Oh, you reminded me, they try and do a couple of walks every three months or so and then a meal at a local pub afterwards, plus an Open Night and a Christmas Party...

Sounds great,we also have special wee parties too,like Halloween and Christmas.It's hilarious seeing all the dogs dressed up and playing games with them too,xxxxxxxxxx

I voted other.....

I would love a club that did the basic obedience through a variety of levels. It would also be great to have spin off classes in agility etc that could be taken as optional .

I wish I could offer agility, but due to the type of flooring, my lack of experiance in agility its just not an option for me not at the moment anyway, I do have Maureen who is qualified in agility who could do it but there is still the flooring issue,, poss in the summer out in one of the fields she may be able to help me do the basics

but strange handling comes under normal socialisation class (or should do).
but isnt ringcraft also mainly using thin little leads high up on dogs neck forcing head skywards?
that wouldnt be relevant to pet dog training or dog walking?
it could cause some discomfort and such tense short lead techniques can sometimes cause on-lead aggression.
or am i wrong?

I suppose flexible enough to see what is needed.

I took Hoki when I first got her mainly to socialise as I did a lot of training at home and she's is as obedient as I really need.

We were in the intermediate group (no 'advanced' group) and we just went over the same stuff week after week.

Fair enough the trainer didn't feel he could move on because the majority of the dogs still couldn't do some of the stuff we were repeating, but I just found it sooo boring.

Throwing in some different things from week to week would have made a huge difference to both mine & Hoki's enjoyment & we may then not have stopped going.

I go to one that does! Go on...move to sunny Essex

If Shona caught any of us handling like that we'd get hung. never mind the dog.Some show folk do strangle their dogs but honestly we don't,When our dogs are gone over by one of us the dog has to allow us to look at their teeth and generally be touched all over.It can make life so much easier when visiting the vets as you know sometimes a vet has to feel along their backs legs and even their bits.As for the running around that also gets your dog used to changing pace,all very handy in the real world,xxxxxxxxxx

thats fair enough. id just seen some strangulators on crufts...grrr...and heard that referred to as ringcraft .
in denmark, where i used to live, it is standard for puppy classes to have the touching all over the body checking teeth ears thing....i didnt realise that was referred to as ringcraft as well.
sorry 'bout that.
the changing pace bit is a good idea, you do see too many classes just marching around in military drill circles inside scout halls

Sounds like there is some good classes there
I voted other because I am more leaning towards the agility and heelwork to music side of things
The class I go to does a bit of everything (not really ringcraft) and even with a bad scouthall floor you can teach some handling things , sendaways and tunnels and things
I also like that it teaches tricks too - Ben would get really bored with just heeling or something (TBH he does not consider walking to heel work and he dances around like a nutter but tricks and agility training get full focus)