HOW TO HIRE · PETS · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a dog trainer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A dog training in Ireland costs €15–€90 per session, typically around €50. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a dog trainer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers dog trainer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — socialisation Skills — training often includes socialisation with other dogs and people.
- How does trainer's experience change the price?Certification costs the provider money, and it shows in the rate. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the training required change the price?Detail is where the hours disappear on a job like this. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does location change the price?A long drive means fewer jobs in a day, so each one costs more. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Basic Obedience Training — this includes teaching commands like sit, stay, and come — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a dog trainer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
CARE, CUSTODY AND CONTROL cover, not just public liability — public liability pays if your dog bites a stranger; care, custody and control is what pays if your dog is injured, lost or killed while in their charge, and plenty of walkers carry only the first; How many dogs are walked at once, and whether yours is walked with strangers' dogs; Whether they are insured to drive your dog in their vehicle, and how it is secured; What happens if your dog is hurt or runs — the plan, and which vet; Keys: who holds one, how it is returned, what happens if it is lost, in writing; Two references from current clients, called not read.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers dog trainer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — socialisation Skills — training often includes socialisation with other dogs and people.
A good answer: Certification costs the provider money, and it shows in the rate. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Detail is where the hours disappear on a job like this. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A long drive means fewer jobs in a day, so each one costs more. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Basic Obedience Training — this includes teaching commands like sit, stay, and come — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a dog trainer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability — advanced Training — for dogs that have mastered basic commands, focusing on tricks, agility, or specialised tasks.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the dog trainer starts, and an itemised invoice after — group Classes — provides socialisation opportunities for dogs in a controlled environment while learning commands.
Getting the quote right
- Trainer's experience — certification costs the provider money, and it shows in the rate.
- Complexity of the training required — detail is where the hours disappear on a job like this.
- Location — a long drive means fewer jobs in a day, so each one costs more.
- Dog's size — size is the single number most quotes are built from.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: trainer's experience — certification costs the provider money, and it shows in the rate
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the training required — detail is where the hours disappear on a job like this
- They will not talk about it: location — a long drive means fewer jobs in a day, so each one costs more
- A price for the dog trainer before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the dog trainer has begun
What a dog trainer costs: €15–€90 per session
The figures are for the job, per session, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Obedience training and Behaviour modification each carry their own band. Dog Training price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Dog trainers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstTrainer's experience — certification costs the provider money, and it shows in the rate — that is what the dog trainer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the training required — detail is where the hours disappear on a job like this — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfLocation — a long drive means fewer jobs in a day, so each one costs more — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherDog's size — size is the single number most quotes are built from — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the dog trainer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, behavioural issues — it decides whether the work can be done in one go.
- Basic Obedience Training
- This includes teaching commands like sit, stay, and come.
- Socialisation Skills
- Training often includes socialisation with other dogs and people.
- Advanced Training Techniques
- For dogs that have mastered basic commands, advanced training can include agility training or specialised tasks like service dog training.
- Behaviour Modification
- Addresses unwanted behaviours like aggression or separation anxiety through specialised techniques.
- Puppy Training
- Covers essential skills for young dogs, including socialisation, potty training, and basic commands.
- Group Classes
- Provides socialisation opportunities for dogs in a controlled environment while learning commands.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a dog trainer: questions people ask
The cost of dog training can vary based on the trainer's experience, the complexity of the training required, and the location. Specialised training for behavioural issues often costs more than basic obedience classes.
Most dog training sessions last between 60 to 90 minutes. The duration may vary based on the dog's needs and the specific training goals.
While many trainers are experienced, some situations may require a qualified specialist, especially for behavioural issues. It's important to check the trainer's credentials and experience in dealing with specific problems.
Some trainers may offer emergency or same-day sessions, but availability can be limited. It's advisable to contact trainers directly to inquire about urgent training needs.
Dog training typically does not cover veterinary issues or medical behaviour problems. Trainers focus on behavioural skills and obedience rather than health-related concerns.
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
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