Thank you guys! I think, for now, I'll just keep on the same track with a BH in mind and keep working hard on the basics. Either the right club will come along or maybe I'll reach the point with my dog where I'm ready to try to trial, at which point one of the local clubs might be more enthusiastic about us. Or, by then, we may have changed directions.

For now, I'm enjoying my pup, working on engagement and focus, and basic obedience. All things that will be important no matter where life takes us.

Thank you all for the encouragement. I was actually kind of surprised at how downI was about this until I had some time to step back and think about it a bit!

Good for you Karen,

For good or ill, I've not placed me or my mutts future in the hands of others or the control of others.

I believe clubs offer excellent resources but some of the people are a bit much and some associations come at a price. Some have a mindset that goes kinda like we've got it you try to get it. And I'm not much into genuflection at the altar of ego.

In truth, I take pride in the accomplishments of my mutts, and need little by way of outside validation.

In my opinion, you can accomplish much on your own, perhaps with some advice of the generous and very knowledgeable folks on this site.

Tapes, books, etc., offer most useful information in guiding your efforts. This site offers a mine of information for the looking.

Continue to chart your own path. Your successes will be your own. And when you approach a club, it will be more on your terms.

These thoughts from a curmudgeon. You and your dog are the club's loss. You weren't rejected, you have been motivated. Think lemonade. And devil take the hind most .

I attend a dog club in my area where I am taking bindi for rally training. She is a ...mutt....terrier mix. At first they were very condescending and thought I probably wouldn't do much compared to the pure bred dogs that also train there. (We are the only one with a mixed breed) Bindi and I trotted in, we were very polite, didn't say anything about what we knew, because we had never trained on a rally course before. I had confidence in my girl though, I had worked on the various behaviors in rally. It was our turn, we got up there, and did our thing, she did wonderfully, great eye contact, kept up with me, didn't get discouraged when I made mistakes, and as we did the course I could hear the people talking about what a great dog she was. They still talk about her eye contact. When I was done they asked me if I had any titles, I said, no. Now they are getting to see the great potential even a little terrier can have. That is my hope. I have noticed that when we have a mixed dog, we sometimes say, its only a mutt. I think our little mixed breeds are checked off the list before even given a chance to shine.
I do however, honor their desire to not acknowledge mixed breeds at their club in competitions. That it their choice. I love pure bred dogs as well.
But I am grateful to have my girl shine when she can. I have gotten her enrolled in canine partners, she is registered in the mixed breed section. She can go and compete wherever they allow mixed breeds in competition. We are planning to start competing in rally soon.
Bindi is a smart little girl, she is already doing advanced behaviors in rally and I am very proud of her. Do not loose heart. Enjoy your dog, get involved where you can and let your dog shine.
love, sharon and her pups, Terra, Bindi, Cody.

Great post, Sharon!

We heard back from another ScH club and they also are not accepting new members at this time. The club President was very nice in her email and said to feel free to email her any questions. That leaves us with 1 more club left to hear from and then that's all the clubs in our area.

This weekend I worked with my dog and had a chance to step back and get some perspective on all this and I find that I'm taking it much more in stride. He's young and given his breed mix, will likely take longer to mature. With giant breeds, we also have some fear stages to work through that are just part of their maturation process. Who knows where we'll be in 2 years?

I am considering signing us up for a puppy agility class, of all things. It has no jumps involved and doesn't involve "socialization" time with the other pups, so I think it could be something fun for us to do together while we work on obedience basics. He was a goof running through the tunnel and down the slide at our brief stint at the puppy class we left and I think this could be some lighthearted fun for us both.

I plan on keeping on with our training and hopefully be able to work toward either the BH or the CGC, bit by bit as he matures.

I find the right dog comes into my life at a certain point to teach me what I need to know in that phase of my life. Sam is teaching me a lot more confidence in following my own gut as well as learning to stand by my own boundaries. I have no doubt that when we're ready, we'll find the right path whatever it may be. If it's Schutzhund, the right club will come along at the right time.