I recently plunked down a stash of cash to join the local Schutzhund club. Right now, my goal is to complete the BH for my dog and learn more about Schutzhund training.

What are reasonable expectations for the club? Is it just access to an open area to work your dog? Help in learning the proper training methods? Access to a helper?

It may be better if I phrase the question as, Describe your ideal club?

Hmmm Ideal club huh? Ok..a SINGLE Brad Pitt look alike helper with the skills of Bernhard, I'm the only club member, and club dues are only $100 a year and we train whenever I want AT MY HOUSE <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Did I mention the Brad Pitt look alike helper <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Charlie,
all clubs are different but most clubs are places to work your dog in a group of people and get help from all the club members. Unless you are paying for private training, most training directors are there to oversee the whole training day, not to offer instruction to each particular member. I would watch the people there train (which hopefully you did BEFORE handing over your money!) and see how the training director/helper(s) work with the dogs AND PEOPLE of various levels and temperaments.

For me, I go to club to acclimate my dog to the atmosphere of lots of dogs and people, gunfire and bitework. I don't expect my dog to "learn" new exercises in obedience at the club. I teach at home and take him there to work under distraction.

The helper is responsible for reading the dogs and making the bitework training when the dog is ready. If the dog has less than desirable drive or nerves, you may have to take private lessons away from club in order to make progress.

Some clubs track as a group and some don't, it is an individual thing. I like to track with a group...I am lazy about that phase and it gets me motivated! lol <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Cindy has a lot of good points. Hopefully you are comfortable with what you have seen at your new club and the training styles of the helper/training director before joining. It is important to feel you and your dog are getting the most out of the club. I for one would not train at a club where I didn't get along with the other members or helper. Or a club where I questioned the helpers work. I think it's important to see how long the members have all trained there and how well their dogs are doing and progessing.

http://www.pennohioworkingdogclub.com/results.htm#Results

Should be updated daily.

Try this LINK for a good article on what to expect from a club....

Along the same lines as this post, what is an average annual fee for joining a club? I am sure it varies in certain areas, but I am looking for a ball park figure. Does anyone on the board know an average for annual club fees in Germany as well? I will be moving there in February. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Curtis

Katmen,
i don't see a lot of dog training happening here. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

Hmmm Ideal club huh? Ok..a SINGLE Brad Pitt look alike helper with the skills of Bernhard, I'm the only club member, and club dues are only $100 a year and we train whenever I want AT MY HOUSE <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Did I mention the Brad Pitt look alike helper <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Dues varyimmensely.
Many clubs in the US are essentially private promotions for individual dog trainers.
These tend to be pricey since you are paying for the training itself not the existance of acooperative group of people interested in doing schutzhund.
Keep in mind that the good quality club maintains insurance, national and regional dues, pays for equipement,sometimes needs to rent a field, and has to sponser at least a trial each year.
Then there is the ultimate goals of the club. what do the members want?? A permanant field and club house, or maybe to bring in a series of seminars? Or to send a helper out for training at various seminars, or the traiingn director.
My club is a frugal club and we charge 250.00 per year per member but give families a break and go for 300.00 for them.
We're fortunate as we have a great field to train on for free, and over the years have sponsered regionals and seminars that made just a little $$. I figure if we don't loose money on events at the end of the years we kicked butt fiancially.
It tales about 12 members to keep the club going with 20 being a bit crowded and then I don't get a lot done with my dog.
We'd done one trial a year for quite some time but now that members are coming along nicely we're looking at two. It is my hope that we can also start looking at a series of training seminars as well (something we did in the past with Bernhard Flinks three times).

Our club has about 10-12 regulars. At the very least, we have 6-8 dogs a session. We really don't have any dues, so to speak. Once a year, it's determined how much was spent in the past year, and that's divided among the members. Through out the year, we're usually asked to toss in a few extra bucks for different expenses. Last year cost me a total of about 150.00. Course there's always the uncounted gas dollars to and fro. Thursday night after training is chicken wing night with the team. Saturday afternoon after training is Chinese buffet with the team. Then there are road trips to trials, etc.......... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> DERN! This is an expensive way to play with my dog! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Our one big requirement is that your serious about dog training. We wont waste time on someone that thinks this is a way of killing time between "important" things to do.