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Your dog may not be rounding up sheep (collies), defending you from wolves (wolfhound) or lions (Rhodesian Ridgeback) but it has been bred with an instinct to do some form of work. Training helps provide the missing mental stimulation for your pet.
BENEFITS OF TRAINING.
To dog: Safety A trained dog is a safer dog. Mental stimulation Boredom can create behavioural problems. Helps create and maintain the close bond between dog and owner.
To owner: Increases your control. Helps maintain a healthy relationship. Helps prevent problems of aggression to other dogs/people. Increases the safety of your pet. Health benefits to owner.
To society: Not all people like dogs but a well controlled dog reduces public concerns about such problems as – Fouling – Aggression – Noise.
And increases Public safety and public health.
THE GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME
The Irish Kennel Club runs a test procedure for pet owners which will help ensure that your canine companion will be a respected member of the community.
The purpose of the GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME is to educate dog owners and those people thinking about acquiring a dog, how to ensure that their canine companion will be a respected member of the community.
Responsible ownership is the answer and it is hoped that through Pet Training Classes around the country we will encourage owners to participate, and be rewarded not only with a rosette and certificate, but truly enjoy a rewarding relationship.
The scheme is under the control of the Irish Kennel Club. Clubs and Training Classes must gain approval from the Irish Kennel Club to hold a Good Citizen Test.
The test is by no means a competition, but designed to assess and officially recognise those dogs who are Happy, Loyal and Well Behaved Companions.
Being a responsible owner means looking after your dog properly in feeding, training, exercise and grooming. You must always ensure that you pet never causes trouble to any member of the Community – Remember not everybody likes dogs! You must also make sure that children in the family are taught from an early age to care for and respect their canine friend.
In building up a relationship both you and your pet can enjoy many years of companionship.
A dog needs a licence, should wear a collar and identification and be under effective control at all times, preferably on a lead in public places.
It is advisable to be aware of the Control of Dogs Act (1986 & Amendment bill of 1991).
The test is constructed to mirror everyday events and to demonstrate that your dog is friendly to people and other dogs and is compliant with your commands.
By the end of the training your dog should be able to reliably do the following:-
Walk on a lead in a controlled manner in the presence of distractions such as a jogger or another handler and dog walking past. Behave in a controlled manner whilst you have a conversation with another dog handler. Lie Down and stay on command. Allow you to groom the dog. Allow you to examine coat, teeth, ears and feet. Allow you to recall or down the dog and to attach the lead, when a short distance away.
You will also be tested. As a responsible owner have you got your pooper scooper and is your dog identifiable by collar tag, microchip or tattoo?
F.A.Q.
IS IT A COMPETITION?
No. There is a simple pass or fail system. No grades or places are awarded.
WHO WILL TEST ME?
A qualified examiner will be appointed who will travel to the club or society organising the test.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
Different training clubs will set their own rate for training. The Irish Kennel Club fee for the test is €10.00 per dog.
IS IT ONLY FOR PEDIGREE DOGS?
No. All pet dogs are eligible to take the test.
HOW OLD SHOULD MY DOG BE TO TAKE THE TEST?
Your dog is eligible for the test once the training is complete, so you can start early.
IS MY DOG TOO OLD?
No. You really can teach old dogs new tricks!
DO I GET ANYTHING TO SHOW I PASSED?
Yes. On successful completion of the test you will received a badge and a certificate from the Irish Kennel Club.
CAN I TAKE THE TEST AGAIN IF I FAIL?
Yes. The aim of the test is to increase responsible dog ownership and compliance by your pet, therefore, you would be encouraged to re-test after the appropriate remedial training.
CAN I DO MORE AFTER THE TEST?
Yes. There are many events and competitions run by the Irish Kennel Club which are open to owners and their dogs – Agility – Field Trials - Obedience – Showing - Working Trials.
Other Dog Activities.
There are various ways that you and your well trained Canine Companion can be useful in Society. For instance PEATA Dogs. PEATA involves the introduction of suitable pet dogs and their owners to long-term patients in hospitals or nursing homes and then visiting those people on a regular basis – maybe once a week. It has been proven that the therapeutic value of the exercise is very beneficial to the patients.
Search & Rescue Dogs.. This is a very specialised aspect of dog work, but, if you are an experienced hill walker, preferably a member of a Mountain Rescue Team, a top class First Aider, a Stretcher Bearer, have passed the Map and Compass Test and have a well trained dog, Search and Rescue will be pleased to talk to you and check your suitability for training.
Film & Stage Work.
For this your dog needs to be well trained, and maybe able to do a few tricks!
THINKING OF GETTING A DOG?
A lot of careful thought should be given to the idea of getting a dog and these are a few items that should be discussed.
Does everyone in the household agree about having a dog?
Will dirty pawmarks on the floor, hairs on clothes or furniture, little accidents until house-training is completed all be understood, and what about the garden?
When problems of the above nature arise it is usually the pup that suffers.
It is advisable to learn as much as possible about the breed you admire, and to speak to as many owners as you can BEFORE purchasing your puppy. Choose a breed of dog suitable to your surroundings and way of life – some breeds make better pets than others. Dogs have been bred to do specific jobs, in some breeds these instincts and traits can make training a bit more challenging. Do you know that some breeds of dogs are naturally more noisy than others?
Most libraries have an excellent selection of books on all aspects of Dogs – Rearing, Training and Working.
A FEW MORE MATTERS TO PONDER ON.
An average dogs life span is 12 years. Are you ready for that commitment?
Is there someone responsible at home most of the time to look after the pup – a quick visit at lunchtime is NOT enough.
Are you prepared to spend time and money to learn how to train your dog to ensure it is a pleasure to live with?
Have you time to groom you dog properly? Long haired breeds can take a lot of time.
Can you afford Veterinary bills if your dog is ill?
Can you afford to feed you dog properly?
Are you prepared to exercise your dog regularly and sufficiently? What about holidays? – Boarding Kennels cost money!
If you can answer YES to all these questions – Congratulations – somewhere there is a puppy looking for you!
SO YOU HAVE DECIDED TO BUY A DOG.
The Irish Kennel Club will give you, free of charge, a list of Breed Club Secretaries where you can obtain information on your chosen breed.
The Irish Kennel Club can also supply a list of Training Clubs where you can ask for advice from the time you purchase your puppy.
When you go to select a puppy ask to see the Mother (Dam) as this can give a reasonable indication of how the pup will develop. The Mother should be friendly and happy for you to see her pups.
If buying a Pedigree Pup always go to a reputable breeder, and expect to get the following items :- Pedigree, Irish Kennel Club Registration Certificate, Microchip Form, Diet Sheet, dates when the puppy was wormed and card signed by the vet stating any inoculations the puppy has received.
THINGS TO REMEMBER.
Keep your dog under control at all times.
Keep him/her under supervision if being allowed off the lead.
Never allow your dog to roam freely in grazing fields or through crops and never allow him/her to chase wildlife or livestock if in the country. Never allow your dog to roam away from home.
Clean up after your dog (bring a plastic bag in your pocket for this purpose).
Do not allow your dog to interfere with passers-by in the street.
Do not let your dog make unnecessary noise by continually barking or howling.
Do not take your dog into food shops or any place where dogs are not welcome.
INFORMATION FOR CLUBS WISHING TO RUN A GOOD CITIZEN TEST
CRITERIA FOR ORGANISING AND ASSESSMENT
The organisers must apply, in writing, to the Irish Kennel Club at least 30 days in advance for permission to hold a Good Citizen Test. The Irish Kennel Club should be notified of the date, venue and name of the assessor for the test.
ASSESSORS
Assessors for the GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME include all approved Judges on the Irish Kennel Club Obedience, Agility or Working Trials lists, Field Trial Judges and any other person approved by the Agility, Obedience and Working Trials Committee of the Irish Kennel Club for this purpose.
THE TEST
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TEST NO. 6 & 7, ALL THE FOLLOWING TESTS TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE EXAMINER.
1. (a) Ensure that collar/ check chain / head collar is correctly fitted. (b) Presence of Identification – Disc, Tattoo or Microchip. (c) Pooper Scooper available. * Not Ready / Passed
2. Walk on a loose lead and in a controlled manner. Dogs can walk on either left or right hand side of handler. Test to include the presence of distractions at a distance of approx. 3 m. (jogger running past, noise i.e. clapping of hands) * Not Ready / Passed
3. Behave in a controlled manner, on a loose lead, whilst walking past a person walking with a dog on a lead. * Not Ready / Passed
4. Behave in a controlled manner, on a loose lead, whilst handler holds a short conversation with a person who has a dog on a loose lead. The Dogs to be in Sit or Down position during the conversation. Duration 1 minute. * Not Ready / Passed
5. Lie down and stay on command. The lead may be left attached to the dogs collar and placed on the ground beside the dog. Handler will leave dog and walk a distance of 3 metres, turn and face the dog. Handler returns on command. Extra commands may be given. Duration 1 minute, dogs to be tested individually. * Not Ready / Passed
6. Grooming – this will be done by the handler and the examiner will observe. * Not Ready / Passed
7. Handler presents the dog on a lead for a cursory examination of coat, teeth, ears and feet - this will be done by the handler and the examiner will observe. * Not Ready / Passed
8. Recall or Stop on command. Dog to be released from lead, when the dog is a short distance away the examiner will instruct the handler to control the dog by either recalling or stopping the dog on command (recall or stop is at the discretion of the handler). In a recall the dog should rejoin the handler and take the sit or down position, and have the lead re-attached. In the stop on command the dog should take up a stand, sit or down position until the handler joins the dog and re-attaches the lead. A toy may be used to gain distance from the handler. * Not Ready / Passed
FOOD AND/OR TOYS MUST NOT BE CARRIED DURING THE TESTS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TEST N0. 8 WHERE A TOY MAY BE USED.
The dog must receive the comment ‘passed’ for each exercise in order to receive a Certificate.
March 2009 |
