Dog Training in Cyprus: Puppy Classes, Trainers and Behaviourists by City

Dog training in Cyprus is mostly run by small private trainers, so the best way to find a puppy class is to pick a force-free trainer in your city and ask what they offer. Below are trainers in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Famagusta district, what to check before you book, and the dog rules you need to know.

Cyprus has no big national dog-school chain, and there is no single public register of trainers. That makes it worth knowing what good looks like before you hand over money, and which rules apply to your dog from the first week.

What kinds of dog training can you find in Cyprus?

Many Cyprus trainers come to you. Dogs Aloud Cyprus says sessions usually take place at your home or in a park, which suits a reactive dog far better than a busy class.

What should you look for in a dog trainer?

Force-free methods

Choose a trainer who rewards what the dog does right and says plainly what they do not use. Dogs Aloud Cyprus states it avoids choke, prong and shock collars and any spray devices. K9 Solutions in Paphos writes that it does not endorse choke chains, punishment or heavy handling. A trainer who talks about "dominance" or "alpha" dogs is a warning sign.

Qualifications you can check

Three names come up often:

• IMDT (Institute of Modern Dog Trainers, UK) lists qualified members in a public directory.
• APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers, UK) lists members on its site.
• CCPDT (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, US) runs a certified trainer directory.

Cyprus trainers sometimes hold other diplomas or a local certificate instead. Verify each claim on the trainer's own site or the relevant directory, ask for the certificate, and ask which methods and tools they use. Ask each trainer to show the credentials they state.

Where can you find dog training by city?

The trainers below describe a service for dogs on their own website or directory entry.

Nicosia

Nikolas Nikolaou's IMDT profile lists a 4-day practical instructor course and puppy classes, and links to cyprusdogwalking.com. Alexia Dog Training is based in Nicosia, works with positive reinforcement and says it avoids intimidation, punishment or dominance. Its site says she is certified by the Veterinary Services of Cyprus; so ask her for the certificate.

Limassol

The Dog for Family is run by Arturs Bitenieks, who states a 558-hour cynology retraining programme completed in 2021. It lists €60 for a private session and €20 for a one-hour group class of 3 to 10 dogs at a training ground (website, checked 8 November 2026). Canine behaviour consultant Nick Ravignat, who works in Limassol and Paphos, described a positive-reinforcement approach in Cyprus Mail (9 March 2026), but he is not listed in the table.

Paphos

K9 Solutions describes a UK-trained trainer with more than 30 years of experience. Prices are on its own services page. Dog Center Paphos was updated in June 2026 and offers "Puppy ABC" and basic obedience; its owner does not publish qualifications or methods, so ask before booking.

Larnaca and Famagusta district

There is no Larnaca or Famagusta-district trainer in the table. Alexia Dog Training says it serves Larnaca and the free areas of Famagusta district, and Dogs Aloud Cyprus works island-wide.

Where can you let your dog off the lead?

Municipal fenced areas are the safest option while a puppy learns recall.

• Limassol: the municipal dog park in Zakaki has three fenced sections, including an off-lead area for one owner's dogs. When it opened in April 2021 the municipality said it was open daily except Thursdays (9:00 to 17:00 November to April, 9:00 to 19:00 May to October). Hours may have changed, so call the municipality first.
• Nicosia: Strovolos Municipality opened a second dog park in Akropoli Park in January 2023, built for small dogs. Its first park is on Agathonos Street in Agios Dimitrios Park.
• Larnaca: a dog park opened in January 2021 with free entry, and the municipality revamped the Kassianes (Spyros) dog beach in August 2024 with free beds, umbrellas and toilets.

What are the dog laws you need to know?

Official rules sit with Veterinary Services and your local authority. A 2022 summary by AGP Law of the Dog Law (184(I)/2002) says that:

1. You need a dog licence from your community or municipality, renewed yearly; the fee depends on breed and gender.
2. The dog must be microchipped and entered in the Central Dog Register through Veterinary Services.
3. You need a health booklet from a registered vet.

Parliament approved amendments to the Dog Law in April 2026, so check the current text and fees before you rely on older figures. A fine of up to €300 for littering or €200 for an unregistered dog appeared in a 2023 bill, so do not treat it as current.

Dangerous breeds: Cyprus has stricter rules for certain breeds, and Cyprus Mail reported in 2023 that existing owners can keep them. Ask Veterinary Services for the current breed list before you buy or adopt.

On beaches, dogs generally must be on a lead, and swimming is allowed only in designated dog areas, according to Politis (25 July 2026). Listed dog beaches include Kassianes in Larnaca, Acheleia near Paphos, Karavopetra in Limassol district and Potamia in Kapparis. Carry your health booklet. In the hunting season, keep your dog on a lead in the countryside; see our hunting season guide.

What to do next

1. Book a vet check and make sure your dog is chipped and registered: see vets for pets in Cyprus by city.
2. If you need cover while you train, read pet sitters, boarding and dog walkers.
3. Thinking of adopting? See adopting a pet in Cyprus: shelters and rescues.
4. Message two trainers, ask about methods, tools and credentials, and book a trial session before paying for a package.
5. Ask your municipality for the dog licence and for current dog park opening times.