For 50 years DANESFORD OBEDIENCE DOG TRAINING CLUB has helped people in the CONGLETON and surrounding areas train their dogs. All breeds and cross breeds have been welcomed. The classes started at Mossley Village Hall in Congleton, and remain there to this day. (Danesford are the longest users of the Village Hall)
The club was formed in January 1972. At this time there was just one class on one night to train people and their dogs on pet control and obedience. Gwynneth Williams was one of the founder members of the club and is still a much valued trainer and member of the club.
Gwynneth was already competing in Competition Obedience at that time (the only member to do so), but over the years, as the club expanded, more people became involved in this discipline.
Competition Obedience Classes started in 1984, and it was in this year that Danesford organised its first Obedience show. This was a small one day affair with 5 classes. The annual show continues to take place and has since 2007, become a full 2 day show, with 13 classes on each day and competitors from all over the country (and from abroad too).
The club was formed in January 1972. At this time there was just one class on one night to train people and their dogs on pet control and obedience. Gwynneth Williams was one of the founder members of the club and is still a much valued trainer and member of the club.
Gwynneth was already competing in Competition Obedience at that time (the only member to do so), but over the years, as the club expanded, more people became involved in this discipline.
Competition Obedience Classes started in 1984, and it was in this year that Danesford organised its first Obedience show. This was a small one day affair with 5 classes. The annual show continues to take place and has since 2007, become a full 2 day show, with 13 classes on each day and competitors from all over the country (and from abroad too).
Classes increased over the following years and in 1993 when the Kennel Club introduced the Good Citizen Scheme. Danesford were the first club in the area to embrace this training standard. It started with classes for the Bronze Grade, and then as the Kennel Club introduced the Silver Grade and Gold Grade in 2001 and 2002, Danesford increased the classes to instruct at these higher levels.
To date Danesford have helped over 500 people and their dogs achieve Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.
1993 was a busy year for Danesford. Crufts (The principle event in the Dog Owners calendar) had special significance. Caroline Copnall and her dog Rowan gained first place in the National Dog Obedience competition.
1995 saw Danesford start Agility Classes. These were initially just for fun. However, as always happens with these things, some people have taken it more seriously than others, and a number of our members compete in this discipline, but the majority of members just do it for the fun factor.
During this period Danesford started to support local charities. Primarily this is for dog related charities, but demonstrations at local fund raising events and participation at the Congleton Carnival help to raise money for deserving causes. The support of local dog charities is a major part of the clubs activities and the amounts of money raised for these many deserving causes has been significant.
To date Danesford have helped over 500 people and their dogs achieve Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.
1993 was a busy year for Danesford. Crufts (The principle event in the Dog Owners calendar) had special significance. Caroline Copnall and her dog Rowan gained first place in the National Dog Obedience competition.
1995 saw Danesford start Agility Classes. These were initially just for fun. However, as always happens with these things, some people have taken it more seriously than others, and a number of our members compete in this discipline, but the majority of members just do it for the fun factor.
During this period Danesford started to support local charities. Primarily this is for dog related charities, but demonstrations at local fund raising events and participation at the Congleton Carnival help to raise money for deserving causes. The support of local dog charities is a major part of the clubs activities and the amounts of money raised for these many deserving causes has been significant.
Danesford has always encouraged a wide variety of interest and members take part or compete in many different disciplines including obedience, agility, working dog trials, breed showing.
2008 was another busy year at Crufts. Danesford had a display Team in the Kennel Club Bronze Good Citizen display, demonstrating to the public how the training is conducted, and the exercises it teaches. We had another dog in the Obedience final, another in the Special Pre Beginner Stakes, another in the Breed show and more demonstrating on the Discover Dogs stand.
2012 was our 40th Year. We will be continuing to support the local dog charities. In its lifetime, Danesford has already contributed over £5000 to charitable causes and in these difficult financial times, Danesford will try to improve on their already impressive charitable contributions.
2022 is our 50th year, Danesford members had a fantastic time at Crufts where several members took part in different activities from Championship Obedience, Special Pre Beginners Final, Showing classes, Kennel Club Displays, Obreedience, Heelwork to Music, Therapy Dogs.
2008 was another busy year at Crufts. Danesford had a display Team in the Kennel Club Bronze Good Citizen display, demonstrating to the public how the training is conducted, and the exercises it teaches. We had another dog in the Obedience final, another in the Special Pre Beginner Stakes, another in the Breed show and more demonstrating on the Discover Dogs stand.
2012 was our 40th Year. We will be continuing to support the local dog charities. In its lifetime, Danesford has already contributed over £5000 to charitable causes and in these difficult financial times, Danesford will try to improve on their already impressive charitable contributions.
2022 is our 50th year, Danesford members had a fantastic time at Crufts where several members took part in different activities from Championship Obedience, Special Pre Beginners Final, Showing classes, Kennel Club Displays, Obreedience, Heelwork to Music, Therapy Dogs.