Puppy Foundation
 

This course lays the foundations for early learning and assists new puppy owners in understanding basic training techniques. Enrolment can take place from 8 weeks of age, and course completion up to 12 months of age. This award level is assessed by the class instructor over an eight week course (minimum four-week period).

AIM

The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Puppy Foundation Assessment aims to provide a means of socialising puppies and to lay down a foundation for education and training. On successful completion of the course puppies will respond to their handlers and the handlers will have an awareness of the responsibilities of dog ownership. The inclusion of play exercises adds an extra dimension to a dog’s life and can be used to make training fun. Constructive play and suitable incentives are encouraged within this puppy training programme.

ELIGIBILITY

Age definition – up to a maximum of 12 months old. At their discretion the course organiser can set a minimum age for enrolment. A puppy must attend for a minimum of four weekly sessions. The course should be focused around the progress of the puppy and its owner over a period of time and not on the first or one particular meeting. The enrolment of puppies onto the Puppy Foundation Assessment should be carefully monitored, especially to ensure that puppies complete the course before they reach the maximum age for this Scheme.

Good Citizen Bronze
 

The bronze award aims to produce a dog that will walk and behave in a controlled manner. It is a basic standard that all adult dogs can achieve with correct handling. Owners must show that they have means of picking up after their dog and that their dog is wearing a lead and collar with the name and the address of the owner inscribed on the collar/disc to take part.

AIM

The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bronze Award aims to produce a dog that will walk and behave in a controlled manner on the lead, will stay in one position on command, will allow its owner to clean, groom and inspect it, a dog that will walk and behave in a happy natural manner, under control on the lead. The dog must also be able to be positioned by its handler for inspection i.e. stand, sit or lie down on either side or on its back, all on the lead. The dog must come to hand when called. The Bronze award aims to provide the handlers with a basic knowledge of understanding and training their canine companion.

ELIGIBILITY

The Scheme is aimed at all dogs whether Kennel Club registered or not, there is no age limit. For the Bronze Test, dogs are not required to have completed the Puppy Foundation Assessment programme. Handlers must show that they have means of cleaning up after their dog and that it has proper identification. It is a legal requirement to inscribe the name and the address of the owner on the collar or on a plate or disc attached to it. Engraved tags can be purchased from the Kennel Club website. With effect from the 6th April 2016 dogs are required to have a microchip which is registered on a Defra approved database, in the UK (check exemptions).

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Good Citizen Silver
 

The silver award aims to build on the skills learned in the bronze award while increasing the level of difficulty. It is a natural progression of practical dog training skills and introduces new concepts such as greeting a friend, vehicle control and a road walking exercise which are vital in everyday life situations.

AIM

The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Silver Award aims to build upon the skills learned in the Bronze Award whilst increasing the level of difficulty. The Silver Award is a natural progression of practical dog training skills and introduces new concepts such as the controlled greeting, road walk and vehicle control exercises which are important in everyday life situations. The Silver Award aims to provide handlers with a good knowledge of understanding and training their canine companion.

ELIGIBILITY

The Scheme is aimed at all dogs whether Kennel Club registered or not, there is no age limit. For the Silver Test Examiners will only accept dogs that have already been awarded a Bronze Award Certificate. Handlers must show that they have means of cleaning up after their dog and that it has proper Identification. It is a legal requirement to inscribe the name and the address of the owner on the collar or on a plate or disc attached to it. Engraved tags can be purchased from the Kennel Club website. With effect from the 6th April 2016 dogs are required to have a microchip which is registered on a Defra-approved database, in the UK (check exemptions). Examiners are required to check each dog’s eligibility and the suitability of their lead, collar and equipment prior to the test commencing.

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Good Citizen Gold
 

The gold award is the highest level of achievement within the scheme awards. It builds upon the skills learnt in the silver award and develops more advanced training skills of the dog and handler. The gold award introduces new concepts such as sending a dog to bed, relaxed isolation, an emergency stop and heelwork off the lead, all of which provide greater understanding and control.

AIM

The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Gold Award is the highest level of achievement of the Scheme. It builds upon the skills learnt in the Silver Award and develops more advanced training skills of the dog and handler. The Gold Award is a natural progression of practical dog training skills and introduces new concepts such as relaxed settle, stop the dog and send the dog to bed exercises, which are important in every day life situations. The Gold Award aims to provide handlers with a greater knowledge and understanding of their canine companion. Dogs that are awarded a Gold Certificate should reach the required standards in all exercises and be a worthy representative of the Scheme’s highest standard. Where possible it is preferable that certain exercises are tested at indoor and outdoor locations.

ELIGIBILITY

The Scheme is aimed at all dogs whether Kennel Club registered or not. Dogs must be a minimum of 12 months old to be eligible to take part in a Gold Award Test. For the Gold Test, Examiners will only accept dogs that have been awarded a Silver Award Certificate. Handlers must show that they have means of cleaning up after their dog and that it has proper identification which is legally compliant. With effect from the 6th April 2016 dogs are required to have a microchip which is registered on a Defra-approved database, in the UK (check exemptions). Examiners are required to check each dog’s eligibility and the suitability of their collar, lead and equipment prior to the test commencing.

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More Information on each course can be downloaded below:

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How to become a member and/or register for a class

Please complete the registration form at the foot of this page.