Best Schutzhund Area in America - Page 1

Question for the Americans.  If you are keen to train your dog seriously in Schutzhund, where would be the best place to live?  What are the pro's and cons of different areas, climate, terrain etc and availability of clubs, concentration of dog friendly population?.

Margaret N-J

New England Area ;) 

Thanks Snaiper

Care to elaborate?  I am surprised this thread did not attract more attention, since Americans are so fiercely proud of their country, I thought everyone who trained their dogs would be rushing to talk about their club, where they live or where they would rather live.  Maybe I should have thought of a better title.

Margaret N-J

i can tell you where it ISN'T.  this is what "my yahoo" looked like this morning.  -24* friggin cold!  (iowa) we figure we are lucky if we can keep everyone alive thru this shit......the livestock, chickens and dogs.



Current conditions as of 7:53 am CST

Fair

Feels Like:

-23°

Barometer:

30.68 in and rising

Humidity:

69%

Visibility:

7 mi

Dewpoint:

-30°

Wind:

NW 13 mph

Sunrise:

7:43 am

Sunset:

5:05 pm

-24°

High: -7° Low: -18°

Atlanta is probably a good area. Weather is nice except the summer when it is HOT.

You have a choice of South Metro, Rising Star, Chattahoochee, Coal Mtn, or Greater Atlanta Schutzhund Clubs. (I may have missed one).

However, the rest of Georgia is just a bit lacking:)

Mary

Tulsa is my pick.  There are three clubs there, two USA and one DVG.  I have been told there will be a new WDA club this year as well.  There are fantastic vets there that are Board certified in the area of practice that they focus in, a multitude of stores to find almost any speacial food you desire and there is nearly always something going on that involves pets.

The downside is that Tulsa County has restrictions on how many dogs you can have.  Our solution will be to live outside of the county jurisdiction, maybe Coweta, in a rural area that is still close enough to get to the events that we want to without Oklahoma Animal Control getting involved. 

Last time I checked though, there was only one AC officer for the entire county and I would think that if you lived outside of the city you could do what you wanted with enough acreage.

The other downside is the cold of winter, Tulsa really gets nailed and those not used to the Midwest will feel it.  Summer is hot and there are tornadoes but the area more than makes up for it.  It is also a fairly easy drive to the Kansas City area where there are even more great clubs, so plenty of opportunity to title.  Gas is always cheaper in Tulsa too!

Lorri

Please don't use this board as a representation of America.  Most of the people I train with don't even bother to read this site, let alone post on it.  I should follow their lead I guess, but i get so bored at work.

  The Mid-East Region  is the area with the most very active clubs,  high level of training, (usually) not totally inhospitable weather, lots of good tracking areas, anc fairly centrally located for travel throughout the US.   By "Mid-East Region" I mean the region established by United Schutzhund Clubs of American that includes Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, etc.  (See the USA website (www.germanshepherddog.com).  "Normal" cost of living.

Another very good region, particularly for level of training, is USA's Northwest Region ( Northern California).  However, the tracking opportunities are more limited.  The weather, though, is more hospitable and allows for year-round training.  Cost of living is higher than many other areas.    Travelling to the rest of the country is a major PITA.


The SouthEast Region also has a very high level of training and an abundance of clubs.  Hot and humid, though.  This region includes Atlanta.   Lower cost of living.

By "cost of living" I mean what it costs to live there:  buy homes and property, taxes,  traffic, and products.  Prices for just about everything tends to be higher in the West and the Northwest and parts of the Pacific Northwest are notorious for high costs of living.   For example, the median cost of a home (regualar 3 br, no fancy anything and a small lot) in Seattle, Washington is  over $350,000.   You can get thesame home, with acreage, in Ohio for under $200,000.  In the South, even less .  Traffic in the PNW and West is horrific.  Atlanta's is supposed to be bad, too.  But, I've been there during rush hour and it is a piece of cake, compared to Seattle.  Commutes are therefore things to be factored into the cost of living. 

I would have to say the Mid-Eastern region and pinpoint Mike D's or Tom's areas.  Indianapolis, cinncinati, etc.  Great region and those areas don't get it as bad as the northern part in the winter, yet it is cooler than the south.  It is located very nicely for a national level competitor.