My Top 5 Dog Training Spots in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is one of the UK’s greenest cities so we are spoiled for choice when it comes to dog friendly spaces.
Here are my favourite spots to go with my dog…
1. Blackford Hill, Morningside
There are loads of different routes you can walk your dog around Blackford Hill. If you park by the observatory you can access the big open hills. This is great for practising recall as you can see any potential triggers and call your dog back before they run off.
If your dog finds squirrels distracting, pop them on the lead and head to the wooded areas to practise their engagement with you around distracting fluffy animals!
2. St Margaret’s Park, Corstorphine
This small park is great for getting your dog used to listening to you when there are other dogs around.
Rather than going inside the park, I walk along the outside on the other side of the railings. This allows the dog to see the other dogs but not interact with them. It’s easy to adjust the distance from the other dogs if your dog is struggling.
Remember to reward your dog for engaging with you.
There’s also a lovely dog friendly cafe here if you are ready to practise training your dog in a cafe environment.
Dog Training, Davidsons Mains, Edinburgh
3. Lauriston Castle, Davidsons Mains
The views here are amazing- you can see across to Cramond Beach and Fife. I love wandering round the estate with my dog.
There’s a walled garden with gorgeous cherry blossom trees- dogs have to be on lead in this area which can make it a great spot for practising your dog’s recall training on a long line.
4. Corstorphine Hill
There are wooded areas, open fields and a walled garden so plenty of options for you and your dog! For practising recall, head to the open fields or walled garden. To practise engagement around birds/squirrels/etc. go to the woods and play with your dog there.
There can be deer and horses on the hill so if you’re not sure about your dog’s recall, use a lead or long line.
Recall Training, Cramond Beach, Edinburgh
5. Cramond Beach
Think about what you’d like to work on with your dog before deciding whether to go when the tide is in or when the tide is out. The beach can be really exciting for lots of dogs and it can get busy at the weekend, especially when the weather’s nice, so be mindful of your dog’s abilities and make sure they will be successful.
If the beach is quiet, it can be a great spot for practising your dog’s training because you can see everything around you and spot any potential triggers early.
When the tide is out, you’ll have more space to practise and get distance from distractions. However, your dog has more space to run in!
When the tide is in, your dog has less space to run in which can make training easier, however it means it may be harder to get distance from your dog’s triggers (e.g. other dogs, people).
You also need to watch out for barbecues in the summer!
These are my top places for training dogs, but every dog is different so it depends on your own dog’s abilities and what you want to train your dog.
Always use a lead or long line if you can’t trust your dog to be off the lead.
Need some help training your dog?
I’m a professional dog trainer in Edinburgh, specialising in 1-2-1 dog training.
I’m registered as an Animal Training Instructor with the ABTC and am a member of the Professional Association of Canine Trainers.
If you need help with your dog’s recall, loose lead walking, jumping up or anything else, check out my website:
www.rosypawsedinburgh.co.uk
Or sign up to my mailing list for a Free Guide to Understanding Your Adolescent Dog.
