About Cornish Dog Club

The Cornish Dog Club was established in 2014 to provide security dog handlers in Cornwall with a place to undertake regular training. At that time, there were very few opportunities for handlers to come together and maintain their skills outside of operational work and annual assessments. Training often occurred in isolation, with handlers traveling considerable distances or relying solely on work-based training.

A small group of dog lovers in the community began meeting on Sunday mornings with their dogs. What started with two German Shepherds and a shared interest in dog training gradually developed into a regular club. While the club was originally formed around working dogs and security dog handlers, the focus was always on training rather than merely testing. Members trained in obedience, control exercises, tracking, and practical working dog skills.

As time went on, other dog owners began joining. Some had working breeds, some had sporting breeds, and others simply enjoyed training and wanted more than basic pet dog obedience. The club naturally expanded into other disciplines, becoming a welcoming space where owners could continue training long after completing puppy classes or obedience courses.

Over the following years, members worked towards personal goals, challenges, and assessments while enjoying regular Sunday training sessions. The club became known for providing opportunities to train, learn, and develop both dogs and handlers within the vibrant dog lovers community in Cornwall.

Like many organizations, regular club activities were interrupted during the Covid pandemic in 2020. As restrictions eased, some of the original members had retired older dogs, moved away from training, or pursued other interests. The club itself became quiet for a period, although training continued through Cornish Dog School.

Following Covid, a new generation of dogs and handlers began to emerge. Many came through Cornish Dog School, while others joined from working dog, sporting dog, and companion dog backgrounds. Although the faces and dogs changed, the purpose of the club remained the same: to provide a place where people who enjoy training dogs in Cornwall could continue learning, improving, and enjoying their dogs.

Today, the Cornish Dog Club remains under the same founder and leadership as it was in 2014. The club welcomes a wide range of dogs and handlers while staying true to the practical training principles on which it was originally founded. Members participate in various activities including obedience, scent work, tracking, mantrailing, working trials exercises, and other training activities, as well as club challenges, assessments, annual trials, and competitions.

The club is based in Penwith, West Cornwall, and now meets at Cornish Dog School, where members have access to dedicated training facilities and regular opportunities to train throughout the year.

The purpose of the club today is much the same as it was when it first started. It exists to provide regular opportunities for people to train their dogs, develop their skills, enjoy good company, and continue learning. For many members, it is simply about spending a Sunday morning doing something they enjoy with their dogs. For others, it is an opportunity to work towards personal goals and achievements. Whatever the reason for joining, the club continues to provide a place in West Cornwall where people who enjoy training dogs can come together and share that passion.