The Kennel Club has announced the five finalists hoping to win the KCAI Trainer of the Year title. The public vote is now open to decide the winner, who will be announced at Crufts in 2018.
Returning for the fourth year, the KCAI Trainer of the Year award recognises the outstanding talents of Kennel Club Accredited Instructors (KCAI) Scheme members who go that extra mile to make a positive difference to the lives of dogs and their owners.
Dog owners were invited to nominate a dog training instructor or canine behaviourist who they felt was most deserving of the award. Over 400 nominations were received, shared between 39 individual scheme members from across the UK.
The nominees were shortlisted to five finalists by a panel of judges consisting of representatives from the Kennel Club and City & Guilds. The judges based their decision on the following criteria: making a positive difference to the behaviour of dogs, changing the lives of dogs and/or people, helpfulness and dedication, and making a positive contribution to their wider community.
The five finalists have been announced, and voting is open for the public to decide which trainer they think should win the award.
The finalists are:
- Kay Attwood, Camberley, Surrey
- Barry Harris, Wirral, Merseyside
- Denise Hubbard, Middlewich, Cheshire
- Hilary Mears, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
- Corrine Kennedy, Perth, Perthshire
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said “This award provides the public with a fantastic opportunity to recognise the hard work and achievements of KCAI Scheme dog training instructors, who are going the extra mile to make a difference for dogs and their owners. Their dedication to dog training makes the finalists all deserving winners. We wish them all the very best of luck.”
The finalists have been invited to attend a ceremony to be held at the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, on Saturday 10 March 2018. Here, their contribution to dog training will be recognised and the winner of the KCAI Trainer of the Year award will be announced. As well as receiving the title of KCAI Trainer of the Year, the winner will also receive a trophy, certificate and a £500 voucher for a dog-friendly holiday, courtesy of the KCAI Trainer of the Year sponsor, Hiscox UK, (Kennel Club Trainer Insurance provider).
Find out more about joining the Kennel Club Accredited Instructors Scheme.