With many thanks to Ed and Cindy and the Leerburg community for your support, Happy Holidays from Joliet Schutzhund and Dave Blank. We are excited to be celebrating our our second holiday season as an official training group, but not an official SchH Club! (and we like it that way!)

Over the last year, many more people have found http://www.JolietSchutzhund.com via the Leerburg community. Schutzhund ain't for weenies, so it takes many visitors to find dog/handler teams who are up to the task.

We congratulate all of the dog/handler teams who train here for their progress during 2007. And we especially appreciate getting to know a few Leerburg bred dogs, who show nice ability for the work but more importantly, good matching with their owners/handlers. That is no small task for a breeder - RIGHT homing the pups. Kudos to Ed and Cindy!

If you are located in the Soutwestern Chicago suburbs (in range of Joliet IL) and are interested in Schutzhund training, give us a call. I personally think it's a priveledge to learn from Dave Blank, who is not only experienced (30 years) but an excellent teacher.

Give us a call if you are looking to train in our neck of the woods!! We welcome any and all breeds - working lines, show lines, doesn't matter. If the dog has enough drive to do the basics, Dave will work the dog and help you learn.

Beth Fuqua

Anyone who lives close enough to visit this schutzhund group should do it!

Continued success to all of you with your training.

Dave definitely has an effective and cohesive philosophy of training, plus a very precise eye for trouble shooting.

The grounds and accomodations don't hurt either.

Yes, I feel quite lucky that I was able to find Joliet Schutzhund and Dave. Finding a club that is open to beginners with a skilled experienced helper and no politics or BS within a 40 minute drive is HUGE. Combine all that with a well bred Leerburg dog and you get success... as long as I can get out of the way!

I live pretty close...

Are you all indoors for the "tundra" months?


(ANy Alaskans or other northwardly folk need not be offended, it's cold here too!)

And what days do you train?

Outdoor training.

Every Saturday.

Yup, outdoor, and we train in virtually any weather. Dave has been incredibly committed to us, and has literally slept in his vehicle in the past due to weather so he could come and train, and Gary and Beth host no matter what unless there is a major trial or competition close by. I have been training there for a year now, and I can count on one hand the Saturdays that there wasn't training (which were due to an injury to Dave). In addition, another club member (Tim) has started to train to be a helper in order to keep Dave healthy. Grab your cold weather gear and come check us out!

I will have to take work off!..(work the weekend rotation at the hospital--only 7a to 3 though!!!)

I know, I have a SUCKY work schedule for SchH training (thank GOD my club trains on TUes eves and Sunday days) Also, thank God that my pup won't be needing to trial anytime soon...hopefully will have a different work schedule by the time he's ready. As far as I know, most trials are on the weekends.

But, but....Beth is VERY convincing in her PR ( ) about the group (as are you guys in this here thread). I remember when it was first forming and when she posted about it then.

I'll be checking my schedule and getting over there sometime for sure!



Edited by Michele McAtee (12/11/2007 10:55 AM)
Edit reason: spelling

Thanks John and Steve for adding your comments. Thanks again Cindy!

Hi Michelle. Working Saturdays sucks! If your schedule ever changes, come check us out. Do you work every Saturday, or every other Saturday? (sounds like every Saturday but I'm just checkin' to make sure) We do have several participants who have rotating shifts or have to work every other Saturday who come when they can, even though it can't be every week.

And yepper, everyone has long johns on their Santa list.

Beth

Being active outside at this time of year is tough, so we usually have a fire burning in a barrel for warming up.