Kennel Club Good Citizens Bronze, Silver and Gold
All levels of the GCDS are available.
All levels of the GCDS are available.
All levels of the GCDS are available.
The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme has 3 levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold.
The Bronze Award is the first level of training following on from Puppy Courses or for dogs over the age of 20 weeks. The Course follows the content of the Kennel Club Good Citizens Scheme, meaning that the Course is structured and has set exercises that should be achieved by the end of the Course. We will also include additional content such as target and movement work. At the end of 8 weeks, there will be the option to enroll for an additional 2 weeks to take the Kennel Club Good Citizen Scheme Bronze award. More details of the Bronze scheme can be found by CLICKING HERE
The Course runs for 8 weeks with each session lasting for 1 hour. Weeks 1 to 6 are training excercises. Week 7 is a “Dummy” examination to see how the Dogs get on and then work on any problem areas. Week 8 is the examination. The examination will be led by a Trainer / examiner who has not previously taught the group.
The lessons will take place at the same time and venue each week (unless you are notified in advance by one of the training team).
Our courses are limited to small groups and where possible will be made up of dogs of a similar age and ability, although everyone works at their own pace. The more practice you put in at home between the lessons, the more you will get out of the course. We provide easy to follow help sheets each week that assist with training practice in-between lessons. There are 2 Little Orchard trainers per lesson ensuring that kind training and good advice is always available.
Some of the elements in the Bronze Good Citizens Dog Scheme:
As well as teaching the elements required for the Bronze Examination, we also include an introduction to clicker training, food manners, play, gaining attention, trick training, down and stand positions.
We use the clicker training for all courses from Bronze Level onwards. We demonstrate how it encourages your dog to learn and be positive about their training, giving you better results.
This is the second level of training, which is designed to follow on from the Bronze Course.
The elements involved in the Silver Good Citizens Dog scheme:
During the Silver Course we train you in the required elements as well as working on more advanced training in off lead heelwork, trick training, increased attention and being able to train using less frequent food rewards. More details of the Bronze scheme can be found by CLICKING HERE
This is the third level of training, which follows on from the Silver Course.
The elements involved in the Gold Good Citizens Dog Scheme:
During the Gold Course we train you in the required elements as well as working on more advanced training in off lead heelwork, increased attention and being able to train using less frequent food rewards. The Gold Training requires a lot more practice away from the sessions, as there is a big jump up from Silver to Gold in the standard required. Full details can be found by CLICKING HERE
The Kennel Club list a number of conditions that we must meet in order to hold Good Citizen Courses. Likewise, they list a stringent set of guidelines that all examiners must adhere to when conducting tests. At Little Orchard we have a strict policy to follow the guidelines, which will be explained, to everyone before the test day.
Sally and Willow: “This course teaches us how to train our dogs to behave correctly at home and the outside environment . It’s good fun but has the serious element behind it. Sarah and Stuart at Little Orchard, with their helpers, are great trainers and helpful in every aspect. Having gone through the Puppy course plus Bronze and Silver KC good Citizen courses ‘Willow’ is a happy bouncy dog. I fully recommend them in any training aspect.”
Liv and Alfred: “Working through the good citizens programme at Little Orchard has given us a great understanding of foundation skills which have been so applicable to daily life, from everything to walks, vet trips and visits to the pub! I’ve learnt so much that I’ve been able to apply to our other training courses and am so grateful for the lessons good citizens has taught both me and my dog.”