Discover. Optimize. Perfect. Excel.
Building better dogs by building better communication.
Train smarter. Live better.
If you love your dog, you can become their best trainer. You just need the right system.
Chris Brooks, D.O.P.E Dog Training
Building better dogs by building better communication.
Dogs and humans have been evolving together for over 330,000 years, a partnership built on connection, not commands. Our goal is simple: teach you how to teach your dog. Because when communication is clear, everything else follows.
Dogs don’t learn in isolated moments. They learn from the whole picture. How you walk, how you play, how you set boundaries, how you speak, how you react... everything teaches your dog something. The DOPE System is built around that idea. It’s holistic, modern, and designed to reshape the relationship between you and your dog.
What the system is built on
- Clear communication. Your dog follows naturally because the message finally makes sense.
- Predictable structure. Routines, boundaries and thresholds that reduce uncertainty at home and out in the world.
- Calm handling and emotional control. Your tone, posture and timing matter. The dog mirrors you.
- Engaging, reward-based learning. Incentive-based training that builds motivation, not fear.
- Real-world proofing, not classroom theory. Pavements, parks, cafés, livestock, visitors. Training is proved where you actually live.
We train the dog and the human, because the two are inseparable. This isn’t a class or a quick fix. It’s a complete, practical system that improves everyday life, not just the session hour.
The four levels
Every D.O.P.E programme moves through the same four levels. Where you start, and how many sessions you need, is decided at your Assessment.
| Level | Sessions | Price | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discover | 8 | £600 | Reset foundations, build trust and reliable everyday behaviour. |
| Optimize | 10 | £725 | Turn chaos into clarity and refine behaviour in the real world. |
| Perfect | 12 | £850 | Off-lead confidence, advanced obedience and a seamless partnership. |
| Excel | By invitation | Bespoke | Ongoing graduate development, lifestyle training and pre-sport work. |
Discover
Lay the foundation for calm confidence and lifelong learning. Discover rebuilds the basics with clarity: engagement, marker training, lead skills, recall foundations, calm behaviour at home and in public, and family consistency so everyone becomes a D.O.P.E handler.
Optimize
Move from “obedient enough” to genuinely reliable, anywhere. High-distraction lead work, real-world neutrality around dogs, people, movement and noise, recall under pressure, impulse control, structured play, and handler timing and emotional control. This is the point where everything clicks.
Perfect
Build total reliability and a relationship that lasts for life. Reliable recall in challenging environments, off-lead preparation and trust-building, duration obedience, public-space proofing in cafés, paths, towns, pubs and parks, and full integration of training into your daily lifestyle.
Excel: graduate development
By invitation only. For owners who’ve completed the D.O.P.E System and want ongoing development, lifestyle training or pre-sport work. Monthly or quarterly sessions, tailored to your dog’s goals, whether that’s public neutrality, off-lead mastery or continuous development.
The holistic process
The system runs as a ten-phase process, so you always know where you are and what comes next.
- Client onboarding. A warm welcome and a comprehensive intake: your dog’s history, personality and your goals as an owner.
- Initial dog and owner assessment. Behaviour, temperament and the current dynamic between you and your dog. Read more about the Assessment.
- Bonding phase. Trust-building activities and structured play before training begins.
- Owner education. Dog psychology and natural history, handling techniques, and health and wellness.
- Behavioural training. Positive reinforcement to build desirable behaviours while gently redirecting unwanted ones.
- CBT-style behaviour correction. Exercises that address the root causes of behaviour, not just the symptoms.
- Break-from-behaviour techniques. How to interrupt unwanted behaviour without stress or confusion and guide your dog back to calm.
- Integration into daily routines. Structured walks and mindful interactions make training a lifestyle.
- Progress monitoring and adjustments. Regular check-ins to celebrate successes and adjust the plan.
- Course completion and continued support. A lifelong partnership, with Chris as a continued resource as you and your dog grow together.
Train smarter. Live better.
- How to read and influence your dog’s body language
- How to prevent bad habits before they start
- How to reward effectively for lasting results
- How to structure your dog’s daily routine
- How to turn training into a lifestyle, not a chore
Start the way you mean to live: calm, confident, connected.