Training Courses
Welcome to the Training page of the website. We offer a variety of different training regimes, including one to one specialist training should that be required. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your needs; details available on the Contact page. For course dates, please see the home page.
Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme
We are approved to train and examine dogs under the Kennel Clubs Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme at all levels from the Puppy Foundation Award through to the Gold Award. The Good Citizen Dog Scheme is the biggest dog training scheme in the UK. Its purpose is to encourage responsible dog ownership. The scheme is non-competitive and our courses run over an 8 week period. There is always a presentation evening at the end of each course to award certificates, with free tea/coffee and cakes! A summary of all of the training we provide is detailed below.
Puppy Foundation Training
The main aims of the Puppy Foundation course are to produce a puppy which is responsive to its owner while giving the owner an insight into their responsibilities in dog ownership. Further information can be found here:
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/21400/gcdspuppy.pdf
Bronze Award
The main aims of the Bronze Award are to produce a dog that can walk in a controlled manner on the lead, stay when asked, be inspected/ groomed as required and come when called. Further information can be found here:
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/21392/gcdsbronze.pdf
Silver Award
The main aims of the Silver Award are to build on the foundations created in Bronze with the introduction of a controlled greeting, road walking and vehicle control. Further information can be found here:
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/21404/gcdssilver.pdf
Gold Award
The Gold Award is the highest available in the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme and dogs successfully completing this award will be well behaved, obedient pets. Further information can be found here:
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/21396/gcdsgold.pdf
Ring Craft Training
In order to show dogs, whether in a small Companion dog show or a big Championship dog show, it helps if you know what to expect. First of all it helps if your dog is a reasonable specimen of the breed and is put together with nice conformation. After that, a little training on how to enter dog shows, which classes to enter, how to prepare your dog, and how to present it in a show ring, is extremely helpful. We are a small club but Cathy and Carolyn both have considerable experience of showing dogs and can help you to enjoy showing your dog and can help with all aspects of showing. We hold occasional Ringcraft classes as the need arises which can teach you how to show your dog and get the best out of it in the show ring. Just ask at classes and we can help with any queries.
Agility
Cowal Dog Training Club has been involved with Carol at Train in The Ring / Clear Run Agility for a few years now. It has given club members and others the opportunity to try out something new with their dogs. Agility is a great way to connect with your dog and have lots of fun too. We try and hold at least 4 sessions a year and they are split into morning and afternoon sessions; and held at weekends. Dogs must be 6 months old and be able to follow basic commands. The aims of the agility sessions are to get your dog to really listen to you and follow your instruction. It is uncanny how quickly your dog picks up on the slightest movement and how much they enjoy working with you on something new and challenging.
Humans also find it challenging, and I have found that Blu is much more able to pick up new information than I am and he also knows his left from his right – something I am still working on!
We advertise our agility sessions with Carol at the club, and I would encourage anyone to come along and join us for a great day out with your dog. (We also have coffee and cake to keep our energy levels high!).
