On Friday 2^nd February, the Kennel Club invited their most proactive members of the Good Citizen Dog Scheme and KC Dog to attend the annual awards ceremony to pick up their trophies as winners of their categories.

The awards are held in recognition of the significant contribution made by members, as both the schemes rely on member activity to promote and champion their causes of responsible dog ownership and the rights of all dog owners.

The KC Good Citizen Dog Scheme (GCDS) is the largest dog training programme in the UK and over 188,500 dogs and their owners have successfully passed. The scheme promotes responsible dog ownership through behavioural training; providing socially acceptable dogs and enhancing society’s attitude towards dogs.

KC Dog, the Kennel Club dog owners group, was established to help dog owners protect themselves by keeping participants informed about local policies that may affect their rights. KC Dog launched at Crufts 2006 and can already count 600 participants, and rising. And being its first awards made the awards ceremony extra special.

The presentations were made by Ronnie Irving, Chairman of the Kennel Club, and were followed by a congratulatory lunch reception at the Kennel Club in Piccadilly, and a tour of the headquarters.

The categories for the GCDS awards and winners were as follows;

• KC Registered Training Clubs – Brook Dog Training Club, East Sussex.
• KC GCDS Listed Status Organisations (including Adult Education Centres, Agricultural Colleges, and Armed Forces Training Clubs) – Benefit Dog Training Club, Staffordshire.
• KC Registered Breed Club, KC Registered General Canine Club, KC Registered Ringcraft Club – North Yorkshire and South Durham German Shepherd Dog Club.
• Local Council Category - 

i)  Most Innovative Campaign – East Riding of Yorkshire Borough Council, Yorkshire.

ii) Most Effective Campaign – Rossendale Borough Council, Lancashire.

The categories for KC Dog awards and winners;

• KC Dog Local Authority award – Presented to the local authority in KC Dog which members feel successfully consulted with the public on dog issues. Islington Council.

• KC Dog Campaigner award – Two awards were presented to KC Dog participants who have contributed to KC Dog’s success by being actively involved with issues at a local and national level. Kim Gibney Wolverhampton, and Eileen Ayling, West Sussex.

• KC Dog MP award – Presented to an MP who has been supportive of KC Dog. Roger Gale, Kent.

• KC Dog Recognition Award – Presented to a national authority which has made a positive impact to help improve the lives of dogs and their owners. The Forestry Commission www.forestry.gov.uk.          

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said; “We are really pleased to reward these particularly proactive and involved members with their well deserved trophies, for setting an example in responsible dog ownership. This is a particularly special awards ceremony, as this is the first year that KC Dog participants have been involved in the presentation.”

Since its launch at Crufts 2006, KC Dog has greatly improved the effectiveness of the communication between local authorities and responsible dog owners. The continued success of KC Dog relies on the invaluable information provided by participants. And with a membership base growing rapidly, there will be a 1000^th member photocall opportunity at Crufts, for that lucky new member!

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