Good Companion Awards
The APDT Good Companion Awards help dogs and their owners develop useful skills for everyday life through kind, fair and effective training.
The awards are suitable for puppies and adult dogs, with six levels allowing you to build skills and recognise progress at a pace that is appropriate for you and your dog.
Good Companion Awards are delivered by participating APDT Full Members, who work in accordance with APDT’s Code of Practice.
How the awards work
Find a participating trainer
Good Companion Awards are offered by participating APDT Full Members.
Learn practical skills
Work through useful exercises designed to support everyday life with your dog.
Progress through the levels
Begin at the level appropriate for your dog and work towards further awards as your skills develop.
Good Companion Award levels
Puppy
For puppies aged under seven months when the award is completed.
Foundation
For dogs aged six months or over when they begin the award.
Improver
For dogs that have successfully completed the Puppy or Foundation Award.
Intermediate
For dogs that have successfully completed the Improver Award.
Advanced
For dogs that have successfully completed the Intermediate Award.
Expert
The Expert award is suitable for all dogs who have successfully completed the Advanced award.
Master
The Master award is suitable for all dogs who have successfully completed the Advanced award.
Examples of award exercises
The exercises focus on practical skills that can help dogs and owners enjoy everyday life together.
The exact exercises and expectations vary by award level.
The Puppy Award is suitable for all puppies under the age of seven months at completion. Your instructor will go through each of the exercises listed below. You may be assessed over a period of up to six weeks, either during your one-to-one sessions or during your usual classes. Your instructor will explain how they plan to do this for you. Questions will be asked throughout the assessment on the material provided in the ‘Guardian Information Pack’. This is not a formal examination but enables your instructor to see your level of understanding. All assessments must follow the APDT Code of Practice, which may be found here.
The Foundation award is suitable for all dogs over the age of six months at the start. Your instructor will go through each of the exercises listed below. You may be assessed over a period of up to six weeks, either during your one-to-one sessions or during your usual classes. Your instructor will explain how they plan to do this for you. There will be questions asked throughout the assessment on the material provided in the ‘Guardian Information Pack’. This is not a formal examination, but enables your instructor to see your level of understanding. All assessments must follow the APDT Code of Practice, which may be found here.
Improver award is available for all dogs who have successfully completed the Puppy or Foundation award. Your instructor will go through each of the exercises listed below. You may be assessed over a period of up to six weeks, either during your one-to-one sessions or during your usual classes. Your instructor will explain how they plan to do this for you. There will be questions asked throughout the assessment on the material provided in the ‘Guardian Information Pack’. This is not a formal examination, but enables your instructor to see your level of understanding. All assessments must follow the APDT Code of Practice, which may be found here.
The Intermediate award is suitable for all dogs who have successfully completed the Improver award. Your instructor will go through each of the exercises listed below with the goal being a pass as shown in the table. You may be assessed over a period of up to six weeks, either during your one-to-one sessions or during your usual classes. Your trainer will explain how they plan to do this for you. There will be questions asked throughout the assessment on the material provided in the ‘Guardian Information Pack’.. This is not a formal examination, but enables your instructor to see your level of understanding. There are two sections to the award, the first section is compulsory, the second lists a number of exercises from which you choose three to attempt, in consultation with your instructor. All assessments must follow the APDT Code of Practice, which may be found here.
In consultation with your instructor you should be assessed on three of the options shown in the table below. These exercises are tasters of fun activities you can do with your dog. All assessments must follow the APDT Code of Practice, which may be found here
The Advanced award is suitable for all dogs who have successfully completed the Intermediate award. Your instructor will go through each of the exercises listed below with the goal being a pass as shown in the table. You may be assessed over a period of up to six weeks, either during your one-to-one sessions or during your usual classes. Your instructor will explain how they plan to do this for you. There will be questions asked throughout the assessment on the material provided in the ‘Guardian Information Pack’. This is not a formal examination, but enables your instructor to see your level of understanding. There are two sections to the award, the first section is compulsory, the second lists a number of exercises from which you choose three to attempt, in consultation with your instructor. All assessments must follow the APDT Code of Practice, which may be found here.
In consultation with your instructor you should be assessed on three of the options shown in the table below. These exercises are tasters of fun activities you can do with your dog. All assessments must follow the APDT Code of Practice, which may be found here
