HOW TO HIRE · PETS · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a puppy trainer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A puppy training in Ireland costs €15–€80 per session, typically around €40. 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.
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THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a puppy trainer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers puppy trainer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — behavioural Problem Addressing — many puppy trainers also address common behavioural issues, such as excessive barking or chewing.
- How does trainer's experience change the price?The more qualified the person, the higher the rate. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does specific services offered change the price?The grade chosen is the single biggest decision in the quote. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does length of the training programme change the price?Longer bookings let the provider finish without a second trip. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?House Training Guidance — house training is an essential part of puppy training, focusing on teaching your puppy where and when to relieve themselves — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a puppy 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 puppy trainer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — behavioural Problem Addressing — many puppy trainers also address common behavioural issues, such as excessive barking or chewing.
A good answer: The more qualified the person, the higher the rate. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The grade chosen is the single biggest decision in the quote. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Longer bookings let the provider finish without a second trip. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: House Training Guidance — house training is an essential part of puppy training, focusing on teaching your puppy where and when to relieve themselves — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a puppy 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 — socialisation Techniques — socialisation is crucial for puppies to develop good behaviour around people and other animals.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the puppy trainer starts, and an itemised invoice after — basic Commands Training — puppy training often starts with basic commands such as 'sit', 'stay', and 'come'.
Getting the quote right
- Trainer's experience — the more qualified the person, the higher the rate.
- Specific services offered — the grade chosen is the single biggest decision in the quote.
- Length of the training programme — longer bookings let the provider finish without a second trip.
- Specific methods used — better grades are harder to source and dearer to buy.
- 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 — the more qualified the person, the higher the rate
- They will not talk about it: specific services offered — the grade chosen is the single biggest decision in the quote
- They will not talk about it: length of the training programme — longer bookings let the provider finish without a second trip
- A price for the puppy 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 puppy trainer has begun
What a puppy trainer costs: €15–€80 per session
The figures are for the job, per session, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Basic obedience training and House training each carry their own band. Puppy 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
Puppy 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 — the more qualified the person, the higher the rate — that is what the puppy trainer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneSpecific services offered — the grade chosen is the single biggest decision in the quote — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfLength of the training programme — longer bookings let the provider finish without a second trip — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherSpecific methods used — better grades are harder to source and dearer to buy — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the puppy trainer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, puppy's age — an unexpected repair turns a short visit into a long one.
- Basic Commands Training
- Puppy training often starts with basic commands such as 'sit', 'stay', and 'come'.
- Socialisation Techniques
- Socialisation is crucial for puppies to develop good behaviour around people and other animals.
- House Training Guidance
- House training is an essential part of puppy training, focusing on teaching your puppy where and when to relieve themselves.
- Behavioural Problem Addressing
- Many puppy trainers also address common behavioural issues, such as excessive barking or chewing.
- Basic Obedience Training
- Teaches essential commands like sit, stay, and come, helping establish a foundation for good behaviour.
- House Training
- Focuses on teaching your puppy to eliminate outdoors, reducing indoor accidents and promoting hygiene.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a puppy trainer: questions people ask
The cost of puppy training can vary based on factors such as the trainer's experience, location, and the specific services offered. For instance, one-on-one sessions may be more expensive than group classes.
A typical puppy training session lasts between 1 to 2 hours, depending on the specific training goals and the puppy's attention span. Sessions can be adjusted to suit your puppy's needs for optimal learning.
Emergency or same-day puppy training services may be available, but they can come at a premium. It's best to check with local trainers for their availability and any additional costs associated with urgent requests.
Many trainers offer package deals for booking multiple sessions, which can provide cost savings. It's advisable to inquire about these options when you contact a trainer.
Out of scope for puppy training usually includes advanced behavioural modification for severe issues or medical concerns. Trainers may recommend consulting a veterinarian or a certified animal behaviourist for such cases.
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.
MORE GUIDES