We spoke to Lisa Pearson who, alongside her partner runs Hempton Dog Training Group
Tell us a little about the group.
We use two local village halls weekly providing 45-minute sessions. The classes include some ringcraft training but the majority is focused on obedience. People can work towards the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme, starting with the Puppy Foundation and progressing to Bronze and Silver levels.
We’ve been involved in dog training clubs since 1997. When our previous club closed, we wanted to keep something going for the community. We’ve had many regulars over the years, one dog has been with us since we first opened in 2011!
It’s a really friendly club rooted in our local community, and we’ve made a lot of friendships through it. We run it as a hobby, not as a business. We wanted to make it affordable for everyone.
You’ve just had your annual fundraiser show. Can you tell us more about that?
Yes! Each year, we host a fundraising dog show. The group selects a different charity annually to support and all proceeds go to that cause. This year, we had 28 different classes people could enter their dog into. Despite the wet weather we had a total of 110 dogs participating, with each entry costing £2.
We also held a large raffle (200+ prizes), plus fun events like the fastest recall and a retrieve competition. This year, we raised £1234.22 for Norfolk Blood Bikes.
And what do Norfolk Blood Bikes do?
They’re a voluntary service that supports the NHS by transporting emergency blood supplies, breast milk, and vital samples between hospitals across Norfolk. They operate around the clock 365 days a year and play a vital role in urgent care. It’s a really worthwhile cause.
Any tips for training dogs, based on your experience?
One of the first things to consider is whether the breed suits your household. People often choose a dog based on looks without thinking about its needs: how strong it will be, how much exercise it requires and whether it fits their lifestyle.
Also, stay relaxed and enjoy the process. Don’t expect your dog to behave like a robot overnight. It takes time, bonding, and consistency. Especially in ringcraft, I can tell when someone is tense and that energy travels straight down the lead to the dog.
And what difference does the right food make?
Dogs need the right nutrition and the right portion sizes. We have Akitas, which are a large, deep-chested breed prone to gastric torsion, so we have to be particularly careful.
We look at the size of the kibble and make sure it’s nutrient-dense — smaller meals packed with good nutrition are ideal.
We’ve fed Green Pantry to our dogs before, and they’re always so supportive of our shows, donating food for the winners. They’re just down the road from us, and we really appreciate their help.
