Colinton & Bonaly · Edinburgh · approx. 25 min from base
Book an In-Person SessionSee how in-person sessions work
Tell us about your dog and you will get an honest answer on whether a 1-2-1 is the right next step.
Colinton and Bonaly are where suburban Edinburgh runs straight into working farmland. Within a short walk of most doorsteps you can be on ground where sheep are grazing, and that changes the standard your dog has to meet. A recall that is merely good is not enough near livestock; the legal and welfare stakes are far higher than a missed sit.
Colinton Dell adds a different problem. The Water of Leith runs through a steep wooded gorge here, with a weir, narrow paths and a lot of scent. Dogs that are comfortable on open ground can be genuinely unreliable in the Dell, because the noise of moving water masks your voice and the sides are too steep to shortcut down after them.
Every walk asks something different of a dog. These are the Colinton & Bonaly routes that come up most in sessions, and what each one is really testing.
| Walking spot | What it throws at your dog | What we work on there |
|---|---|---|
| Colinton Dell | Steep sides, running water masking your voice, dense scent | Recall you can rely on when your dog cannot hear you clearly |
| Bonaly Country Park | Open ground rising into the hills, sheep nearby | Lead discipline near livestock and a recall that holds |
| Pentland Hills access paths | Working farmland, gates, other walkers with dogs | Passing livestock safely and knowing when a lead is not optional |
| Local streets | Quiet suburban roads, occasional fast traffic | Steady loose-lead walking and roadside waits |
Almost every Colinton and Bonaly enquiry has a livestock dimension to it, even when the owner does not raise it first.
Scottish access rights come with real responsibilities around farm animals, and any honest trainer working this area will start there rather than with tricks.
Dedicated pages cover the top two: recall training in Edinburgh and reactive dog training in Edinburgh. For context, see long lines, the most underused tool in dog training and scent work and the weather.
Colinton & Bonaly sits roughly 25 min from base and Allan comes to you. In-person sessions start at £190, or £150 for members, and no travel fee is added.
In Colinton and Bonaly the session opens with a frank conversation about livestock, because that is the risk that matters most here. After that, the practical work is usually recall on a long line, either in the Dell or on the lower slopes. You finish with a plan you can carry out on your own, not a list of commands.
If getting a visit in the diary is the obstacle, say so - you can set up a 1-2-1 consultation and start remotely instead.
| Session type | Standard | Member rate |
|---|---|---|
| Face to face, two hours, your home | £190 | £150 |
| Online consultation, two hours | £120 | £90 |
| Online consultation, one hour | £60 | £45 |
Work is not limited to Colinton & Bonaly. The closest neighbouring areas are below, and the whole coverage list is on the areas we cover page.
You work with Allan Ritchie MGoDT (MPDTI) himself. Four decades with dogs, beginning as an RAF handler and continuing through Police rapid-response and hostage-rescue duties.
Allan built and ran a kennel and dog training centre before Clan Dog, and has worked around stock and working dogs for decades. He will tell you plainly whether your dog is ready to be off lead near sheep. Clan Dog works on the human end of the lead. In Colinton & Bonaly that means teaching you to read your dog, not teaching your dog to perform. You can read more about Allan and how Clan Dog works.
“If I could give Allan 10 stars, 100 stars whatever the max is I would!”Paul D — published Google review. Clan Dog is rated 4.9/5 based on 39 reviews.
External sources worth reading alongside this page if you walk a dog in Colinton & Bonaly:
Not unless your recall is genuinely proven, and often not even then. Livestock worrying is a serious offence in Scotland and dogs can be shot lawfully in some circumstances. The responsible default near grazing animals is a lead, and a session will be blunt about that.
Running water is loud and the gorge sides bounce sound around. Your dog may not be defying you - it may not be hearing a usable signal. Part of the fix is a whistle or visual cue that carries where your voice does not.
Yes, and that is the ideal time. Building livestock neutrality and a strong recall before you need them is far easier than repairing a dog that has already chased something.
Approximately 25 minutes. There is no travel surcharge for Colinton or Bonaly. In-person sessions are £190 for about two hours, £150 for members.
If you walk up into the Pentlands, getting the recall right before you need it is the single most useful thing you can do. For a stress-free life with your dog.