DOGS are queuing up to become good citizens by enrolling on a course that will teach them good manners.

Owners of puppies in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, are so keen to have some of the most well-behaved pets in town that they have inundated their local veterinary practice for application forms for the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme puppy training course.

It took only three days for all the places to be taken at the classes at Wilson Veterinary Group surgery, in Tenter Street, which started this week.

The lessons are so popular that two classes had to be started instead of one and plans are in the pipeline for extra sessions next month.

Veterinary nurse Donna Smith, who is helping to organise the classes along with Connexion Dog Training School, said she could not believe how popular the classes were.

She said: "We sent the forms out to our customers who have puppies on the Friday and the class, which had 12 places was full by the Monday.

"We have had to run two because we now have 22 people taking part with their pets."

In order to gain a Good Citizen certificate and rosette, owners are given a diary to complete detailing their pet's behaviour.

Challenges include walking in a controlled manner, being able to 'stay' for ten seconds, as well as cleanliness and food manners.