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A club based in North Fort Myers helps build the companionship between a dog and its owner while teaching both new skills.
Dog Obedience Club of Lee County Board Member Joan Walters said the club began in 1983 and is AKC sanctioned. The club recently moved into a new building at 6351 Bayshore Road, which has provided more room for their classes.
She said the club started because people really wanted to do some obedience work with their dogs and it grew from there — now at about 150 members.
Classes range from Beginning Obedience, to Obedience and Rally, Nose Work/Scent Work and electives.
The beginning obedience classes include Puppy/Star Puppy, Beginner and Canine Good Citizen.
The Obedience and Rally include such competition obedience classes as competition novice, grad novice and open/utility, while the rally classes offer novice/intermediate, advanced/excellent and masters.
The electives, which are offered from time to time include agility, K9 first aid, tracking classroom and tricks.
The one-hour classes offered are for six weeks for $125.
“Our classes are limited for the most part to no more than eight dogs. Everybody gets really good individualized attention,” she said. “All instructors are members, all volunteers, who have titled their dogs in all of these various things that they are teaching.”
The new facility has enough room for two rings in which they can do trials, as well as all of their classes.
The club offers 12 trials a year, which run from obedience, to rally, to set work, and tracking trials.
One of the new trails is Fast CAT – coursing ability test – through a timed 100-yard dash of chasing a lure.
“It is fun for the dogs. It has become a really big deal,” Walters said.
They have purebred dogs, as well as rescues of all sizes, shapes, colors and ages who take the classes.
“We are growing. We are really committed to having responsible dog owners and dog owners that take care of their dogs – having dogs that you can take places,” Walters said.
Those interested in signing up for one of the classes can visit doclc.com.
“All the dogs are crated, so we don’t have any issues. We train the owner. Our instructors are really good,” Walters said.
Walters said after coming to Southwest Florida from Michigan for the winter, she began looking for places where she could take her younger dachshund, who is 5 now.
“I started looking around and found these guys,” she said, adding that the president of the club encouraged her to sign up for a class called games. “He loved it and started getting involved.”
From there the duo started taking more classes, got more involved and got to know other dog owners, as she is now a full-time resident.
“It’s a really good group of people. Everyone is helpful,” Walters said, adding that individuals offer ideas and possible solutions to help.
More information about the club can be found on its website, as well as its Facebook page.