Pepper, a three-year-old Border Collie from Derbyshire, and her owner Paige Jepson, has triumphed at Crufts by winning the Good Citizen Pre-Beginner Obedience Stakes Competition on Sunday 12 March.
Pepper (Jeplong Fire Cracker) beat 30 other talented dogs to be crowned the winner of the 2023 Good Citizen Pre-Beginner Stakes competition at the world’s greatest dog show, with the final overseen by highly experienced judge, Mr Steve Frazer.
Speaking after their win, delighted Paige said: “She was over the moon to win this class. Pepper came second last year and this was my final year competing in this class, so I was delighted with Pepper’s round and to win was simply amazing. The day finished on a high with Pepper and I being presented with our award in the main arena with the winner of the Obedience Championships, wow!”
The Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme (GCDTS) competition was first held in 2005 to encourage owners of dogs who have passed their GCDTS Bronze Award to take part in obedience competitions as a potential gateway into dog exhibition. The exercises included in the test are a combination of current GCDTS exercises and the Pre-Beginner Obedience test. Building on the basic training skills learnt through the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme, this stakes class helps to bridge the gap between basic training and entering a competition. Dogs must have obtained their Good Citizen Bronze Award prior to the closing date of the show.
Dogs competing in the final had to qualify at one of the 31 heats held across the country last year with the winner from each heat qualifying for the final.
Sue Garner, Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme Working Party Chairman, added: “Paige and Pepper performed a first class round and were clear winners. The standard of competitors was very high, and the pair should be proud of their achievement. The Pre-Beginner Stakes are a great way for dogs and owners to enter the obedience world and I wish them luck in the future.”
To find out more about the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme visit the website www.gcds.org.uk
Crufts took place between 9 – 12 March 2023 at the NEC, Birmingham. For more information and results from the show, visit crufts.org.uk.