There are awards schemes you can join, for dogs and their owners.
These schemes mark your progress along the dog training journey.
They help you assess the level of skill you have reached with your dog.
Awards help to break the training process down into achievable ‘chunks’ and enable you to measure how far and how well you have progressed.
Training schemes and awards
The following schemes offer certificates for dogs that meet set standards in training and skill
- The Kennel Club’s Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme
- The Gundog Club’s Graded Training Scheme
According to the Kennel Club, the Good Citizen Scheme is the largest dog training scheme in the UK. It aims to promote responsible dog ownership and includes basic dog care and handling as well as basic obedience training.
The scheme is an excellent foundation for more advanced training of any kind and is divided into three levels, bronze, silver and gold.
You can find out more about these levels on the Kennel Club website
Around half of all registered pedigree dogs in the UK belong to the ‘gundog group’ which includes our most popular breeds, the Labrador Retriever and the Cocker Spaniel. The Gundog Club has set up a graded training scheme specifically for gundog breeds and designed to work in harmony with gundog instincts such as hunting and retrieving.
You can find out more on the Gundog Club’s website