The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme is open to all dogs, young or old, pedigree or Crossbreed, whether Kennel Club registered or not.
Dog owners of any fitness level or disability can take part too. The Scheme is non-competitive and emphasis is placed on the standard of achievement. There are 4 levels of courses from Puppy Foundation, to Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards.
Each level involves a gradual development of basic exercises included in daily life situations.
Puppy Foundation
- Responsibility and care
- Cleanliness and identification
- Attentive response to name
- Puppy play
- Socialisation
- Handling and inspection
- Puppy recall
- Basic puppy positions
- Walking in a controlled manner
- Stay for approximately 10 seconds
- Take article away from the puppy
- Food manners
Bronze
- Cleanliness and identification
- Collar and lead
- Walk on lead
- Control at door/gate
- Controlled walk amongst people and dogs
- Stay on lead for one minute
- Groom
- Present for examination
- Return to handler
- Responsibility and care
Silver
- Play with the dog
- Road walk
- Rejoin the handler
- Stay in one place
- Vehicle control
- Come away from distractions
- Controlled greeting
- Food manners
- Examination of the dog
- Responsibility and care
Gold
- Road walk
- Return to handler’s side
- Walk free beside handler
- Stay down in one place
- Send the dog to bed
- Stop the dog
- Relaxed isolation
- Food manners
- Examination of the dog
- Responsibility and care
Further information for dog owners can be found on the Kennel Club web site