Bronze Good Citizens Test

Tonight I examined 6 dogs for the above, 3 of whom passed and 3 of whom were not ready. It was unfortunate that the latter 3 sailed through everything bar the final test, the one minute stay; hopefully they will try again and the others will be going for their silver.

Aww thats a shame
compared to the rest of the bronze a 1 min stay can be quite a tricky thing for some, but sounds like they did really well and I am sure they will get it next time

I loved the classes we went to but I do think she was a little easy on the tests - everyone passed! Which is kinda nice but made a mockery when a dog walked over the top of Mia when she was in her down stay (and good girl that she didnt move)

TBF more dogs fail stays (even at the top level in competition) than all the other exercises put together.

As for fairness, one of the reasons the KC Approved Examiner Assessment scheme came in was to provide some consistency to tests.

It undermines the credibility of the test if those who examine do not take their roles seriously.

I have seen bronze tests done at shows where mutliple attempts were made at stays (this is not allowed under the rules).

It is also grossly unfair IMV that those who work hard to achieve these standards have their attainment cheapened because those who should be deemed not ready are passed.

Also, let us not forget, that with the advent of the GC classes at Championship Shows, this is, in effect, a "qualifier" for a breed class!

I'd love Cain to do these at some stage, our class works towards them and everyone else have done their Bronze and are due to do the Silver soon.

Cain can do everything in Bronze except controlled walking among people and dogs Theres no way he could do that given his issues without acting up, especially inside a hall and without his Halti.

It's a pity as he's up to Silver standard (can do well beyond the required 2 min stay) and can do a fair bit of the Gold (send to bed, his distance stop is coming on well etc). But even if he gets through the Bronze, he couldn't cope with being handled by thr examiner for Silver.

Shame as he's up to 95% of it all. I'm hoping his dog socialisation classes will sort out the first issue. So maybe he'll get there....one day!

I used to teach a class where there was this stonking miniature poodle, I was so taken with it I would have loved to have taken it home and trained it for Working Trials.

He was brill at everything (eventually) however I could not put him forward for the Silver because he would not have been safe to be examined by a stranger.

Shame.

However, IMV if you have attended the training classes and you understand the exercises and why they have been set, it does two things.

1 it provides a structure for training a pet dog
2 it provides dog owners with information for when they get their next dog

So yes it is a shame that your dog could not attain the Good Citizens Awards, but you can only do the best you can with the material you have.

But, after all, training can be an end in itself as well!

Well thats my view on it too and why we continue to participate in the classes even if we don't sit the test. It can only be a good thing that he can do 95% of it and I'm proud he's acheived that, and even without the certificate, he's probably still better trained than a lot of dogs out there who haven't passed but can't do any of it

Agree with being informed for your next dog. I plan to get a puppy (in several years) but I now have a whole list of things in my head to start work on at a very early age (things that Cain's previous owners never did which caused all his issues), things I had never thought about before getting Cain and going training. I will definately be a better dog owner for it all.

We dont have anything like this over here, so I would really love to know what has to be done to pass each stage?

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/acti...d_citizen.html

This link explains what is needed for each stage:

Puppy foundation
Bronze
Silver
Gold

In France you could take the BH in Schutzhund which is the same sort of thing.

We also have Temperament Tests in the UK which are based on the BH, and were devised by the Rottweiler Club for breeding stock some years back when Rotties were in the news a lot. These cannot be trained for.

Rio passed her bronze on her fourth attempt, as she wouldn't do the stay. Not that she didn't know what stay meant, she just didn't want to do it!!!! Finally passed at Bath ch show last year, as she was too tired from showing to clear off!

true. And the dog loves it.
Trouble is, after you`ve done the basics, few clubs want you if your dog doesn`t / can`t compete.