Anyone a member of a training club?

[Kim M]

Does anyone belong to a Dog Training Club? If so I have some questions as to what to look for. I belonged to a club but let my membership go 10 years ago. I just recently started an agility class with the same club and was planning to work towards becoming a member again. I am just not sure if it is the club for me. I am thinking of checking out 3 other clubs near me.

I need to join a club because I'd like to get back into showing agility. I will be showing a mixed breed this time.

 

[corgipower]

I don't currently, but I did in NY, which was about 6 months ago, so pretty recent. Ask away.

Most of what I look for in a club is the people and how much I'll enjoy working with them and training with them.

 

[adojrts]

I use to but it has been years. What are your questions?

 

[AGonzalez]

I'm a member of one of the local schutzhund clubs. What I looked for in a club was people who were willing to teach and not be snobby. I contacted both the local clubs, one was completely rude about and the other group has been a great and fun bunch of folks. I guess it depends on what you are looking for, serious competition vs. a fun group, though they can coincide.

 

[elegy]

What I looked for in a club was people who were willing to teach and not be snobby.

yup, me too.

i chose to take a class and ended up joining the club i did because when i was at my first rally trial there, one of the teachers was there for the sole purpose of cheerleading her students. she was very friendly and so i signed up for one of her classes and have been largely happy there.

also important: class availability, safety, and a positive dog-friendly atmosphere.

 

[opokki]

I am a member of our local club but not very active in it anymore since I've moved on to training classes elsewhere. I will try to answer your questions though.

 

[BostonBanker]

I'm a member of our local agility club, but I'm not sure it's really the same thing as other people are referring to. They don't really offer classes, other than seminars and such where they bring in trainers to work with members. Also do demos throughout the year and put on two trials each summer.

 

[noodlerubyallie]

I am! I've met a ton of fun people, and I get to train with people that have multiple OTCH's, MACH's, and CH's. We have a lot of seminars, offer public training classes, have semi-annual trials, etc.

Not to say we don't have any bad apples, but I don't train with them, so it doesn't generally affect me. I think we have over 200 members.

 

[Kim M]

Sorry I have not been on in awhile.

I think the club is okay now. I got a bad vibe from one of the ladies I called to ask questions. I just felt that she had a way too serious attitude and she basically called me a lier twice. I ended up talking to the instructor of my agility class and she made me feel better. I did not say one negative thing about the other person I spoke with but I told her I spoke with XX about obedience and agility.... my instructor stopped me and said "who told you to call her? I never give new potential members her number she can be very strict about things and she does not like the agilty part of our club. She is like some of the old members who did not want to have agility."

So I think I am going to stick with it. I had a bad feeling about my agility class too but I think it will be okay. It just seemed this club was too stuffy/stict about things and I am looking for more "fun" with agility. Yes, I want to show but I still want the training to be fun. I did belong to this club in the past.