Looking for a working dog club - Page 1

I simply cannot find a local club that's for working dogs. I want to learn and work with my dogs but cannot seem to find any anywhere close to me. There were 2 that were within a 2 hour driving distance but now they're both inactive. I contacted the lady in charge of my region with Schutzhund Club's of America. She wasn't able to help much as she was the one who gave me the information for the clubs that aren't active. Any help would be appreciated. I live in Timpson, Tx. I'd like to not have to drive more than 2 hours one way if at all possible. I understand there may be none that close but if anyone could point me in the right direction I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks for your time,

Kristi

How frustrating.......... clubs listed but not active. 
Wish I could help you, but just don't know any near you. 

Maybe try with DVG.

I was going to say contact SITASMOM.... but her ears must have been burning....lol... and she commented before I had the chance.

2.5 hours away   = http://www.dfwworkingdogs.com/about.asp

1.75 hours away. = Ark-La-Tex Schutzhund Club Steve Cobb 635 Bertkouns Industrial Loop Suite 200. Shreveport, LA 71118 318-294-0859.

If they're not up and running, ask quiestions and see if they might know where one is.

Thanks for the responses. I tried the club in Shreveport but they've gone strictly to private now. I did email them and they weren't inclined to give a lot of info. :(  I've decided to try calling DFW Working Dog Club. They're a little over 2.5 hours away but it looks like the closest place for me. I've spoken with a breeder near me and he sends his dogs off to train. That's great if you're just interested in titles but I'd like to work my dogs myself. Titles would be nice too though. 

I appreciate ya'll's time.

Kristi

There is a new club trying to form in Texarkana. If that is close to you, can pm me. I used to train at dfw.

Welcome to the "black hole" of schutzhund. I have always driven 2 hrs or more to training.

www.ringsport.org

www.workingmalinois.org

www.dvg-america.com

www.usmondioring.org

Check out the Michael Ellis links below.  You need to know the Michael Ellis methods and training system whether you belong to a club or not .. maybe more so if you belong to a club so that you will know when they are feeding you and your dog BS.  Depending on your dog's age and disposition you may not need a club until late in the game.  If your time with your dog is limited due to family and work then spending more time with your dog socializing and training is much more important than killing 6-8 hours a week driving to "the club" for 15 minutes on the field.  It's as simple as return on investment.  For puppy owners Michael Ellis has all you need to know for the first 6-8 months.  The primary thing that you need to know is that the club is not going to train your dog .. you are.  What the club will do is kill a lot of time driving back and forth as well as waiting for "your 15 minutes on the field" with a helper.  There is no law that says you must be a member of a club or that the people you train with must form a club.  What a club that is a member of one of the sport club organizations will include is club politics, costs, and wasted time.  To many people the club and the titles ( for them ) can very soon become more important than the dogs but if you like belonging to things a club may be for you.  The best deal is to form a local training group ( don't have to be members of the same organization or sport  .. IPO, Mondio Ring, or other sports ) which can train together.  For IPO the thing that should come first Obedience does not need a helper.  Tracking can be taught alone.  If your dog has the fire in the belly then protection will be easier ( except for outs perhaps ).  The foundations for protection should be in place before your dog ever sees a decoy or helper.  The rest of the foundation skills you can teach at home or with a small local group of 2-4 people.  Leerburg has a lot of free videos by Michael Ellis to watch and see if you like his style of training (you).  Leerburg has a lot of online University stuff .. it may be OK??  I would stick with Michael Ellis video on demand from my experiences.  The gurus on this board usually make some remarks about Michael Ellis but the truth is Michael Ellis has trained more dogs and more types of dogs ( Police, Military, IPO, Mondio Ring, etc ) and breeds of dogs than all of them combined.  If you want to be a good and humane trainer then Michael Ellis is the person to study with and learn from to get your fundamentals down.  The ME videos on food and tug are a good place to start .. Michael Ellis will also explain why doing a lot of protection and tug work with a highly motivated puppy that likes to bite is not necessary until the puppy has finished teething (5-6 months).

The first video is "Teaching Protection Skills without a Decoy"         http://leerburg.com/225

https://leerburg.com/flix/index.php

http://michaelellisschool.com/videos.htm