The Westbury & District Canine Society was formed in May 1985, and registered with the Kennel Club in October 1986. However, the activities of the Society actually began more than nine years earlier, but then it was tentatively known as Westbury Dog Association, changing its name to Westbury Dog Training Club before the final metamorphosis!
The inaugural meeting of Westbury Dog Association was held on 20th February 1976 and two of its hard working founder members were Janet Rose and Janet Reed. The primary objective was to hold obedience training classes and, possibly at some time in the future, ringcraft training, but this would be dependent upon the wishes of the membership. Another important aspect of the Association’s activities would be to form a larger interest in the general care and wellbeing of dogs in the surrounding area. Mervyn Harris, the local veterinary surgeon, was approached for his assistance and he kindly agreed to offer his support by giving a talk to members once the Association was formed.
A General Meeting was held and a working party was established, and this was followed by a further meeting in March 1976 when the working party was enlarged to form the Association’s first committee. Initially the Association had neither a trainer nor a hall in which to hold training sessions! Luckily these were soon organised and the first obedience training session was held at West End Baptist Church Hall on 23rd March 1976. About 30 dogs and owners attended this introductory meeting. Mrs Bette Ivin, a local dog show judge and trainer, gave a talk on obedience training and Mrs Angela Curtis gave a demonstration with her Border Collie. These two activities preceded a preliminary training session.
In August 1976 the Association changed its name to Westbury Dog Training Club. Sadly, the following month the Club was advised that they would have to vacate West End Baptist Church Hall as it was required by the Church Drama Group during the winter months. Fortunately the Club was able to transfer its training sessions to alternative premises at the Football Supporters’ Clubhouse at Westbury Football Ground, and Bette Ivin remained as trainer, assisted by Mrs Sue Treagus. Ringcraft classes were introduced in the early 1980s.
During this time the Club arranged competition evenings, ‘mini shows’ and inter-club matches, initially for obedience but later included competition for show dogs. It also organised presentation evenings for its members, including talks and film shows.
Training sessions continued at the Football Ground Clubhouse until March 1985 when, after more than eight years, the Club was advised that it would no longer be able to use the facilities. So, yet again, another hall had to be sought at which to hold training classes. This meant that the Club was required to search for a venue outside Westbury and found that Chapmanslade Village Hall was ideal for its purposes, and these premises are still being used by the Society to this day.