The biggest dog training demo in Norfolk and Suffolk returns for second year to bring more people together to witness the brilliance of dogs …

Stonham Barns Park will be staging an event – on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 19-21 April – to demonstrate the very best of dog training skills to capture the interest of anyone who is a dog owner or anyone who is considering dog ownership. 

The Dog Obedience Show at Stonham Barns Park showground will be a major show – approved by The Kennel Club – featuring between 15-19 rings of dog obedience action with seven classes of ability on show, from beginners to experienced competitors with obedience champions.

The show – which was introduced to the dog obedience calendar last year – is being organised by Diss and Harleston Dog Training Club.  There will be competitors from all over the country and the classes will be for all sizes and breeds of dogs. Anybody who wishes to enter should contact Hazel Troth on 01379 669026 and entries close on the 28 March.  The public can come along to watch without charge but only competitors can bring their dogs to the show.

Competitive Obedience is a sport and has been in existence since the early fifties. People usually get involved in obedience in the first place through Dog Training Clubs. Not all people who go to DTC’s are there to train their dogs for competition (in fact only a small proportion go on to this), the majority only going to give their dogs basic obedience and ‘socialisation’ with other dogs. 

Speaking about the show organiser Hazel Troth of the Diss and Harleston DTC said: ‘Stonham Barns Park is the perfect venue for this national event licensed by The Kennel Club.  We put on an exceptional show last year which was one of largest of its kind in Norfolk and Suffolk -attracting entrants from all over the UK – and we are looking forward to doing it all again.  All for the love of dogs!’

‘This will again be a big open obedience show highlighting obedience at all levels.  The displays will surprise and delight visitors.  There is nothing to beat witnessing a dog working in harmony with its owner and we have so many dogs to show during the weekend it will be action-packed.’

‘The best dog trainers use consistency, patience, rewards and tone of voice to build a great relationship with their dogs and visitors to the show will see the results of their hard work over the show weekend.’

‘Dog training is always relevant to dogs – especially young dogs – and so the interest in dog obedience training is as popular today as ever.  The show will demonstrate what can be achieved.  The dogs and owners both love it.  It’s so interesting to watch so we are expecting an even bigger crowd of spectators than we had during our debut year in 2023.’

Anybody who wishes to enter should contact Hazel Troth on 01379 669026. Entries close on 28 March. 

For more info visit www.stonhambarns.co.uk

Stonham Barns Park does not just offer great shows and events, it also has many attractions including an owl and bird of prey centre, pirate adventure golf course,          9-hole golf course, vintage dodgem rides and funfair rides, fishing lakes, teapot pottery, restaurant and tea room, sports bar and plenty of unique shops and much more.

Visitors to the show can stay on the Stonham Barns Park campsite, bringing their own tent, caravan or motorhome.  There are also luxury bell tents, and luxury holiday homes that sleep up to 4 or 6 guests.  Bookings can be made by calling 01449 711901 or visit www.stonhambarns.co.uk