How much to charge for dog training
Dog training prices split sharply by format rather than by skill, so the first decision is not what you are worth per hour but which of three quite different businesses you are running.
Quick answer
UK dog training in 2026 runs at roughly 21 pounds per head for a group class, with a five or six week puppy course typically 105 to 125 pounds, and around 160 to 220 pounds for a six-week course in London and the South East. One-to-one sessions average about 74 pounds an hour, with a real spread of 30 to 180 depending on location and specialism, and London trainers commonly charging 80 to 150. Most trainers also charge separately for an initial assessment, which is usually priced above a standard session because it is longer and produces the plan everything else follows.
UK dog training rates by format, 2026
| Format | Typical UK | London and South East | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group class, per head | About 21 | 25 to 35 | Averages 20.76 puppy, 21.14 adult |
| Puppy course, 5 to 6 weeks | 105 to 125 | 160 to 220 | Sold as a block, not per class |
| One-to-one, per hour | About 74 | 80 to 150 | Full range 30 to 182 |
| Initial assessment | Above session rate | Above session rate | Longer, produces the plan |
| Behaviour work | Top of range | Top of range | Referral and qualification led |
Step-by-step
- 1
Decide which of the three businesses you are in
Group classes, private sessions and behaviour work have different economics, not just different prices. A group class at 21 pounds a head with eight dogs earns more per hour than a 74 pound private session, but it needs a hall, insurance, a fixed schedule and enough local demand to fill it every week. Private work has no fixed overhead and scales with your time. Pricing follows that choice instead of leading it.
- 2
Sell courses as blocks, not sessions
Puppy training is bought as a course and the market prices it that way, at 105 to 125 for five or six weeks. Selling individual classes invites people to drop out after week two, which is precisely when the work gets harder and the results have not landed yet. Block pricing protects the outcome as much as the income.
- 3
Charge properly for the assessment
The first session is where the actual expertise happens: reading the dog, identifying what is really going on, building the plan. Trainers who give it away are discounting the highest-value hour they will spend on that client. Price it above a normal session and describe what the owner walks away with.
- 4
Let travel decide your radius, not your goodwill
One-to-one work usually happens in the client's home or their local park, so unpaid driving time is the hidden cost. Set a radius you can serve without eroding your hourly rate and price travel beyond it explicitly. A 74 pound session that takes ninety minutes of driving is a 30 pound session.
- 5
Price behaviour work separately from obedience
Reactivity, aggression and separation cases carry more risk, more liability and usually a qualification or referral requirement. They belong at the top of your range with their own structure, often a package, not an hourly rate, because progress is measured over weeks and a single session helps nobody.
- 6
Publish your prices
Dog training is a considered purchase where owners compare three or four trainers before contacting any of them. Being the one whose prices are findable removes the most common reason someone quietly moves on, and it filters out the enquiries that were never going to convert at your rate.
Tips & best practices
- Group classes look cheap per head and are usually your best hourly rate. Do the arithmetic with a realistic fill rate, not a full hall.
- A six-week block at 160 to 220 in London is a normal market price, not a premium one. Trainers in the South East routinely underprice against their own market.
- Qualifications matter more here than in most trades, because owners of difficult dogs are looking for a reason to trust you. Put them where they are visible.
Common questions
How much do dog trainers charge per hour in the UK?
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One-to-one sessions average about 74 pounds an hour, with a genuine range of 30 to around 180. London and the South East typically sit at 80 to 150.
What should I charge for a puppy class?
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Group classes average around 21 pounds per dog per session, and a five or six week puppy course usually sells at 105 to 125. In London and the South East, six-week courses commonly run 160 to 220.
Should I charge for the first consultation?
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Yes. The assessment is the longest session and the one that produces the training plan, so it is normally priced above a standard session rather than given away.
Why is behaviour work more expensive than obedience?
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It carries more risk and liability, usually requires a specific qualification or vet referral, and is delivered as a programme over weeks, not a single session. It sits at the top of the range for good reason.
Do I need insurance to train dogs?
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Public liability insurance is effectively essential, and most venues that hire out halls will require proof of it before letting you run classes. Factor the premium into your rates.