Marks Park All Breeds Training Club opened its grounds to dog owners on September 21, offering workshops, parades, and a chance for the community to see firsthand what dog training is all about.

One of the trainers at the club, Mark Greyling, led a special workshop focused on obedience and the basics of reward-based training.

“The idea is to move from dogs following food to dogs working for food. Instead of relying on food to guide them through an exercise, the dogs learn that doing the behaviour gets them the reward – even when it means moving away from the food to earn it.”

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The session also introduced participants to the fundamentals of the canine good citizen programme, a recognised obedience standard. “It was a little masterclass on those principles,” Greyling said.

The event had a clear purpose: Showcasing the work of the club, while keeping the day fun and accessible.

“We wanted to expose people to what we do, but also make it enjoyable. The shelter and breed parades were a way of showing people different kinds of dogs, including those available in shelters, so they know where dogs are coming from. It’s about fun, understanding training, and also advertising the club.”

As for the turnout, Greyling said it was encouraging. “We didn’t know what to expect, but the turnout’s been reasonable. I’ve had quite a few people in my class today that I’ve never seen before, which is great. Of course, it’s also a challenge, when dogs have no prior training background, but that’s part of the process.”

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Beyond the event, he shared advice for new dog owners struggling to establish obedience. “I tell my class there are two golden rules: Reward the behaviours you want, and ignore the ones you do not. Set up the dogs for success.

“Dogs don’t understand scolding the way humans do. If you shout at a dog, it may just hear that you’re angry, or even see it as attention and repeat the bad behaviour. Instead, ignore what you don’t want and reward what you do. For example, if you want your dog to stop messing in the house, take it outside regularly and reward it every time it goes there.

Don’t get angry about accidents inside – just keep rewarding outside until the dog learns.” He stressed that consistency and structured success are key.

“Dogs only learn from what they’re rewarded for. If you set it up so that they always succeed, the right behavior becomes natural. Follow those two principles, and you’re already halfway to having a well-trained dog.”

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