Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme

D

Dobiegirl

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 February 2011
Messages
6,975
Location
Wildest Somerset
Visit site
Just got back from dog training and decided to sign up for the above starting with the bronze.Nowthe idea about going to dog training is for Darcy to get used to strange dogs she is very nervous but has never growled so while the obedience is going very well I feel her fear is not being addressed and is likely going to be our undoing if we progress to silver and gold. The dog trainer is a behaviorist and I did say Darcy is nervous of other dogs and the trainer just said she would be helped with clicker training but didnt offer any more advice.

Have I signed up for the wrong class? and should I be looking to go somewhere else and with a trainer who specialises in dogs with problems.
 
Many moons ago when Bear was little I did the good citizens scheme with her. You didn't get behaviourists etc back then or if you did no one told me about them :p She was nervous of other dogs but the weekly socialising helped her loads and tho she was always a bit of a wuss she made friends with a few doggies there and enjoyed it :)
 
Grr I just typed a long reply and managed to delete it!!!! :mad::mad:

Just to say, we have a dog-aggressive GSD (she was attacked when she was 2 and ever since, has got in there before the other dog has, as it were) and we did bronze and silver GCS with her and passed both :) we had weekly group training sessions (I trained her and my dad lead the class) in which she had to socialise with other dogs under control (it was an obedience class).
The more we did it, the better she got and dogs became less and less of a distraction for her; she even managed to tolerate another GSD (same age, also called Tara!) and play with her for about oooh, 3 minutes then they'd both have a tussle! She quite happily played with the babies there and once we were working, nothing bothered her and her greatest moment was doing a weave between 16 other GSDs - offlead.
I'm sorry if you know this but the other sections in the bronze are on this PDF

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/2850/gcdsbronze.pdf

Have a word with your trainer 1 to 1 after the session or some other time; she will be able to tell you also if Darcy is ready to take part or not :)
K x
 
Last edited:
You will probably work for the GC awards within the class and do other stuff too, I certainly did with Evie. Some socialisation is involved in the higher awards, they have to pass other dogs off lead, do a group stay etc. The fact that she is working and concentrating will hopefully help with her nervousness, she will hopefully gain confidence as the weeks pass. Be warned though I was a complete nervous wreck before I did the gold with Evie, it was ridiculous. :p
 
My training class allows you to work for these (well they would if you were allowed in a class , and not in the ASBO dog one to one bit!!!) We will get there eventually- but it is actually good to be around other dogs.... Dex has a massive over reaction to them so it is nice just to be able to work him close to them......
 
we do our training in the summmer in a feild with introduction, puppy and bronze on one night silver and gold on another night. As everyones there at the same time its great for socilisation and we go for walks after. In the winter we are in a church hall, one class at a time so not so much oppertunity before class but more socilisation in class, weaving, working closer together etc.
 
Thanks guys for your replies and encouragement. One thing that puts me off is they are allowed off lead to socialize and they all seem to make a beeline for Darcy. This in my opinion is flooding and she just gets overwhelmed and this does not help her confidence plus Im worried she just might turn on them. If she is allowed to approach dogs in her own time shes fine but having had a dog aggressive dog before I worry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top