Obedience
The first step to having an obedient dog is to take it to training, and there is no better place to start than at a Kennel Club registered dog training club or Good Citizen Dog Scheme Listed Status club. You can obtain the address of your nearest registered training club from the Shows, Trials and Awards Department of the Kennel Club. Listed Status clubs follow the Good Citizen Dog Scheme syllabus and a list of organisations can be obtained from the Good Citizen Dog Scheme Department on 020 7518 1011.
Dog training clubs are usually very sociable, where groups of like-minded people meet on a regular basis, and get great enjoyment in training their pets. Most clubs will have a cross-section of breeds (including crossbreeds) and will welcome all standards of handlers and dogs to be trained.
After working a basic dog obedience course, such as the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme programme, you may want to try your hand at more advanced obedience training.
There are six obedience classes available for entry at shows and all dogs start from the basic Pre- Beginners Class and by a series of first prizes qualify through to Class C, the highest (and most difficult). Each class contains a set of exercises which the judge will ask you and your dog to perform. The exercises range from heelwork (on and off the lead), to a recall, control exercises such as a one minute sit and a two minute down stay. As you progress through the classes the exercises obviously become more difficult until you reach Class C where your dog will have to perform (in addition to those previously mentioned) a scent discrimination exercise and also a send away and distant control exercise.
Your first step to competitive obedience may be to enter a Companion Dog Show, a club match or a limited obedience show. Alternatively you may choose to enter a Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Special Pre-beginner Obedience Stakes Class, a Pre-beginner or Beginner Class at a Kennel Club licensed Obedience Show. There are in fact numerous Obedience shows held annually by Kennel Club registered clubs – approximately 270 in all. Details of these shows are published in the Kennel Club’s monthly publication the Kennel Gazette. This is available to order on-line or subscribe to from the Kennel Club Publications Department.
Whatever competition you choose, your dog will be happier for being trained.
For further information and details of training clubs please contact the Kennel Club on 0870 606 6750, extension 212 or email clubsandtraining@thekennelclub.org.uk
