Ten-year-old Molly Foxall from Cramlington, Northumberland, has achieved the prestigious Kennel Club Gold Citizen Award with her Golden Retriever, Nacho.
This recognition is the highest level of achievement in The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training scheme and highlights three years of dedication and hard work by the young trainer and her pet.
The Good Citizen Dog Training scheme aims to promote responsible dog ownership and prepare dogs for real-life situations. The programme has four levels: Puppy Foundation, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Molly’s accomplishment makes her one of the youngest trainers to reach Gold level, a milestone that underscores her exceptional commitment and the bond she shares with Nacho.
A Remarkable Training Journey
Nacho joined the Foxall family in 2021, and Molly quickly became an integral part of his training journey. Starting with puppy classes alongside her family, Molly progressed to individual training sessions before taking full responsibility for Nacho’s development at just eight years old.
Molly worked diligently to complete each level of The Kennel Club scheme, passing all on her first attempt. By September 2024, she and Nacho successfully passed the Gold level assessment, which requires meeting rigorous training standards.
“Molly feels very happy and proud to have achieved this, and we are all very proud of her. They make a wonderful team,” said Molly’s mother, Emma.
Molly reflected on her experience, saying: “Getting my Gold award with Nacho made me feel happy and proud because I worked really hard. I was really nervous on the night of the exam, but Nacho was very good. Nacho is a lot of fun to train because he loves his treats and is a very good boy.”
Beyond the Gold Award
In addition to earning the Gold Citizen Award, Molly and Nacho have explored other activities such as rally and agility training. They have also attended the Young Kennel Club Camp in Scotland for two consecutive summers.
Molly has recently taken on a new challenge: training her family’s Jack Russell Terrier puppy, Peri, who is now working toward his Bronze Good Citizen award.
Helen Kerfoot, Chief Canine Health, Activities, and Events Executive at The Kennel Club, praised Molly’s efforts, saying: “It’s wonderful to see such a responsible young handler demonstrate so much commitment and maturity. Molly and Nacho’s achievement is an inspiration to young trainers everywhere.”
