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Sadness at dog club’s closure
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| A SAD DAY: Dog training club vice-chairman Mick Carpenter Picture: FINNBARR WEBSTER/F7005 |
A dog training club has closed after 50 years because of a shortage of members.
Numbers at the Weymouth Dog Training Club had slumped from 30 at the height of its popularity to just a handful.
Vice-chairman Mick Carpenter, 82, of Grasmere Close, Weymouth, who was one of trainers at the club, said: "I'm very saddened to see the club close. I feel there is a need to train dogs, not necessarily for competitions, but to teach both dogs and their owners responsibility.
"Unfortunately though, if people wanted the club, they would have come along and used it."
The club started when Sgt Derek Highmore of Dorset Police asked three members of the Dorchester Dog Training Club to establish one in Weymouth.
Mr Carpenter said: "As a sergeant with the dog section, he recognised a need to train dogs of the general population of Dorchester.
"When it became evident that enough people used the Dorchester service, he suggested forming one in Weymouth."
Mr Carpenter said: "Over the last couple of years I have witnessed a decline in attendance numbers.
"Within the last weeks of the classes, only two or three came," he said.
"Once we had as many as 25 to 30 dogs and their owners attend."
The first training sessions took place in The Victory Hall at Charlestown.
He said: "The classes were so popular that they soon grew out of the venue and moved to the Upwey and Broadwey Memorial Hall where they continued ever since."
Mr Carpenter became involved with the club following its relocation and became a trainer two years afterwards.
The club ran obedience shows with the Dorset County Canine Society at the Dorchester Show for about 35 years. Mr Carpenter added: "Despite the club closure, I still believe that people and dogs will always require training."
9:59am Friday 25th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: Tru Belle, purbeck on 3:06pm Fri 25 Jul 08
Well , we know there isn't a shortage of dogs- !
Perhaps one of the conditions of good dog ownership should be dog training-I guess dogs are rather like a car- or children- in the wrong hands -- you have a wmd of sorts!
Funny old world isn't it.
Well , we know there isn't a shortage of dogs- !
Perhaps one of the conditions of good dog ownership should be dog training-I guess dogs are rather like a car- or children- in the wrong hands -- you have a wmd of sorts!
Funny old world isn't it.
Posted by: MIG, Poole on 8:22pm Fri 25 Jul 08
[quote]Mr Carpenter added: "Despite the club closure, I still believe that people and dogs will always require training."[/quote]
Yes! It's the PEOPLE that need training.
Mr Carpenter added: "Despite the club closure, I still believe that people and dogs will always require training."
Yes! It's the PEOPLE that need training.
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