Community programmes
We promote responsible dog ownership in a number of ways.

 School visits
 The Good Citizen Scheme
 Extra attractions

School visits
Once a year, we visit schools in the borough to talk about responsible dog ownership. The visits tend to last either a morning or a whole afternoon. A typical morning visit is outlined below.

• We arrive with the roadshow marquee and displays at around 7.45am.
• We are ready to speak to parents by 8.30am.
• When school begins, we give a short talk (usually about 15 minutes long) and take questions.
• We speak more informally with the children during their playtime.

The afternoon session is the same but in reverse. We always try to speak to parents, teachers and children. Some schools prefer us to give the talk during a break so that we don't disrupt teaching. We can combine our visit with school projects, and organise competitions.

The Good Citizen Scheme
The scheme consists of a series of tests aimed at basic (bronze level), intermediate (silver) and advanced (gold) dog obedience for which the Kennel Club sets the standard.

The bronze level is judged by the Dog Control Service but the silver and gold must be taken within a dog-training club. The scheme is designed to promote responsible dog ownership in the community.

We have close links with the Kennel Club and the Earlsfield and District Dog Training Club. As a result, we have been involved in the Good Citizen Scheme for quite some time and have tested many people, including children, with a 95% pass rate.

The scheme has helped many dog owners, and potential dog owners, to become better, more responsible owners. The scheme caters for all breeds of dog and a high percentage of the passes have been to owners of crossbreed (mongrel) dogs rescued from Battersea Dogs Home.

If you are interested in taking part in the scheme, contact us for more information.

Extra attractions
Each year we provide a roadshow programme in many of the borough's parks and open spaces, housing estates, school fairs and local events.

Housed in a mini marquee it provides information about our service and responsible dog ownership. Visitors can speak to a dog control officer about the laws and policies on dogs in Wandsworth, or general advice about dog ownership.

The microchipping service is available at all roadshow events.

When we go to large events we use the police dog handlers to attract the attention of the general public. The police dog handlers put on a show that includes:

• basic dog obedience (such as keeping dogs under control, both on and off the lead, a standard that can be reached with little training by most dog owners);
• search and retrieve (in which dogs find lost property, such as keys or a wallet, using their sense of smell);
• signal instructions (in which we keep dogs under control using hand signals); and
• arrest (in which a police dog is used to catch and hold a fleeing suspect.

We may also include demonstrations from other agencies, such as the Battersea Dogs Home staff display team.

Judging of the Good Citizen Scheme has become a regular part of the larger roadshow events and we have introduced novelty dog shows to encourage the public to get involved.