I have a 21 month old Malinois. She has been evaluated by a Utah POST judge (trained by Wendell Nope), who feels she is a prime candidate for PSW. For the past year I have been working with this dog in obedience and bite work. I want this dog to be certified to work as a PSD so I may hopefully use her later in my career. Unfortunately I am only able to do so much on my own. I do not have all of the neccessary tools to prepare her for certification. My trainer feels she is too far along with my training, and doing too well with what training I have done, to send her away for complete training and certification. I know Mr. Frawley also feels strongly about that.

Given the fact that there are no SchH clubs in this area (the closest is 3 hours away), and I am only able to meet with my trainer every couple of months as of late, as well as the fact that I am limited in my resources, should I continue to train the dog on my own, or find a reputable trainer, and send her to finish with them.

Can anyone recommend options for me? Any people I could get in touch with that are in my area? I live in Southern Utah. Thanks

Depending on what you mean when you say your resources are limited this may or may not apply.

Unfortunately we live in a country where many will have to drive to work dogs in some manner. I am currently driving 247 miles each way to train my 2 dogs in protection. Granted I can't make it every week, but the dogs still progress. I know I am not alone... plenty of others also have to do this. Unlike you I have a SchH club ten minutes away, but our helper quit :rolleyes: ... which kinda takes the schutz out of schutzhund. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

There is also the other possibility that someone who trains with that club is closer to you and would like to get together in a training group type setting away from the club. The only way you will find out is to go, meet the members and make contacts in the SchH world.

Or, you could always just move <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

If I rember correctly there are several clubs in Vegas. That shouldn't be too bad a drive, if not Salt Lake should have several also. The Provo/Orem area is getting to be big enough that there may be a club there. Check the USA and DVG websites if you want to do SchH or the PSA or ASR sites for them. I think one or both of them have clubs in Vegas. At one point in time there was a club forming in Salt Lake for NAPD, and they may still be around. I think they were actually in West Valley City (?).

I drive around 97 miles one way (twice a week) for training in my area. Although there is a club 5 miles from where I live... The one that is further out has more helpers, and are really serious about their training..

I am glad to know I am not alone. I will have to continue researching my options. I live closer to Vegas than SLC.