our all to this training.Ingrid said if I followed the training pattern,then I couldn't fail.So with these words ringing in our ears off we set.Dodger and I walked up and down our drive,walking to heel and sitting every day,three half hours a day for two weeks.i got to the point where I knew every stone on my drive and longed to do something new or exciting!!!!!but I persevered and soon I saw improvements.Dodger no longer pushed to get out the door first or ran under the hedge to get out before me-he sat and waited for my commands-we continued our training and soon the once unthinkable was happening before my very eyes-our Dodger was walking to heel off the lead and returning to my command.Not only that I was looking like an owner who could control her dog-if you've ever had a dog like Dodger you'll know how much joy and relief that last sentence has brought me.

The final stage of training is livestock training.i had been told about this from day one and had it explained thoroughly to me.At no point was I told it had to happen, all the time I was given the choice.Livestock training involved the use of the shock collar,so was not a choice I took lightly.however growing up in the country I know that sometimes we have to make hard choices for the greater good and having seen the damage a dog can cause to livestock,I decided with Ingrids help I would use this method.She arranged a time when mum could be there-I think more for my support as to be honest I was nervous.I can't explain to you how much Dodger is my little boy and of all my dogs I've ever had,is and I know I shouldn't say it-but my favourite.But as soft as I am I knew I didn't want him chasing cattle or worrying sheep as I know where I live he would be shot no questions asked.so off we set.We went to a small enclosed field with some fairly tame sheep and before I knew it,it was done!!!!Dodger returned to the whistle and to my loving arms,non the worse for his experience and now able to walk through cattle without even a second glance.The thoughts of that last bit of training were a lot worse than the reality and I urge anybody to just trust Ingrid and do it.

Dodger and I are now a controlled and happy dog and owner-don't get me wrong we have our slip ups(mainly cause I'm still a bit soft)But I can't thank Ingrid enough.She e mails every now and again to check up on our progress and to remind me if I have any problems she's just at the end of a phone.

I hope you find this review helpful and good luck in your training Julie and Dodger :-)

I booked onto a day course with Ingrid for my 10 month old terrier, as I wanted to be taught the basic training methods. I found Ingrid to be a great teacher and the course to be really enjoyable. At the end of it I felt really confident to go away and continue the training she had shown me. Ingrid has kept in contact with me and offered me further help when I had some questions. Overall I'm really happy and would recommend her training school.

I found Ingrid through a search on the internet. I live in Northumberland and therefore close enough (within 50 miles) to think it worthwhile to give Ingrid's one-day course a try.

I first sent an email to Ingrid, outlining how my 7 month old black lab was quite obedient but how I felt the I could do with some better understanding of how to "take forward" the dog's training.

Ingrid immediately (that evening) rang me. She explained how the one-day course was really a "commitment" on the part of the owner to (a) a full day (9.30am to 5.00pm) with her in Cumbria, followed by (b) approx 4 weeks of dog/owner training, being in 4 half-hour daily sessions - working to Ingrid's pre-defined programme, and (c) a return to Cumbria for a three-hour final time with Ingrid.

The full-day first session turned out quite enjoyable. Ingrid has an engaging personality (easy to get on with), she points out the good and bad points about the dog, and she is very forthright about what is required of the trainer. You come away from the day feeling very positive about what can be achieved in the training.

The 4 weeks of dog/owner training was shortened in my case (because of some prior commitments), but even so, I found the daily sessions became increasingly tedious. You really have to be very dedicated to follow the same routine over and over again for 2 hours each day for 2 weeks and then to vary the pattern only slightly for another 2 weeks!

I made the mistaken of "slackening off" in both time and discipline - thinking that dog was doing "quite well".

Consequently, on the final half-day session with Ingrid, she expressed herself as "disappointed". OK, so my dog would walk to heel after a fashion, sit and stay, come when called - but not up to Ingrid's standard. Of course, that's my fault (the dog is perfectly capable) because I didn't put in the full time and effort that the course requires.

Ingrid sets out to achieve perfection in her trainees. That's a laudable objective, but I personally question whether it's necessary in a family pet (or indeed in an ageing owner!).

In summary, I'd have no hesitation in recommending Ingrid as a first class trainer. She will set you on a path leading to an exceptionally disciplined dog. However you need to remember that nearly all of the "legwork" will be between you and the dog. If you are not prepared for all of that, you may not achieve Ingrid's high standards.

Personally, I have been happy to get to something less than perfection.

We were unsure about what training we needed for our 10 month old Jack Russell, Billy, who was quite a handful, and we were looking for someone to help us with all the basic dog training, but not in a group class. Our vets recommended Ingrid and we travelled from Yorkshire to see her for the 2 day training course. Before we arrived Ingrid sent us a very thorough explanation of what the course entailed and we also had a few chats on the phone with her, all of which made us feel very secure and safe that we had made the right choice of trainer.

And we weren't let down. Ingrid was fantastic. We had such a brilliant 2 days with her, it helped that the weather was good as we spent a lot of time outside. The days were split into easy to understand sections of training and it was very hands on with Ingrid guiding us though the stages with Billy. Overall we left feeling very happy and confident that Billy and us were on the right track to a well trained dog. Ingrid has since been in touch for a follow up to see how it is all going, which we thought was a lovely touch. She really cares for her clients and dogs, and certainly has a great knowledge of training.

We are delighted with the training course we have just finished with Ingrid. Over a few days she has taught how to control our very wilful dog, Stanley, who was really difficult to handle especially on a lead as he is very strong and would pull us along behind on every walk. Ingrid has taught us all the basic training skills and also how to control him in a safe and calm manner. We loved the trips up to Cumbria for the training days which we'll miss but Ingrid has given us plenty of 'homework' to do with Stanley which we are now doing everyday which is amazing and the results are great, we no longer have a pulling dog and it's a pleasure to walk with him. WE would definitely recommend Ingrid.

I came here to write a review on the excellent training my terrier puppy Tilly received from Ingrid Grayling and was flabbergasted to read of the hateful review posted at the top of the page! I found Ingrid to be extremely personable, friendly and professional. I’m certainly not posh and Tilly is our family pet, even though Ingrid was stern with the dog she was in no way what so ever cruel! I cannot imagine, or believe, she ever would or could be! I can’t recommend Ingrid’s training highly enough, she offers an excellent service and I consider it money well spent.