Dog Training Terrey Hills

Terrey Hills is where the Northern Beaches turns rural. Big blocks, bush boundaries, paddocks, horses down the road and space for a dog to be a dog.

Living on acreage with a dog brings freedoms that suburban owners never have, and it brings responsibilities too. A dog with room to run needs to understand boundaries, come when called across open ground and behave when visitors, deliveries and other animals arrive.

Dogs At Work offers dog training in Terrey Hills that suits property life, from a solid recall across open ground to reliable behaviour when the gate opens, using science based methods built around your dog and the life you actually live.

Training for life on acreage

A dog with room to roam needs to understand where the boundaries are, even when nobody is holding the lead. On a suburban block, a fence does most of the work. On acreage, the fence is often far away, the property is large and a dog who decides to explore can cover a lot of ground quickly. Training becomes the most important safety tool you have.

We work on the skills that matter most on a rural property:

A dependable recall across distance

Coming when called from fifty metres away is very different from coming when called across the lounge room. We build recall in stages, using a long line at first, so your dog learns to return reliably from further and further away and through more and more distractions.

Boundary awareness

Dogs can be taught where the working areas of a property end, such as the house yard, the driveway and the paddock edges. We use clear markers, positive reinforcement and consistent routines to help your dog understand the limits.

Calm behaviour around vehicles

Driveways, quad bikes, utes, tractors and delivery vans are part of property life. We teach dogs to stay clear of moving vehicles, wait when they are told and settle away from where machinery operates.

Polite manners with visitors and deliveries

A dog who charges at every car in the driveway can create problems for delivery drivers, tradespeople and guests. We teach calm greetings, waiting at a set place and a reliable stay so your dog feels part of the household without taking over the arrival.

Settling when you are working outside

Many property owners spend hours outdoors, and a dog who stays nearby and relaxed makes the work easier. We build a settle routine you can use in the shed, the garden or the paddock.

If you have chickens, horses or other animals on the property, tell us. We can work on impulse control, leave it and calm settling around them, and we will help you plan safe introductions and sensible management. Because we train where real life happens, sessions can take place right on your property, working with your actual fences, paddocks and driveway.

Duffys Forest, Ingleside, Cottage Point and Ku-ring-gai Chase

This part of the peninsula is full of bush and open space, and each community has its own character.

Duffys Forest

Large rural properties and bush tracks make a confident recall essential, especially with native wildlife nearby. We help dogs learn to ignore scent trails and movement in the scrub and return to you when called.

Ingleside

Semi rural blocks, horse properties and winding roads create a mix of challenges. We work on lead manners for road walking, safe behaviour around horses and livestock where relevant, and a reliable response to cues at a distance.

Cottage Point

Sitting on the edge of the water and the bush, Cottage Point calls for dogs who stay calm around boats, wharves and steep tracks. We help dogs learn to walk on wharves and jetties without panic, wait patiently and keep four feet where their owners want them.

Ku-ring-gai Chase

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park surrounds much of the area, and dogs are not permitted inside national parks, which means your property and local roads are your main training grounds. We help you make the most of them, using your land for recall games, scent work and long line practice, and local roads for loose leash walking.

Wildlife, snakes and bush safety

Living beside bushland means encounters with wildlife are part of daily life. Dogs who chase, dig at burrows or investigate long grass can end up in trouble. While no training can make a property completely risk free, teaching your dog to respond to a recall, leave it and a stop cue can help reduce dangerous situations. Talk to your vet about local risks, such as ticks and snakes, and about the precautions that make sense for your dog.

We can also help you set up your property in a way that supports training, such as creating a secure yard near the house, using a long line on walks and building a routine where your dog checks in with you regularly.

Our services

Puppy Program

Four weeks that prepare you for every stage of development, including confident exploring on a big property and safe habits from day one.

Private obedience sessions

One hour sessions covering engagement around dogs and people, loose leash walking, positions and advanced work on request. Sessions are tailored to your dog’s temperament and age. Private training.

Behaviour support

Plans for more complex behaviours, tailored to your dog, whether that is roaming, chasing, barking or fear.

Training at home and on your street

Practical work on your own land, from farm stays to your own street.

Farm Stay and Train

10 days of immersive training on a private 99-acre farm. Farm Stay and Train.

Ongoing support

Progress videos and follow up guidance after day one, with a trainer in your corner long after the first session.

Farm Stay and Train: a natural fit for country minded dogs

Terrey Hills owners already know the value of open space, and our Farm Stay and Train program is built on it. Your dog spends 10 days training on a private 99-acre farm, mixing structured lessons with the freedom to run, explore and relax. Groups are limited to five dogs, so there is plenty of one on one time and a calm atmosphere without the noise of a large boarding facility.

Because the program is personalised, every dog needs to be approved before booking. That starts with a call or text to our trainer to talk about your dog’s specific needs, age, temperament and goals. You receive video updates during the stay, so you can see your dog settling in, learning new skills and enjoying farm life.

It works well for dogs who have picked up bad habits with too much freedom, for young dogs with boundless energy and for dogs who need to build confidence around other dogs in a controlled way. Dogs do not need to be social to attend. If your dog is nervous or reactive around other dogs, the stay is a chance for our trainer to work on positive associations one dog at a time.

What to bring is simple: a collar or harness, which is returned at the end of the stay. If your dog requires medication or has other specific needs, you provide it. Following a stay with sessions at home helps the new skills carry over to your own property, where they matter most.

Many owners describe the stay as a structured holiday camp for dogs, a place to learn, play and rest while you are away or simply while you take a break from training at home.

Frequently asked questions

Can you train a dog who chases wildlife or livestock?

We can work on recall, impulse control and leave it skills. Tell us about your property and your dog, and we will tailor a plan.

Do you work on my property?

Yes. We train where real life happens, and that includes your own home, yard and driveway.

My dog is fine on the lead but ignores me off it. Can that change?

Yes. Recall is a skill that can be built step by step, starting on a long line and progressing as your dog becomes more reliable.

Is a farm stay suitable for a puppy?

It depends on your puppy’s age and needs. Call or text our trainer to discuss it before booking, because every dog is approved individually.