Greenford Canine Training Club
Good Citizen Dog Scheme
Established in 1992, The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training scheme is the largest dog training programme in the UK. The scheme is open to all dogs, young or old, pedigree or crossbreed. Dogs do not need to be registered with The Kennel Club to take part. The scheme promotes responsible dog ownership by teaching owners to train their dog for everyday life situations. There are four award levels: Puppy Foundation, Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Puppy Foundation
Those of you who have owned your dog from a puppy will be aware of how important it is to start educating your dog from a young age. Before your puppy settles in to a new environment and starts setting the ground rules, it is vital to provide him or her with an interesting and educational learning programme. This can set the foundations for the future and help you live a happy life with your new family member.
How will courses be conducted?
The Puppy Foundation Assessment will be based on the puppy and its owner's attendance at training classes. It is not an award that is conducted on a one-test basis. The thinking behind the Puppy Foundation Assessment course is that puppies learn on a gradual basis, over a period of time. This way a puppy will have time to settle into a new class and gradually build up solid foundations for the future. Upon enrolment onto a course your puppy will receive an introduction pack including the Puppy Foundation Syllabus, a Puppy Foundation diary and Canine Code.
How old does my puppy have to be?
Greenford Canine Training Club enrol puppies for their course from as young as 10 weeks, but this subject to the discretion of the training course Instructor. The Instructor may ask that the puppies have completed their second vaccination, before enrolment. The maximum age for a puppy to enrol will again depend on the individual Instructor, but will not normally be older than 10 months old.
How long does it take to complete the course?
The course runs for 6 weeks during which the puppies must attend for a minimum of 4 weekly sessions.
What does my puppy have to do?
As part of any normal dog training process, training the owner is as important as training the puppy, therefore both owners and puppies are assessed. The course includes 12 different exercises and each exercise will be covered as part of each training session.
​
Click this link for full details of the Puppy Foundation Assessment
Bronze Award
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. 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 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.
Standard Required
The test is non competitive but examiners should be satisfied that dogs are worthy of passing. Examiners should also observe the spirit of the Scheme, which is to produce happy, contented dogs, which are well behaved, and under the control of handlers who fully understand the responsibilities to their dogs, to their neighbours and to the community. A Certificate will be awarded when the required standard has been achieved.
​
Silver Award
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.
Standard Required
The test is non-competitive but Examiners should be satisfied that dogs are worthy of passing. Examiners should observe the spirit of the Scheme, which is to produce happy, contented dogs, which are well behaved and under the control of handlers who fully understand the responsibilities to their dogs, to their neighbours and to the community. A Certificate will be awarded when the required standard has been achieved.
​
Gold Award
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 advance 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 isolation, 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, there is no age limit. For the Gold Test, Examiners will only accept dogs that have already 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. 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.
Standard Required
The test is non-competitive but Examiners should be satisfied that dogs are worthy of passing. Examiners should observe the spirit of the Scheme, which is to produce happy, contented dogs, which are well behaved and under the control of handlers who fully understand the responsibilities to their dogs, to their neighbours and to the community. A Certificate will be awarded when the required standard has been achieved.
Any uncontrolled, mouthing, barking, growling or other threatening behaviour is not acceptable and further training will be required before the dog can be passed. In order that it be meaningful the testing must be carried out rigorously. Emphasis must be placed upon the ability of the handler to handle, care for and generally be responsible for their dog.
​