Looking for People Interested in a Training Group - Page 2

As Lisa mentioned there are a couple clubs that are quite expensive, with hired sleeves that can easily run a couple hundred dollars or more a month.  But there are also at least 2 clubs that I know of that charge $400 or less for a whole year.  No one gets paid, dues just cover equipment, insurance, etc...   So fees can really vary pretty widely.

$100 month in Grand Rapids

We're in Ann Arbor and I know of 4 USA clubs, 1 DVG club, and 4 training groups (non affiliated) within an hour drive of me that are $50/month or less.  Considering the cost of insurance and equipment, much less hosting seminars or trials, I don't find that expensive at all.

Our club charges $300/year ($100 at our yearly meeting and then $20/month for 10 months).  This covers insurance, equipment, website, extra trial expenses, helps offset seminars for the club, and helps to maintain our rather extensive tracking grounds (gas to run the tractor).  Our helpers pay a reduced fee as do I for maintaining the field. 

"Our helpers pay a reduced fee..."

That's the way to go. i think many people are put off by having to pay the helpers over and above the normal costs of the club.  that way it doesn't feel like a bussiness and more like a helpfull brotherhood. people getting together to help one another out.

Since they have to buy their own scratch pants and often have their own sleeves plus work their butts off for the club, it seems only fair. 

That is really nice of you.  I hope plenty of people take advantage of this.

$225 per year, includes all training

Let me offer another perspective:

Cost for an SV Judges' flight to here: $1200-$1300

Small gift and some sightseeing: varies and can be in the several hundred dollar range

Motel for the judge for a week and meals: $600 or more (unless we can convince him/her to stay with us - and we have nice facilities) and that still costs us money

Trial fee: $75 per day payable to the judge

Trial/show entry fees to parent organization dependent on number of participants

SV Judge request: Over $125 

Medallions for successful participants: Usually $15 each

USA annual club dues: $150

Regional dues: don't know what they will be this year, but were expensive last year

Two sleeves: $300-$400 plus at least 3-4 sleeve covers a year at $45 a crack

Blinds: over $800 for a set - price them

Dumbells: $60 for a decent set for trial

Jumps.....cost varies but not cheap to build or maintain. Ours cost more than$400 initially and I paid more than $60 to recover the wall just this last year

Refreshments for club members: never counted it up

Insurance: out of sight and frankly useless

Gas for the tractor to smooth out the field?

Heat for the 1440 square foot indoor training room during winter....take a guess and just spent almost $9,000 to upgrade the room to make it useable for the club

Labor to prepare field for trial?

Electricity and waste removal when trial is held

My club is small. Guess who pays the bulk of these expenses for the last many years? And that does not count what we have paid to helpers and for me to have subsidized that. Club dues are $360 a year. Dues don't go very far in covering these costs when a club is small. Would we like it to be cheaper, sure, but it is simply not going to happen.

It would be great if there were people who could help out clubs for nothing, and it would be great if no one had to pay any kind of dues to any club or the organization, and it would be even greater if all clubs had competent helpers who did it for the love of the sport, but it is not reality in most areas. 

Hodie, seems like we are always on the other side of the debate lately. But i now know Bob and as stated in previous posts the man has no problem with the normal club dues. He knows what needs to be paid  to keep a club running. it's the having to pay for training time with a helper. Isn't that why people join a club in the first place?

Thing is Bob's not just complaining about the situation. He's offering his time, experience and friendship to anyone in his area. On his property at not cost other than good company and a little help making it a great place to work dogs.

 i think it is going to be good for the sport in his area.