More about the club...

Thank you for your interest in Findon Downs Dog Training Club.

These notes are intended to explain a little about the Club and to help you begin to understand your dog.

Your dog will become what his ancestry, his environment and you make him. Dogs start to learn behaviour as soon as they are born and it is up to you to ensure that they learn acceptable behaviour and not bad habits. If you are prepared to listen to your instructors and to put some thought and effort into training him he will be a good friend for many years, which you can take anywhere and be welcome. That is what we are here to help you achieve - but, it will not be achieved overnight, nothing worthwhile ever is!

If at any time during your time at the Club you do not understand what your instructor is saying, please speak up and ask questions until you are quite sure you understand what is being said. Also, you should ask questions at any time if you have a problem with your dog or there is any aspect of behaviour or training on which you need advice.

There is a list of the Officers, Committee Members and Instructors later in these notes so that you will know who to speak to.

Our Objectives

The Club has two Objectives. They are:-

• To help dog owners train their dogs to be well-behaved companions
• To develop a high standard of training within the Club, so that those who wish may enter Obedience Competitions with their dogs.

To achieve these objectives, the Club runs Training Courses, holds Kennel Club Good Citizen Tests, End of Term Tests at the end of each Training Term, and organises other events to stimulate and assist in the training of dogs.

Training your dog

The Instructors do not train your dog: they teach you to do so. The actual training comes from you, and your Instructor simply helps you to direct your training in the most advantageous manner.

Most dog training needs understanding, patience, perseverance and practise. The Club will teach the first, the rest is up to you.

The rewards of having a loving sociable relationship with your dog are enormous and it is well worth the effort to achieve them. Right from your first attendance at the club, by watching and listening to others and receiving guidance from your Instructors, you will gradually develop the essential communication between yourself and your dog.

Everyone is welcome to stay and watch the later classes and see the high level of obedience that can be achieved.

Technicalities

Bitches in season and puppies who have not yet been vaccinated cannot attend Training Classes but all other dogs are welcome. Puppies are encouraged to attend for socialisation as soon as they have completed their initial course of vaccinations.

When coming to Club, wear soft soled shoes to be kind to your dog and to provide a good grip on the hall floor. Dress comfortably and avoid loose hanging clothes, which may brush against your dog or otherwise interfere with his attention. Trousers are recommended for women. The best training leads are rope, leather or cotton webbing and should be about 4 feet in length. The dog's collar should be a normal flat collar unless your Instructor advises you otherwise. We DO NOT condone the use of check-chains or other harsh training 'aids'.

Your Legal Responsibilities

The owner of a dog has a legal liability for the dog's actions, so if your dog causes any damage to life or property you can be held responsible. This is especially important where there are farm animals, because in addition to claiming damages for injury to his stock, a farmer has the right to shoot any dog running with and appearing to worry livestock.

It is also a legal requirement that a dog should wear some means of identification showing (at least) the name and telephone number of the owner, whenever it is away from the owner's premises. The Dangerous Dogs Act, 1991 provides that it is an offence for a dog to be dangerously out of control, and it is also an offence if there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that a dog may injure any person whether or not the dog is in a public place.