Nominations Open For KCAI Trainer Of The Year 2016

Following the success of last year’s Kennel Club Accreditation Scheme for Instructors in Dog Training and Canine Behaviour (KCAI) Scheme’s Trainer of the Year award, the search is now on to find this year’s winner.

The purpose of the KCAI is to provide dog owners with a wide and accessible choice of competent and qualified dog training instructors and canine behaviourists. The KCAI Trainer of the Year award recognises the outstanding talents of KCAI members who go that extra mile to make a positive difference to the behaviour of dogs and the lives of their human families.

Last year, there was a fantastic response from dog owners to nominate a KCAI trainer who had worked with them, and who they thought would be deserving of the award. The Kennel Club received nearly 1,000 nominations covering 100 KCAI trainers, all of whom were certain that their nominee made a positive difference to their dog and their relationship with their dog.

Jane Ardern was awarded the title of KCAI Trainer of the Year at Crufts in March this year. Jane is a KCAI member who has over 20 years’ experience training dogs and owns her own training college. She is also a dog AID trainer and has trained a German Shorthaired Pointer to reach full assistance dog status.

Since winning KCAI Trainer of the Year, Jane said; “It’s had a great impact on my life. The title has been a great asset to gaining me opportunities on television, in the media, and also more public speaking opportunities to raise more awareness of the KCAI scheme. I have had colleagues and friends deciding to join the scheme. It has helped me grow my business in new ways, but most importantly, the votes made me realise how much I am valued and the impact my work has on people’s lives.”

Nominations are now open to find this year’s KCAI Trainer of the Year, where judges will be looking for trainers who have made a positive difference to the behaviour of dogs and the lives of their owners.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said: “The KCAI Trainer of the Year is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the inspiring talent that so many trainers continue to demonstrate on a daily basis. It’s important to celebrate the commitment and dedication of these KCAI members as they make such a difference for dogs’ lives as well as their human families. We urge people to nominate the trainers that they feel go that extra mile for the lives of dogs and humans alike to get the recognition they truly deserve.”

Dog owners are asked to go to nominate a KCAI trainer that they believe has actively made a difference to the life of their dog and to them. A shortlist of five KCAI trainer finalists will be drawn up from the nominations, to go out to a public vote to find the KCAI Trainer of the Year.

The finalists will be invited to a ceremony held at the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, next March. Here their contribution to dog training will be recognised and the winner announced.

The winner of the KCAI Trainer of The Year award will receive prizes that include a £50 retail voucher and a certificate and trophy.

Dog owners can nominate online until 12pm on Wednesday 7th December 2016.

Find out more about the KCAI scheme.