Despite a petition with 850 signatures asking that the Oundle branch of the Kennel Club be allowed to continue meeting at the Drill Hall, the Club was forced to leave its home at the Drill Hall for hygiene reasons. The Oundle and District Dog Training Society meetings are now held at Halefield Lodge, between Southwick and Woodnewton. More details on times and membership can be found at www.oundledogs.co.uk.

The Society was founded in 1962, to provide obedience classes for dogs in the local area. It is an entirely non-profit organisation and many of its events raise money for local charities, such as Oundle First Responders and Brook Farm Animal Sanctuary. The obedience classes offered are tiered to accommodate all levels of experience and are designed to provide both a basic level of control, and to allow the dog to pursue additional training. They are entirely non-competitive, with each trainer/dog pair proceeding at their own pace.

The Society now also provides ringcraft classes for those who wish to take their dog’s training further or enter a dog show competition. Dog showing has been described as “addictive” and “thrilling” by those who participate in it, and an annual Companion Dog Show is run every year by the Dog Training Society. This year’s show is on 26 July at Wadenhoe house.

This year, there may be a “Summer Fun Night”, which will consist of a walk around Halefield Farm on 12 August. It will be a social event, with opportunities for dog owners to share their experiences.