2024
Term Two
Tuesday 7 May to 9 July
Good Citizen Test - Tuesday 16 July - All Levels, Starting at 6pm
Term Three
Tuesday 17 September to 19 November
Bronze - Tuesday 26 November - Starting at 6pm
Silver and Gold - Saturday 30 November - Starting at 9am
Christmas Party - Tuesday 3 December - Starting at 7pm
Tuesday 7 May to 9 July
Good Citizen Test - Tuesday 16 July - All Levels, Starting at 6pm
Term Three
Tuesday 17 September to 19 November
Bronze - Tuesday 26 November - Starting at 6pm
Silver and Gold - Saturday 30 November - Starting at 9am
Christmas Party - Tuesday 3 December - Starting at 7pm
Dore Room
Foundation - 6pm and 7pm
Chanctonbury Room
Good Citizen Class 1 - 6pm
Good Citizen Class 2 - 7pm
Good Citizen Class 3 - 8pm
Advanced Class - 8.45pm
Annual membership fee - £6 single member / £3 junior member.
Training Fees - £45 per term - each lessons lasts 45 minutes (10 Weeks Training plus test night).
If you are joining us, or re-joining, please remember to complete, sign, and bring with you a membership form for 2024.
Please click on membership_form_2024.pdf to download.
Foundation - 6pm and 7pm
Chanctonbury Room
Good Citizen Class 1 - 6pm
Good Citizen Class 2 - 7pm
Good Citizen Class 3 - 8pm
Advanced Class - 8.45pm
Annual membership fee - £6 single member / £3 junior member.
Training Fees - £45 per term - each lessons lasts 45 minutes (10 Weeks Training plus test night).
If you are joining us, or re-joining, please remember to complete, sign, and bring with you a membership form for 2024.
Please click on membership_form_2024.pdf to download.
2024
Congratulations to all those that have passed their Good Citizen Tests in March
Foundation - Geraldine and Mishka, Debbie and Rufus, Amanda and Skipper, Vivian and Freddie
Bronze - Leela and Taxi, Ian and Zuri, Jan and Fidget, Paul and Lyra
Silver - Sue and Hunni, Ruth and PIppa
Gold - Mandy and Kaias
Foundation - Geraldine and Mishka, Debbie and Rufus, Amanda and Skipper, Vivian and Freddie
Bronze - Leela and Taxi, Ian and Zuri, Jan and Fidget, Paul and Lyra
Silver - Sue and Hunni, Ruth and PIppa
Gold - Mandy and Kaias
Christmas 2023
A few photos from our Christmas party. We had a great time playing musical chairs, egg and spoon race
and the famous retrieve the sausage game. I don't know if the dogs or handlers had the best time.
See you in January
A few photos from our Christmas party. We had a great time playing musical chairs, egg and spoon race
and the famous retrieve the sausage game. I don't know if the dogs or handlers had the best time.
See you in January
Kennel Club Good Citizen - 2023
Kennel Club Good Citizen - 2022
Kennel Club Good Citizen - 2021
Cocoa’s Big Crufts Adventure
Cocoa’s adventure to this year’s Crufts started with an email asking if we had a puppy that was currently taking the Good Citizen’s Puppy Foundation Course, and if so would we be interested in being part of the Puppy Foundation Display Team in the Good Citizen’s ring in Hall 3. The teams were to be made up of different breeds, performing 3 displays throughout the day. A different team of puppies each day. We went on the Gun Dog Day, Sunday, as Cocoa is a Labrador Retriever, 8 months old.
Birmingham, NEC is 166 miles away from Worthing. We had to be inside the Crufts Hall for a Team meeting and run through at 8am. To ensure we arrived in time we left home at 9.30pm Saturday evening and drove up to Warwick and slept for a few hours before leaving at 6.30am.
Car parking is away from the exhibition halls, so Cocoa had a long walk to the dog and handler entrance. Then we had to walk through two halls to get to hall 3.
Before we had even started our day, it was a long drive, long walk and hours travelling. She refused to wee from the time we left home at 9.30pm, despite numerous stops, walks, she had still not wee’d when we went in the ring.
Needless to say my heart was in my mouth the whole time, but she handled it like a pro. The team had to perform various Puppy Foundation exercises, which she did with ease. Some of the exercises were Response to name, Puppy Recall, Play with puppy, Walking with a loose lead, Positions, Sit, Down, Stand. Happy to work, with treats being readily available and allowed. She coped with the noise, strange dogs, strange people, artificial surfaces, loudspeakers, microphones, cameras, clapping, yelling. Nothing fazed her.
Eventually I got her to do a very, very long wee in the sawdust area provided outside of the Hall.
She walked around the exhibits. Going up and down stairs between the halls, which was another first for her. Being stroked by strangers, handed treats off some of the stands. She loved it all.
She did three displays, 9.50am, 12.50pm and 4.30pm. Each dog had their own bench area to lay down and at times managed to drop off to sleep. She was one very tired puppy by the time we got back to our Motorhome. We got home at 10pm. She travelled very well in her crate, not a sound on this her longest journey. She made some new friends and a whole load of new experiences.
Cocoa’s adventure to this year’s Crufts started with an email asking if we had a puppy that was currently taking the Good Citizen’s Puppy Foundation Course, and if so would we be interested in being part of the Puppy Foundation Display Team in the Good Citizen’s ring in Hall 3. The teams were to be made up of different breeds, performing 3 displays throughout the day. A different team of puppies each day. We went on the Gun Dog Day, Sunday, as Cocoa is a Labrador Retriever, 8 months old.
Birmingham, NEC is 166 miles away from Worthing. We had to be inside the Crufts Hall for a Team meeting and run through at 8am. To ensure we arrived in time we left home at 9.30pm Saturday evening and drove up to Warwick and slept for a few hours before leaving at 6.30am.
Car parking is away from the exhibition halls, so Cocoa had a long walk to the dog and handler entrance. Then we had to walk through two halls to get to hall 3.
Before we had even started our day, it was a long drive, long walk and hours travelling. She refused to wee from the time we left home at 9.30pm, despite numerous stops, walks, she had still not wee’d when we went in the ring.
Needless to say my heart was in my mouth the whole time, but she handled it like a pro. The team had to perform various Puppy Foundation exercises, which she did with ease. Some of the exercises were Response to name, Puppy Recall, Play with puppy, Walking with a loose lead, Positions, Sit, Down, Stand. Happy to work, with treats being readily available and allowed. She coped with the noise, strange dogs, strange people, artificial surfaces, loudspeakers, microphones, cameras, clapping, yelling. Nothing fazed her.
Eventually I got her to do a very, very long wee in the sawdust area provided outside of the Hall.
She walked around the exhibits. Going up and down stairs between the halls, which was another first for her. Being stroked by strangers, handed treats off some of the stands. She loved it all.
She did three displays, 9.50am, 12.50pm and 4.30pm. Each dog had their own bench area to lay down and at times managed to drop off to sleep. She was one very tired puppy by the time we got back to our Motorhome. We got home at 10pm. She travelled very well in her crate, not a sound on this her longest journey. She made some new friends and a whole load of new experiences.
Ellie Welch and Kim - My Dog Training Journey (so far!)
When I first started dog training in 2017 I was just 5 years old.
Kim is Nanny Hari’s rescue dog and she was very naughty and untrained.
Training Kim was hard at first as she was very big and strong as I was little, but we were good friends, and she always greeted me with kisses.
After this me and Kim carried on Dog training and agility every week.
Then on the way home from school on Thursday 6th January, Nanny Hari phoned to say I had qualified for Crufts 2022 Basic obedience.
I was so excited and proud, as were all of my family, friends and teachers at school, dog training and agility.
Then on the way home from school on Thursday 6th January, Nanny Hari phoned to say I had qualified for Crufts 2022 Basic obedience.
I was so excited and proud, as were all of my family, friends and teachers at school, dog training and agility.
After this exciting news we started doing extra training every week, we also trained with Georgina who had been to Crufts when she was 14 years old. She now trains Guide Dogs.
Then the big day came on 11/03/2022. I was at Crufts.
I was super excited, and a little bit worried, but looking forward to competing.
When me and Kim entered the ring there were lots of people watching, and it was very noisy.
Kim was super good and did everything I told her.
We had a little look around Crufts, and then came back to the ring for the results.
Then the big day came on 11/03/2022. I was at Crufts.
I was super excited, and a little bit worried, but looking forward to competing.
When me and Kim entered the ring there were lots of people watching, and it was very noisy.
Kim was super good and did everything I told her.
We had a little look around Crufts, and then came back to the ring for the results.
Mandy Austen, Dexter, Kavic and Cade -So here are a few photos from the mighty Crufts plus a celebratory plate of sausages at Dee Dee's in Findon village.
Thanks to Findon Downs Dog Training group my lad Cade, a 2 year old Bernese Mountain dog was able to compete at Crufts in the good citizen class. He won this which is my best ever result at Crufts. With Dexter I got a 2nd and 4th and with Kavic, Dexter's son I got a 3rd, but that beautiful red rosette had always been the dream. This was one of the best days of my life!
I can't recommend these classes highly enough, all 3 dogs that have been attending from an early age and they clearly enjoy coming. All 3 have parts they excel at and parts they don't but the lesson is not to give up because you will get there.
Many thanks to Pat, Barbara, Chrissie, Tracey and the team.
Thanks to Findon Downs Dog Training group my lad Cade, a 2 year old Bernese Mountain dog was able to compete at Crufts in the good citizen class. He won this which is my best ever result at Crufts. With Dexter I got a 2nd and 4th and with Kavic, Dexter's son I got a 3rd, but that beautiful red rosette had always been the dream. This was one of the best days of my life!
I can't recommend these classes highly enough, all 3 dogs that have been attending from an early age and they clearly enjoy coming. All 3 have parts they excel at and parts they don't but the lesson is not to give up because you will get there.
Many thanks to Pat, Barbara, Chrissie, Tracey and the team.
Saturday 13 Nov 2021 - Our first show in 2 years was a great success. Thank you to all who attended and made the day so enjoyable. The show results have now been added to our Heelwork to Music Page
Fun in the sun
On Saturday 22nd June Findon Downs Dog Training Club held a Fun Day at Washington recreation ground and village hall. The wet weather we had experienced in the week running up to the day had vanished and Saturday was warm and sunny as we and everyone else started to arrive for the fun day ahead. The committee had organized four different doggy experiences for us owners and our four-legged friends to enjoy.
Outside in the recreation ground we could try our hand at simple Agility and Rally Obedience whilst in the hall there were fun classes to learn the basics of Heel Work To Music and Tricks. Two sessions of each were held during the day split morning and afternoon and in between there was plenty of time to have our picnic and chat with friends whilst the dogs had a nap in the shade to prepare for the fun of the afternoon.
I counted at least 25 very happy and excited dogs with their respective owners during the course of the day and they all looked to be having fun doing the various activities on offer, meeting other four-legged friends and getting lots of fuss and reward treats for completing the activity or just being good dogs.
Watching our own dog and others I was struck how happy they all seemed to be when either dancing round the hall doing spins, pivots, promenades and weaves to Mungo Jerry or the Wombles or learning a new trick to impress their friends and family. Outside I witnessed the sheer excitement at the Agility course and the more precise skills needed to complete the Rally Obedience stations.
The committee as always had obviously put a lot of effort into planning and putting on this event and our thanks to them for all their hard work and making it a fun day for all.
As we loaded up the cars with tired dogs and empty picnic hampers, we all agreed it had indeed been a “fun day” and I for one hope we will have one again next summer, when those who could not come this year can maybe have the opportunity to get involved and see the different types of activities you can do with your dog beyond basic obedience training.
Mark Woolgar
On Saturday 22nd June Findon Downs Dog Training Club held a Fun Day at Washington recreation ground and village hall. The wet weather we had experienced in the week running up to the day had vanished and Saturday was warm and sunny as we and everyone else started to arrive for the fun day ahead. The committee had organized four different doggy experiences for us owners and our four-legged friends to enjoy.
Outside in the recreation ground we could try our hand at simple Agility and Rally Obedience whilst in the hall there were fun classes to learn the basics of Heel Work To Music and Tricks. Two sessions of each were held during the day split morning and afternoon and in between there was plenty of time to have our picnic and chat with friends whilst the dogs had a nap in the shade to prepare for the fun of the afternoon.
I counted at least 25 very happy and excited dogs with their respective owners during the course of the day and they all looked to be having fun doing the various activities on offer, meeting other four-legged friends and getting lots of fuss and reward treats for completing the activity or just being good dogs.
Watching our own dog and others I was struck how happy they all seemed to be when either dancing round the hall doing spins, pivots, promenades and weaves to Mungo Jerry or the Wombles or learning a new trick to impress their friends and family. Outside I witnessed the sheer excitement at the Agility course and the more precise skills needed to complete the Rally Obedience stations.
The committee as always had obviously put a lot of effort into planning and putting on this event and our thanks to them for all their hard work and making it a fun day for all.
As we loaded up the cars with tired dogs and empty picnic hampers, we all agreed it had indeed been a “fun day” and I for one hope we will have one again next summer, when those who could not come this year can maybe have the opportunity to get involved and see the different types of activities you can do with your dog beyond basic obedience training.
Mark Woolgar