Good Citizen Dog Training by KC

Jacqui-S

Jacqui-S

Moderator
Location
Fife, Scotland
I found a few references to this on a search, but no threads, so starting one.
Sully is just starting on those journey at 7 months, having done some initial Gun Dog training which accelerated very quickly.
My DIL had the first session on Sunday and no 1 was ditching all slip leads which of course the previous trainer (almost) insisted on.
I'm just wondering if any of our current members have experience, tips or advice.
The team also do Assistance Dog Training so there's some crossover.
 
Atemas

Atemas

UK Tour Guide
Location
North Cambridgeshire
I did this with Red when she was very young - I think about 6 months. We were working on the Bronze level but I don’t think we ever achieved this although Red was quite capable at all the tasks away from class. We didn’t really have a good experience and I don‘t look back on it fondly unfortunately. The class we went to was very regimented. It was held indoors. Red used to get very very excited and I found her hard to manage around the other dogs. I felt very judged by the trainers - like we were the naughty pair! Of course with hindsight I realise she was over stimulated and stressed and I was being expected to do things with her which I couldn’t manage in that environment. I feel bad about putting her through that. We went on to do training elsewhere which was fun but learning skills she still has

I’m sure it will be different for Sully
 
Joy

Joy

Location
East Sussex
I did it with Molly and we passed Gold level. On the whole I think it was worth doing - it got me interested in dog training and started me thinking about motivation and reinforcement. Ours was quite good for 'real-life' situations as we trained partly on a public recreation ground with balls and bikes around us and also did walks on lead through the town.
I went to a very cheap dog club where the trainers were all volunteers (and later I was a volunteer trainer for a while), but of course this meant that they weren't all as thoughtful about methods as you would hope.
I'd say anyone should try a class if they feel like it but before you go decide what you are not willing to do - Kennel Club should be force-free but I witnessed one trainer pulling a dog around (which is why I eventually left; because I objected and it was considered acceptable). So just be prepared to say no if asked to do something that would hurt your dog physically or emotionally.
 
Selina27

Selina27

Location
Herefordshire, UK
I will be interested to follow how this goes on Jacqui.
I have not done it myself, so have no first hand knowledge at all. From what I do know of it it sounds in principle a good thing - something to work towards and learn important skills o the way. You would like to think that KC is in the forefront of modern and positive dog training methods.
If I learnt one thing from others in Cassies's early life is the mantra "train the dog in front of you" and personally I would be looking for this in a training set up.
I can understand why they discourage slip leads as used incorrectly they can be unpleasant for the dog concerned, as I am sure we all know.
I am intrigued to know just how the gundog training "accelerated" :):pull::dug::giggl:
 
Jacqui-S

Jacqui-S

Moderator
Location
Fife, Scotland
Selina27 said:
I am intrigued to know just how the gundog training "accelerated"
Click to expand...
It was by NOT training the dog in front of you essentially.
He was only 16-18 weeks or so and had assessment tasks like walking past smoked sausage chunks on the ground.....off lead. And stopping on a recall several feet from you.
He was accepted into the class above the puppy one (which was only 4 weeks) when completed. He was youngest of the bunch.
The trainer wasn't at all +R and a couple of the other dog owners were horrible lead yankers.
It was, in my opinion, a lot of "setting your dog up to fail".
I mean, he learned some things, but not what he needed at the time, and not at all individualised.
 
Selina27

Selina27

Location
Herefordshire, UK
Jacqui-S said:
It was by NOT training the dog in front of you essentially.
He was only 16-18 weeks or so and had assessment tasks like walking past smoked sausage chunks on the ground.....off lead. And stopping on a recall several feet from you.
He was accepted into the class above the puppy one (which was only 4 weeks) when completed. He was youngest of the bunch.
The trainer wasn't at all +R and a couple of the other dog owners were horrible lead yankers.
It was, in my opinion, a lot of "setting your dog up to fail".
I mean, he learned some things, but not what he needed at the time, and not at all individualised.
Click to expand...
Too sad 😔
 
Stacia

Stacia

Location
Malvern Worcestershire
Joy said:
I did it with Molly and we passed Gold level. On the whole I think it was worth doing - it got me interested in dog training and started me thinking about motivation and reinforcement. Ours was quite good for 'real-life' situations as we trained partly on a public recreation ground with balls and bikes around us and also did walks on lead through the town.
I went to a very cheap dog club where the trainers were all volunteers (and later I was a volunteer trainer for a while), but of course this meant that they weren't all as thoughtful about methods as you would hope.
I'd say anyone should try a class if they feel like it but before you go decide what you are not willing to do - Kennel Club should be force-free but I witnessed one trainer pulling a dog around (which is why I eventually left; because I objected and it was considered acceptable). So just be prepared to say no if asked to do something that would hurt your dog physically or emotionally.
Click to expand...
Yours was a good class and I had one like that where we walked in the town (it was evening so there were drunks!) and a class with virtually no teaching. In the Gold test the stay exercise was mandatory, if the dog broke the stay, you failed. My dog stayed, several others moved and I was asked if I would do it again with the other dogs to help them!
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
Of course my experience was in the US, so not the KC, but I did Canine Good Citizen Classes with both my Rottie boys and with Brogan I did the exam itself as the first step towards his Assistance Dog training and certification. It was a long time ago, but I remember enjoying the classes and finding them practical if not very challenging.

In our case, both the classes and the testing were offered by private trainers whom I already knew were R+ and that I liked, and who already knew and liked my dogs. So you could say we were starting with a leg up.

In both cases, they were easy classes to the point of being a little boring, mainly because I’d taken both dogs to every class I could find from puppyhood. Also as I’ve said before, Rotties are super chilled out (at least mine were) so it was a bigger challenge for other higher energy breeds.

I’m still really glad I took both the classes and the exam. It boosted my confidence for what was to come for Assistance Dog training, especially for the exam part.

There was also a focus on how you, your dog, and the community as a whole interact, which differed from other classes i had taken. It started me thinking more about how my dog was perceived in public and what I could do to work with him in public spaces.

Plus it was fun and I got a lot of pride from the little vest patch and certificate. ☺
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top