Puppy biting? RSPCA Cornwall’s St Columb course starts 31 October

Sharp little teeth on your ankles. A pup who greets every visitor by launching at their chest. And a lead that seems to have a mind of its own. If any of that sounds familiar, help is starting this Saturday in St Columb.

RSPCA Cornwall Branch is running a new six-week puppy training course, with the first session on Saturday 31 October. It is aimed at owners of puppies under 18 weeks old who want to give their dog a good start.

The branch says the course will help puppies build confidence, learn essential skills and develop good manners for a happy future.

What your puppy will learn

The sessions cover the basics most new owners are looking for, plus a few things they might not have thought about yet:

• Sit, down, recall and other essential skills
• Managing puppy biting and jumping up
• Socialisation and confidence building
• Settling calmly and good manners, including manners around food and settling when eating out
• Leave on cue, focus and attention
• Meets and greets
• Basic canine first aid awareness

And, in the branch’s words, lots more.

Who runs the classes

Classes are kept small and use positive, ethical training methods. They are led by a professional, qualified dog trainer and behaviourist who is also an accredited disability assistance dog trainer and a published author.

The course is billed as an indoor puppy course, and the branch has indoor facilities as well as outdoor paddocks on site.

Dates, times and cost

• Starts: Saturday 31 October 2026
• Time: 10am to 11am
• Duration: six weekly sessions
• Location: RSPCA Cornwall Branch, St Columb, TR9 6JS
• Cost: £90
• Age: puppies under 18 weeks

Spaces are limited. You can find out more and book on the RSPCA Cornwall puppy training page.

Where the money goes

The branch is a self-funded, local charity helping animals across Cornwall, so every booking goes towards that work. It is also a milestone year, with RSPCA Cornwall marking 30 years of the Cornwall Branch, from 1996 to 2026.

Its anniversary badge carries a line that fits a room full of puppies rather well: “The next 30 starts here.”