Who’s a good dog? Kamloops owners can certify their pups as trustworthy

Dogs are known as man’s best friend and have become beloved members of society, but many lack some basic manners and it isn’t easy for members of the public to know which ones are trustworthy and which are unruly.

The Kamloops Regional Canine Club is hosting an event to certify dogs with good manners and encourage responsible pet ownership.

“So many people in Kamloops have a dog and many of them are not trained, you get rushed by these friendly dogs that have no manners,” club director Lena Cimmarrusti told iNFOnews.ca. “It isn’t even about aggressive dogs, it’s about dogs that don’t understand boundaries at all.”

The Canine Good Neighbour test is a 12-step certification program through the Canadian Kennel Club that evaluates a dog’s manners, sociability and basic obedience in a community setting. Those who pass get a certificate, proving they are a good dog.

“It’s less about obedience and more about manners,” Cimmarrusti said. “Can you walk up to someone and your dog doesn’t jump on them? Can you leave the dog with someone and it remains calm and waits for you? The dog should be easy to approach and easy to get along with in the neighbourhood.”

Steps include accepting pets from a friendly stranger, walking calmly through a crowd and loose-leash walking.

“We like people to know they can be responsible with their dogs and there are people here that can help,” Cimmarrusti said. “You need to have a relationship with your dog so it trusts you, listens to you, and knows how to behave in public.”

The club is currently looking at creating a tag the certified dogs can wear on their collars to identify them as well behaved.

The Kamloops Regional Kennel club is a non-profit, member-driven organization founded in 2022 by a small group of dog lovers and is growing.

The club offers education on responsible dog ownership, promotes ethical sportsmanship and treatment of dogs, educates the public about breeding standards and provides access to heart and eye health check-ups.

“There used to be a kennel club but it shut down, and a few of us like-minded people got together to bring it back,” Cimmarrusti said. “We’re looking at more opportunities to do more education.”

The club is hosting an increasing number of dog-focussed events as they grow.

“There are a lot of trainers in town holding good neighbour classes for dogs and more people are getting interested in working with their dog instead of just having a dog,” Cimmarrusti said. “It’s all for the health of the dogs and the community.”

You don’t have to own a purebred dog, or any dog at all, to become a member.

“Some people can’t have a dog for various reasons, but they can help out in events and come to meetings and share their ideas,” Cimmarrusti said. “We want people to come out and participate and have a good time.”

Membership fees are $20 per person and $35 per family. Members get discounts on entry fees for club events and training classes with K9 Fun N Games.

The Canine Good Neighbour test will be held at Overlanders Day in Brocklehurst Park at 2470 Fleetwood Avenue on July 19, and registrations are open for anyone in Kamloops and beyond.

Go here for a map of the event location and to register.