We would like to make your time with us productive and fun for you and your dog.
After Puppy class?
When you pay for a spot in our puppy class you are also paying for an 8 week Basic skills class (which may be signed up for right away). Upon successful completion of a Basic Skills Class, members are eligible to attend open member training (Thursday nights) weekly or at your convenience. BASIC SKILLS covers the basics. Heeling, recall ( come when called), Sit and down with a stay and a few other things are introduced, such as "stand for exam" and "leave it". Join us, all levels, no cost for members.
Welcome to Berks County Dog Training Club (BCDTC) As a new graduate there may be a few things that you will want to know. Like when does the next class start? Graduates of Basic Skills can go right into Beginner Novice Class on Thursday night at 7PM. NOTHING TO SIGN UP FOR.
BEGINNER NOVICE is ongoing. No beginning or end.So you can jump right in. You can go every Thursday (2nd Thursday is a member match) or when your schedule allows. We've got what you need. This class expands upon the knowledge and skills covered in the Basic Skills class. It include proofing to strengthen your dog's grasp of these exercises. This class is also a stepping stone and a wealth of information if you are interested in getting ready to show. Our members and instructors are helpful and friendly and there are many social opportunities.
What is a match? Once a month BCDTC puts on a match. It is a practice show and helps get us and our dogs relaxed and doing our best in the obedience ring. But it does much more. If your dog will do the things you have taught him while in the ring, you can rest assured you are on the road to a well behaved dog and a strong bond between you besides.
There are usually 4 levels: Beginner Novice, Novice, Open and Utility. There is something for everyone but you will want to start with Beginner Novice. Sometimes we add Rally when we have the space and help. You can train in the ring at first so your dog knows that inside the gates is a place to work. Training in the ring is called FEO (for exhibition only).
Matches are on the 2nd Thursday of the month January through November but in December they may be on the first Thursday. they begin at 6:30 but you can sign up at 6:15. Due to lack of outdoor light, May and September are 1/2 and hour earlier. The cost is $1 to sign up.
See you at the match!
Rally Classes
Weekly Training schedule will be posted on the home page Join us, all levels, no cost for members.
To be a member... Our by-laws require you take the Basic Skills Class or a comparable class from another club.
If you trained with another club, you will require an evaluation by one of our qualified instructors to be allowed to successfully participate in our member classes.
If you are coming from a different training club, you are still required to pay the cost of the basic skills class to join our club.
What are titles?
The AKC (and other organizations) give you and your dog a chance to
show what you have learned. And in the process you earn titles. In obedience you can earn a Companion Dog (CD), Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) or Utility Dog (UD) titles plus more. And you can go on from there to Masters and champion levels. And there are similar titles in Rally. Obedience and Rally are known as companion sports, but there is more. There are performance sports too. Some, like tracking, are open to all breeds and some, like herding are limited. While the Berks County Dog Training Club doesn’t offer training in all the sports, our obedience gives you the foundation to move into many areas. BCDTC Awards banquet recognizes your efforts in many training areas. It is attended by people who have worked hard and earned titles during the previous year and by their friends, families and fellow trainers. Consider joining us this February for our annual event. And if your dog earned something, let us know and be included in the festivities.
Watch for special classes. Some we charge for and others are no charge. Check your newsletter. In the past we have offered Intro to Rally, Getting Ready to Show, Scent Work, Advanced Obedience, Tracking, CGC and much more.
