Hi

could someone please explain the good citizen class included in the breed classes at crufts. Do you have to pass you good citizen bronze/silver/gold at a champ show to be eligible to enter crufts. do you have to attend a show at all or just have passed one of the assessments.
thanks in advance

Hi Guest, the dog MUST qualify for Crufts in the normal way. In addition, the dog must be the holder of the Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze, Silver or Gold award.

Dawn R.

To be entered in the Good Citizens class at Crufts the dog has to qualify in a regular breed class in the usual way (ei 1st,2nd or 3rd in certain classes at champ shows).  Once qualified they can then enter the GC class if they have the bronze award or above.  The award can be gained anywhere, it doesn't have to be at a show. 
I think the Kennel Club did this to encourage show people to train their dogs to the GC standard, but IMHO, it is a waste of time!  My veteran (he's 8 & a half & is training for his gold award) would be competing in a class of all age ranges, including his 20mth old nephew, who is training for his silver.  It makes for a very mixed class of dogs at all levels of maturity and I can't see how a judge can be expected to place dogs like that. I entered it last year, but didn't bother this year.

Whats the difference between that and open?  the only difference is dog must have past GCDS bronze or above!

Never understood this class - I mean what are you supposed to judge it on ? If its conformation, breed type etc ( which it seems to be) - then why does the dog need to have passed any kind of 'obedience' type test ? - it seems to me that the KC are simply endorsing the view that being a show dog is somehow not quite enough -'just' being a show dog is  a bit too 'bimbo like' :D and they should prove themselves by passing these stupid tests.

IMO a show dog more than proves his temperament each time he allows a complete stranger to go over him - just look at the conditions that 'mere' show dogs had to put up with at Crufts - most of them proved that they had fantastic temperaments !!!.

I would only consider doing these tests if all the obedience dogs had to pass a conformation and breed type test as well LOL :D :D :D

Yvonne

It is a breed class therefore it is judged the same as all the other breed classes on the breed standard

Well of course the BC's & the Gundogs have to pass a working test to be a full champion & I think all the pastoral & working dogs should have to pass a working test before they become full champions