Our History
 
Gill Roberts and Chris Sellers started Good Companion Dog Training Club (GCDTC) in the spring of 1993. The club was first held at  All Saints Church hall in Ffynnongroyw although most of the demand for training came from the Prestatyn area. It moved to Jubilee Community Centre, Seabank Drive, Prestatyn on 4th September 1995 where it has remained ever since.

Over the years the Club has grown, starting with 2 certified instructors and 2 classes. We now hold a variety of classes on both Monday and Tuesday evenings and have a team of volunteers, consisting of instructors  qualified in a number of disciples, experienced dog owners and members who help out weekly. We hold regular classes throughout the year, catering for complete beginners to advanced level, plus our ever popular scent courses and a number of workshops on different themes as requested by our members.

We are a not for profit organisation, run entirely by volunteers who are passionate about promoting responsible dog ownership, We enjoy helping  owners teach their dogs social skills and supporting them in becoming well adjusted members of the family. Any additional income is reinvested into purchasing new equipment and supporting our volunteers’ ongoing development. We are committed to keeping our training methods current, so we attend as many professional training courses as possible. We also share knowledge internally by holding regular training nights for our volunteers at the Club.

The club is listed by the Kennel Club . We actively teach and take part in the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme at all levels. A number of our instructors are also qualified examiners for the scheme and are invited by other clubs to assess their award evenings.

The training methods we use are reward based, using kind, fair and effective training to shape and motivate a desired behaviour. Our aim is to educate and guide owners to have fun with their dog, whilst also guiding them through socialisation and building up valuable life skills.