Training is a lifelong process.

Our Training Club offers ongoing training opportunities emphasizing continued learning, collaboration, and relationship-based training.

Basic Club Introduction

  • Who?

    The Training Club is open to anyone who is serious about pursing ongoing training with their dog(s).

    Club training days are different from classes, in that there is no formal training instruction at practices, so owners should already have an understanding of the training process and be able to develop a basic training plan for their dog.

  • What?

    The Club is intended as a training group where members can support each other and learn from each other while working towards similar training goals. (The “Club” is not intended to be in competition in any way with other local dog training clubs.)

    We will often use competitive sports as a guideline or standard to help us develop clear training goals and continue to progress. Members do NOT need to be interested in actually competing, but should be willing to learn about the different competitive venues and standards.

  • Where?

    By default, Club practices will always be held at the Canine Initiative Training facility in Tremont.

    Most of the time we will train indoors at the facility, but we may elect to train outdoors for additional proofing opportunities as weather allows.

    On occasion, we may choose to train at other locations such as pet-friendly stores or parks, if working in new locations is beneficial to our members’ goals.

  • When?

    The Training Club will meet approximately once a week, most often on weekends, but we will try to add in weekday training opportunities as well when possible.

    We will work around local dog training and competition event schedules.

    Currently, our usual practices are at 1:30pm on Sunday afternoons.

    Our Club Facebook group is used to keep members up to date on training schedule, additional training opportunities, and also provides a place for members to ask questions, share successes, and stay connected in between practices.

  • Why?

    The purpose of the Club is to create a place where like-minded individuals can collaborate and work together towards goals with their dogs; to help each other improve their training skills and knowledge; to provide accountability and help each other stay on track towards goals; to create a supportive atmosphere for problem solving; to introduce people to dog sports and competitions, even if they’re not interested in actually competing; and to provide an opportunity to help each other with training exercises that need more than one person.

  • How?

    At each training day, club members will be responsible for having a specific goal or basic training plan that they would like to work on.

    Each dog and handler team will get at least one turn to practice with their dog towards those goals. We will have a system in place to ensure that anyone who needs help towards their training goals can get the help they need!

    Members are always welcome to ask others for ideas and feedback on their goals or what they’re working on, but should have a basic idea of their goals or process.

To get started, join our Facebook Group:

The Facebook group linked above is the primary source of information for the Training Club.

If you’re interested in joining the Club, please join the Facebook Group first.

In that group, you’ll see some Featured posts near the top, which include a document with Information, Policies, and Procedures for the club. Please be sure to read over that document prior to attending training practice for the first time.

Club Membership Pricing:

Annual Membership: $240, for 1 member with up to 2 dogs
+ $60/year for each additional dog

Drop-In Pricing:

$20 per training day, for 1 participant with up to 2 dogs
+$10/day for each additional dog

Dog Sports to Check Out

The following dog sports/venues are the primary ones that we will refer to during Club training practices. The rules, exercises, and standards from these venues will frequently serve as benchmarks or standards for our training and to help us develop training goals and measure progress.

Members do not need to have any interest in competition, but would benefit from becoming familiar with these sports and their rules.

Some club training days may be focused specifically on a particular sport or venue. When training practices have a specific focus, members can pick and choose whether they are interested in attending that practice. We do ask that members practice skills in line with that practice’s topic, if a certain focus has been specified.

Rally-Obedience

Rally-Obedience is a dog sport in which there is a numbered course of obedience exercises that the dog and handler team must complete successfully, with as much precision as possible, and as efficiently as possible.

Training days focused on Rally are great opportunities for teams who are interested in developing and maintaining obedience skills with some precision. The types of skills emphasized include: focused heeling, working on precise positioning such as close and straight sits in front and heel positions, position commands including sit, down, stand, and staying in those positions, etc.

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Competition Obedience

Obedience is a sport where the dog’s responsiveness, precision, and control are tested. Dogs must demonstrate their ability to follow commands precisely around distractions, with limited guidance from the handler.

Training days focused on Competitive Obedience are great opportunities for dog and owner teams who are interested in developing and maintaining precise and advanced obedience skills, and fading off of extra commands or body language. The skills that are emphasized include: focused heeling with automatic sits; recall with automatic sits in front; sit, down, stand, and stay; allowing a judge to “examine” the dog, and more. Advanced training includes holding and retrieving items, scent discrimination, jumps, and more!

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GRC Dogsports

GRC is a venue of competition that seeks to test the dog’s Gameness, the Relationship between dog and owner, and the dog’s self Control. The mantra of GRC is “Play with your dog.” The venue encourages teaching dogs the skills needed for life (and for competition) through play-based methods.

GRC emphasizes not only Play and Obedience, but also the dog’s understanding of how and when to be Calm at Liberty, and when to Find their Own Fun. An understanding of these four “Windows” creates a well-balanced dog who is easy to live with, and this idea is reflected in competition exercises.

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