About

The Norfolk Dog Training Society was inaugurated in April 1955 with Kay Gee the first chairman. Sid Plumstead, a former RAF police dog trainer was the instructor and Edgar Dain, the then Chief Constable was the President. Classes were held at St. Matthews church hall and T.A drill halls.

Demonstrations of training were staged at fetes and, in 1956 and 1957 at the Royal Norfolk Show. By 1957 sufficient funds had been raised to pay for the cost of a guide dog, at that time £260, and the society was presented with a guide dog trophy in recognition.

In 1958 Jack Gee took over the chairmanship from his wife Kay and in 1960 Alan Taylor was appointed to the newly created office of Team Manager to organise interclub matches and demonstrations. Police road safety tests were started in 1960, then in 1962 the Star Dog award was instituted for any dog gaining four wins in test “A” or above.

Membership had been growing steadily and a waiting list became necessary so a beginners course was run at nearby St. Leonards church hall in addition to the classes at St. Matthews.

In June 1961 Princess Alexandra opened the GDBA Nuffield House at Bolton Lancashire, their first purpose built training centre. One of the kennels is named N.D.T.S in recognition of the support from the society. Nine members were invited to attend the opening ceremony. Our guide dog fund also paid for day kennels at the old Institute for the Blind in Magdalen Street in 1963 two more in 1965 and fencing for the exercise ground. Also in 1965 the GDBA presented the Guide Dog Challenge Trophy with the request that all members of the N.D.T.S should be able to compete for it. This was the start of the “Guide Dog” competition.

Having outgrown the small church hall the society moved to Blackfriars Hall. This was a mixed blessing for although larger and more convenient, being used for exhibitions, their were many occasions when classes had to be cancelled or run on different days at The Lads Club.

The GDBA appointed the N.D.T.S Local Organiser and the Guide Dog subcommittee was formed. Talks were given and fund raising intensified resulting in £150,000 being raised during the next fourteen years. Sadly in 1980 the appointment was terminated when the GDBA management decided that local committees must be independant of any other organisation.

A move to the Rollerdrome on Plumstead Road in 1967 eliminated the interruptions to the classes encountered at Blackfriars Hall and lasted until 1970 when a change to Bingo from rollerskating caused the next move. This time we moved to the Wensum Lodge Sports Hall.

The Norfolk and Suffolk Obedience Match League was formed in 1970 to provide competition experience. Jack Gee was the first chairman and then from 1971 Alan Taylor for the next two years.

The first open obedience show was held in 1971 at the Norfolk Showground on a warm sunny October day. Subsequent shows were at the Hellesdon Community Centre, then at the Norwich Rugby Football ground until the change to Frettenham Recreation Ground.

Peter Garland was elected President in 1972, serving for ten years, followed by Eric Hartley until 1987 when Oliver Illing accepted the office.

In 1972 Jack Gee died suddenly from a heart attack and George Cooper became chairman.

NDTS were evicted in April 1976 from Wensum Lodge by a vociferous anti dog element on the Education Committee, the society was without premises until starting at the Corn Hall in October. The delay was mainly due to the prolonged legal negotiations with Norwich Council. From the commencement of his chairmanship George worked long and hard seeking suitable accommodation for the NDTS and sadly George died in 1979. Vice - chairman Alan Taylor was then elected.

The agility section was started, under the leadership of John Boulton, in 1984 and has progressed steadily from the first open agility show , run jointly with the Holt Society in 1985, to the enormous two day event at Hingham in 1994 and the anticipated larger event at the Anglian Windows Social Club in June 1995 (an event we still run to this day, but held at the Royal Norfolk Show Ground over the Easter weekend).

Participation in the Town and Country Day at the show ground became an annual event with displays of agility in the main ring on occasions. Demonstrations are regularly held throughout the year by members of the Agility Section with demos at the Norfolk Show, Aylsham Show, Spring Fling and the Euston Country Fair along with others if we can fit them in with the busy competition calendar throughout the year.

NDTS agility section is based at Pekedell Farm in Salhouse (now known as High Oak Livery) where we train on a Monday nights, the Obedience section trains at Jubilee Hall in Lakenham on a Friday nights.