Bexley Dog Training Club

8:30pm Silver and Gold Awards class

Silver Award

The dog and handler must have passed the Bronze Award before they can take the Silver Award. The Kennel Club have a detailed description of what the dog and handler will have learnt by the end of this course. This includes:

• Play with the Dog: Play adds an extra dimension to a dog's life and can be used to make training fun.
• Road Walk: test the ability of the dog to walk on a lead under control on a public highway
• Rejoin handler: the dog to remain steady, off lead, while the handler moves away, and to rejoin the handler when called
• Vehicle Control: That the dog will enter, stay in, and exit the car safely and under control
• Come away from Distractions
• Stay in one place without changing position: for two minutes with the handler nearby
• Controlled Greeting: without jumping up
• Food Manners: not to beg for or steal food
• Examination: by the examiner, of mouth, teeth, throat, eyes, ears and feet
• Responsibility and Care: Topics include a dog's needs, illness, responsibilities of ownership, other responsibilities, children, barking, dogs and stationary vehicles and vehicle travel

Gold Award

The dog and handler must have passed the Silver Award before they can take the Gold Award, which is the highest standard in the Good Citizen scheme. The Kennel Club have a detailed description of what the dog and handler will have learnt by the end of this course. This includes:

• Road Walk: including changes of pace
• Return to Handler's Side during a lead-free walk
• Walk Free Beside Handler
• Stay Down in one Place: for 2 minutes including 30 seconds withhandler out of sight
• Send the Dog to Bed: with no inducements of toys or food
• Stop the Dog: as if in an emergency
• Relaxed Isolation: for 2 to 5 minutes on a tether with handler out of sight
• Food Manners: not to take food until given permission
• Examination: by a stranger; of mouth, teeth, throat, eyes, ears, stomach,tail and feet
• Responsibility and Care: including
  • children
  • barking
  • dogs and stationary vehicles
  • vehicle travel
  • health
  • worming
  • the Country Code
  • miscellaneous
  • frightening
  • out of control
  • biting
  • psychology of learning

These awards are examined about every 2-3 months, when the majority of dogs in the class are ready. The classes cost £20 for a six-week course on top of the annual club membership fee.