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| Have you given the good citizen scheme a go? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 12 2012, 06:48 PM (729 Views) | |
| Julie Smith | Jul 12 2012, 06:48 PM Post #1 |
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If yes, with what breed, which levels have you achieved and what was the most challenging? If you haven't given it a go - why not? What would encourage you to give it a go? |
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| Lorraine Bolton | Jul 12 2012, 07:01 PM Post #2 |
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When I enquired from my local training club it was going to cost £40.00 for the course. At the moment I can't afford to pay that money. I have a Buhund and they love training ... any training. In the course of things I appreciate £5.00 a lesson is not much. |
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| Julie Smith | Jul 12 2012, 07:09 PM Post #3 |
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How many are in the class and how long is the class Lorraine? We charge £3 a session but do charge the complete term, that was a harsh lesson learned in the early days when folks didn't turn up every week and it was a struggle to pay the hall. We do however take instalments as we don't want anybody to miss out due to financial constraints. |
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| Jane Dolphin | Jul 12 2012, 07:10 PM Post #4 |
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Hi, Julie. I have done GCDS with both of my Staffordshire bull terriers. My dog has gold and my bitch has silver. 'Stop the dog' was the most challenging for both of mine cos they just want to be with me! :D |
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| Julie Smith | Jul 12 2012, 07:24 PM Post #5 |
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Well done Jane. I agree Stop the dog can be challenging. I tend to teach it progressively starting with halt command, they halt and sit, stand, down on lead and we build it up from there. Staffords love people and for some it is a real challenge not to head straight for their best pal. Along with the recall I feel halt is up there with the most important things you ask a dog to do - it could save their life. |
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| Lorraine Bolton | Jul 12 2012, 07:28 PM Post #6 |
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It's an 8 week course, the lady I spoke to didn't seem interested in offering alternatives when I mentioned the money situation. Yes I do understand why clubs are doing this now. I think I will enquire again and mention instalments, even if I offered to pay it by instalments up front, before I started a course.
Edited by Lorraine Bolton, Jul 12 2012, 07:28 PM.
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| Jane Dolphin | Jul 12 2012, 07:51 PM Post #7 |
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Minor Puppy
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The training our dogs have gained from Good Citizen has made both of them easy to take anywhere. We often go on jaunts in the countryside. One of our regular walks is on a farmer's field with public right of way. Cars and farm vehicles use it. The command 'Stop'! Raef lies down like a sheepdog and Inka stands still. As you say, could save their lives! |
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| Gary Hinsley | Jul 12 2012, 08:03 PM Post #8 |
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Likes a moan
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I hold my hands up to the fact that I know very little about GC scheme, shamefull really, but I think we sometimes get blinkered in what we do and see nothing else. I shall read this seaction with great interest now, Doris the pug would be good to go I think as the Shiba's, well, you never know what mood they're in from one day to the next!!. |
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| Becky Smith | Jul 12 2012, 08:20 PM Post #9 |
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I have put three Whippets through to Gold level. One of them didn't actually do the training course for it but as they were doing the test, they asked if I wanted to try and she passed! The stop was one of the harder parts for another dog, although he did it for real when his lead came unclipped when he shook, he didn't want to do it at training! He did it for the test though. |
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| Julie Smith | Jul 12 2012, 08:38 PM Post #10 |
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Lovely whippets I can't help but admire them as a breed. |
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| Lorraine Bolton | Jul 12 2012, 08:45 PM Post #11 |
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Me too Julie, always had a soft spot for whippets. |
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| Sophie Bolton | Jul 12 2012, 10:03 PM Post #12 |
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My two pups are going through the PGC ATM, I'm going to start on the bronze at some point soon. I think it teaches them the basics and it gives them something to get their brain into. I do think GC classes are not taken as seriously at shows as the other classes tho which is a real shame as a lot of efforts put into achieving GC. |
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| LINDA HALL | Jul 13 2012, 07:48 AM Post #13 |
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I have 4 staffords - I started doing the good citizen scheme with my beloved Bobbie, when she was 2 years old to give her something do do whilst she recovered from various operations, we failed our first gold test -- cos the bugger went off for cuddles to the folk sitting at the side whilst we where doing our off lead task,, oh dear she sailed through the next test,, so gained bronze/silver/gold. we couldnt manage the clubs advance test cos it was more formal feet and close work positions and with her joint problems couldnt manage such tight turns etc, but she still loved going to "skool" every week . Kaos passed the puppy foundation, bronze and silver by 18 weeks old, but for various reasons such as house moves etc it was another couple of years before we sat the gold,, she passed with flying colours. my puppies Squirt and Clutta have been attending classes since 10 weeks old,, have their puppy foundations and first bronze test I think is in August, the club I use only charges £30 for the initial new beginners course ( 6 /7 weeks ) which is for pups and dogs not haven had traing before ,, after that its £2 an hour pay as you attend and you can go to any of the classes held on 4 different days at two community centres.. a bargain trip out with your dogs . Bobbie didnt do new beginners, went staright into classes,, Kaos didnt have too do new begginers but I paid and did it so she got the chance to puppy socialsie too,, with the pups I didnt have too pay for the couse could just take them along so I used to take one in new beggineers class then the other one in the bronze class and swap them around weeek by week ,, now they attend the bronze and silver classes,, and Kaos still goes to skool lol . I think all dogs should attend "skool" from being puppies ,, and more so the owners lol |
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| Sophie Bolton | Jul 13 2012, 08:19 AM Post #14 |
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That's good going Linda, I'm finding it hard to get to the classes at the minute as its about a hour and halfs drive away and I'm car sharing :( just hope I can get back before they get to old. Our clubs ringcraft train for the GC as well and its all inclusive plus a lovely evening out with friends. It has turned into a bit of a cupa tea and cake club as well. |
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| Alison Hinsley | Jul 13 2012, 11:07 AM Post #15 |
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Tigerbull - more claws than paws!
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My Stafford Molly has her bronze and silver GC awards and was the first Stafford win the class at Crufts. Celt and Lilly also have their bronze awards :O) |
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| LINDA HALL | Jul 13 2012, 01:43 PM Post #16 |
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first year Kaos was at Crufts we got a 3rd in Graduate and 1st good citizen,,, at the time I did not know that has she only been in good cit, we would have been in the line up, but the first in g.c qualified her for crufts the following year. Sophie,, I have moved to a lovely bungalow which is now only 2 miles from my dog train club,,, I have also started teaching the Bronze test exercises at the Northeastern S.B.T.C. monthly ringcraft,, we take about half an hour out of each session ,, I will do more and some one to ones once my pups get the hang of their ringcraft lol ,, we will programme a bronze test once we have covered all the excercises,, |
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| Sophie Bolton | Jul 13 2012, 03:02 PM Post #17 |
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Sounds like your doing the same thing ie taking time out at ringcraft to teach GC. I wish our club was only a couple of miles away, my pups will end up feral at this rate lol. :) |
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| LINDA HALL | Jul 13 2012, 09:48 PM Post #18 |
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dont worry -- you'll be in good company, mine ,, Clutta is a nightmare in fact he was nearly put up for adoption today lol, well behaved at class as noughty as male pups go outside lol |
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| Nichola Marshall | Jul 13 2012, 11:08 PM Post #19 |
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I never did the course but did do obedience so when a club show had a test / exam I took one of my girls (Luna) in a and she got her bronze. I don't think the examiner was massively impressed with my language during the off lead recall. Luna spotted someone eating outside the ring and started to veer off towards them... Cue best growly snarly voice 'Ged here you cow!'. The examiner said she didn't think that that was necessary and I apologised profusely although I was thinking 'you probably wouldn't say that if you had been there that time she ran off across the park, into the midst of a child's birthday picnic and gobbled up their birthday cake.' |
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| Lorraine Bolton | Jul 14 2012, 05:41 AM Post #20 |
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Nichola, that is so funny. |
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