In a region known for mining precious metals, the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme struck Gold in the Scottish Highlands recently. The scheme held its latest set of Examiner Assessment courses at Evanton Sports Centre near Dingwall, Ross-shire on 25th & 26th June, with 11 Bronze, 14 Silver and 6 Gold certificates awarded to scheme enthusiasts.

The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme (GCDS) is the UK’s largest dog training programme and is divided into four separate levels: Puppy Foundation, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Passing an Examiner Assessment course entitles the successful candidates to examine scheme participants at the relevant GCDS award level.

The courses were attended by candidates from all over the Scottish Highlands, including some of the most northern regions like Brora, Sutherland, Wick and even the Orkney Isles, each of whom had qualified by being an instructor and having an involvement in the GCDS for five years.

The course, which consisted of a seminar, written exam and three practical sessions, tested each candidate’s knowledge of GDCS guidelines both in principal and practice.

Now in their ninth year of operation, the courses continue to attract great interest from current and prospective scheme examiners and have helped to establish quality standards throughout the UK. The content of these courses has been specifically designed to give each candidate an opportunity to be assessed as an examiner on the scheme’s procedures.

Candidates who have passed these courses are approved to examine and then placed on a GCDS List of Examiners. In total, these training courses have now created 649 Bronze, 427 Silver and 186 Gold Award level examiners. All of these examiners are listed by the Kennel Club and used as a first port of call to provide recommendations for those looking for someone to examine GCDS tests.

Heidi Lawrence, the Kennel Club’s Education Manager, said: “We have been aware for some time that training clubs in the northern parts of Scotland have found it difficult to implement the GCDS as there has been a shortage of examiners to conduct scheme tests. We have received an encouraging response to the scheme’s courses that we have run in this area and this now helps to provide further support to GCDS clubs by increasing the number of specially trained examiners available, and in turn unifies standards throughout the UK. Congratulations to all who passed.”

For more information regarding the Examiner Assessment courses please go to the scheme’s website www.gcds.org.uk, or contact the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme on 020 7518 1011 or by email: gcds@thekennelclub.org.uk.

Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme Examiner Assessment course results

Held at Evanton Sports Centre on Saturday 25^th & Sunday 26^th June 2011

ENDS

[216.11]

8^th July 2011

IMAGE BRONZE AWARD:

Top Row - Left to Right:  Anne Fryatt, Colin Thain, Anne Ripley, Nicola Ayres, Pip Whitelaw, Eleanor McBeath, Amanda Grant

Bottom Row - Left to right: Gloria Kelly, Barbara Smith and Laura Cruickshank

IMAGE GOLD AWARD:

Left to Right Lyn Paterson, Julie McDonald, Lyn Wells, Gloria Kelly, Eleanor McBeath and Lesley Drever

SILVER AWARD:

Images available upon request

For further press information, images or interview requests please contact:

The Kennel Club Press Office

020 7518 1008

press.office@thekennelclub.org.uk

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Good Citizen Dog Scheme (GCDS) 

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