HASLEMERE & DISTRICT

DOG TRAINING CLUB

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself !"  -  Josh Billings

TODAY - Haslemere & District Dog Training Club is a thriving and successful dog training club offering a range of dog training classes and activities for all abilities of dog and handler.  The Club has over 200 active members who enjoy both the dog training and social events the club has to offer – we like to have fun !

The Club has a team of experienced and friendly instructors – 2 of whom are Kennel Club Accredited instructors.

We have an excellent reputation for successful pet dog training using modern, kind, reward based methods which are enjoyable for both dog and owners.  The Club?s Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme pass rates are a testament to our effective training.

HOW IT ALL STARTED - The Club beginnings date back to 1967, based in Haslemere (hence the name!).  An advert was put in the local newspaper offering dog training – 2 people turned up! Now we have a membership of some 170!  Our initial venue was lost and a new venue was found at Grayshott Village Hall in December 1967, where we still continue training.

In 1968 the Club was registered with the Kennel Club as a dog training Club. Initially the training sessions were just for Pet dog handling, and over time Kennel Club Good Citizens, Agility, Rally-O, and Heel Work to Music classes were added.  The Club now offers training for the Kennel Club, Good Citizen Dog Scheme with dogs progressing through Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates.

For many years the Agility section ran a large show until problems with the venue size and large entries forced us to stop the shows.   In the eighties and nineties Inter-Club matches were regular events, and were enjoyable social get-togethers.

The Club held competition matches against other local clubs, but these petered out as the club evolved away from competition obedience to companion dog Kennel Club Good Citizens.  However we still compete keenly in the annual Hampshire Rally event.

A great achievement of the Club has been the recent Kennel Club awards under the Good Citizen Dog Scheme – Runner-up in 2011, again in 2012, and 3rd place in 2013.  These awards are based on KCGCDS examination pass numbers plus other contributing factors, such as our charitable activities, and our outreach program where we visit local Cub and Brownie packs to talk about safety around dogs.

We welcome new members - we actively encourage families and children to come along and enjoy having fun training your dog.