Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • DTCCU Conformation Handling Class

    This is a four week course with focus on beginner handlers for owners to learn how to present their dogs at a conformation show. Dogs must be at least 16 weeks […]

  • Beginning Dog Obedience for Juniors

    Beginning Dog Obedience for Juniors

    This class is designed to foster a respectful and responsible relationship between Junior handlers and their dogs with the goal of successfully exhibiting in either 4H or AKC Beginner Novice […]

  • Heeling and Retrieves

    Heeling and Retrieves

    Heeling and Retrieves. Focuses improving skills needed for Heeling and  Retrieves used in competition Obedience. Class max of 6.  

  • ORT Prep Workshop

    ORT Prep Workshop

    Are you and your nose work dog ready to take the Odor Recognition Test?  How do you know?  How do you enter an ORT?  What should you take with you, […]

  • Tracking Games Around Town (Advanced Tracking)

    Tracking Games Around Town (Advanced Tracking)

    Focus will be on complicated starts, corners, cross tracks, acute angles, mixed surface serpentines, and transitions with an emphasis on, but not limited to, urban tracking.  Prerequisites: Students should be […]

  • Canine Musical Freestyle

  • Laura Sime

    Laura Sime

    I have always loved dogs and animals in general. I first watched dog agility on Animal Planet as a child and I am grateful to now have the means to […]

  • Out and About Nosework Practice Group

    Each week you’ll travel to a new location to practice your skills, gain confidence in new environments, and learn from observing other teams. NACSW odor will be used. Be prepared […]

  • Contacts and Weaves

    Contacts and Weaves

    You and your dog will learn the basics of training contacts (teeter, dog walk, A frame) using the two-on-two-off method.  Running contacts will not be covered in this class.  You […]

  • Foundations for Agility

    Foundations for Agility

    Engagement, impulse control, body awareness, recall games, introduction to beginner agility equipment, and more will be included in this class.  All students who are new to agility must take this […]

  • Agility Seminar

    Agility Seminar

    Sherry Kluever is coming to DTCCU on Saturday August 23 to teach TWO Novice/Open Agility seminars.  Sherry Kluever, BlaznK9 has over 20 years of agility teaching experience. Sherry’s training philosophy is based on […]

  • Sarah Low

    Sarah Low

    I got my first Belgian Sheepdog in 1995 and have since been hooked on showing and training Belgians. I have trained, competed and titled in conformation, obedience, rally and agility. […]

  • Hanna Rao

    Hanna Rao

    I have been a member of DTCCU since 2005. In my professional life I have a PhD in biochemistry and work as a research scientist at the university of IL, […]

  • Deb Sauberli

    I enrolled in my first class at DTCCU in the early 2000s. My first home companion teacher, Lisa Ochoa, was a superb instructor and encouraged me to continue with more […]

  • General Membership Meeting

    Tuesday, August 9, 2022 7pm

  • Board Meeting

    Tuesday, August 9, 2022 6pm

  • Open / Utility Advanced

    Open / Utility Advanced

    Handlers should have already begun to train the exercises for Open and Utility before taking this class.  Exercises will be further polished and proofed as you prepare for competition.  Prerequisite:  […]

  • Cindy Ziegler

    Cindy Ziegler

    I  have been working with dogs for the past 15 years, mostly herding and sporting dogs. Currently have two German shepherds, Garnet and Gretchen,  both have their CGC and  Novice […]

  • Angie Froman

    Angie Froman

    I started dog training when I was 11 years old with a papillon and showed her in 4-H. After college I became interested in agility. I have been showing my […]

  • Jessica Wedow

    Jessica Wedow

    Jess’s love of dogs and dog training started young with her family Schipperke. She currently has a Miniature American Shepherd and a Pembroke Corgi. Jess loves the nerdy aspects of […]

  • Brittany Ashmore

    Brittany Ashmore

    Brittany has been working with dogs most of her life from volunteering at the Champaign county humane society as a child and now at a dog sanctuary for special needs […]

  • Dave Stone

    Dave Stone

    I began training at the club in 1982 with my gordon setter puppy, Jackson. I’m blessed with a spouse who I met at the club a year later, who shares […]

  • Lola Heim

    Lola Heim

    I have loved dogs my entire life . I have had purebred and rescue dogs. I started at DTCCU after getting a rescue Rottweiler mix puppy that we entered in […]

  • Corbyn Giers

    Corbyn Giers

    I was born into a dog family, as my mother bred American cocker spaniels from before I was born, and also had pet dachshunds. As a young teenager, I found […]

  • Karen Kramer

    Karen Kramer

    After many years of rescuing dogs,  both through transporting dogs from high kill shelters to the north and running my own shelter at my home, I joined DTCCU and began […]

  • Jane Billman

    Jane Billman

    I’ve loved animals since I was a kid and had a Collie and cats and goldfish. For the past 25 years, I’ve had Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers (Tollers), which […]

  • Sara Moshage

    Sara Moshage

    Although I grew up with dogs on our family farm, I didn’t take my first training class until 2019. I loved how much fun my dog was having in “school” and how […]

  • CGC / U (Urban)

    CGC / U (Urban)

    AKC Urban CGC requires that the dog demonstrate CGC skills and beyond in an urban setting. As with Canine Good Citizen, AKC Urban CGC has a 10-step test of skills […]

  • Trial Prep Rally Advanced / Excellent

    Short course to prepare for Rally Trial

  • Rally Intermediate / Advanced

    Rally Intermediate / Advanced

    Think of an AKC Rally event as any team sport: You and your dog navigate a course, side-by-side, as you steer him through a course of 10-20 different signs. Each […]

  • Carolyn Brown

    Carolyn Brown

    I have been training standard poodles since 1983. Currently I share my home with one standard poodle.  I have been a member of Dog Training Club since 2015.

  • Joyce Latham

    Joyce Latham

    Joyce M. Latham began dog training in AKC obedience back in the 1980s with a wonderful “goose pit” yellow Labrador from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Brandy.  Joyce promised Brandy […]

  • Barb Scanlan

    Barb Scanlan

    I always loved dogs. I always wanted to train a dog and got that opportunity when I signed up for a Home Companion class at DTCCU over 20 years ago […]

  • CGC / A (Community)

    CGC / A (Community)

    Take your CGC skills to the next level. Class is taught outdoors at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana. CGC / A test will be held during last class.

  • Rally Excellent / Master

    Rally Excellent / Master

    Excellent is performed off leash with 15 to 20 signs. There are some more challenging exercises. Handlers are not allowed to clap or pat their legs. Two jumps are required.

  • Rally Novice

    Rally Novice

    All exercises are performed on leash. There are 10 to 15 signs. You can talk, clap your hands and / or pat your legs to encourage your dog.

  • Utility Obedience

    Utility Obedience

    Utility exercises include the signal exercise, scent articles, directed retrieve, moving stand and exam, and directed jumping.  Teaching methods will depend on the individual instructor, but experienced students are encouraged […]

  • Open Obedience

    Open Obedience

    This class introduces teaching and training methods for the Open Obedience exercises: heeling (off lead); drop on recall; dumb-bell retrieve; high jump; broad jump; signal exercises; stand stay – get […]

  • Novice Obedience

    Novice Obedience

    The Novice class will prepare dogs and handlers to compete in AKC Novice level obedience. All Novice exercises will be refined and handling skills will be emphasized. This class will […]

  • Advanced Agility 2

    Advanced Agility 2

    Content of this class will continue development of complex skills learned in Advanced 1. Agility classes may be repeated once, if necessary.  If your dog has not learned the required […]

  • Intermediate Agility 2

    Intermediate Agility 2

    This class will add complexity to the skills learned in Intermediate 1.  Handling skills will focus on front cross, rear cross, post turns, sends, and multiple jumps.  All contacts will […]

  • Intermediate Agility 1

    Intermediate Agility 1

    In order to be successful in this class your dog must be able to work off lead, have a reliable stay, a release word, and recall to heel (both sides) […]

  • Advanced Agility 1

    Advanced Agility 1

    Prerequisite: Intermediate Agility 2 and instructor permission Agility students will be expected to comply with rules set by AKC, see the AKC handbook for reference.  Section 9. Collars. At the handler’s […]

  • Beginner Agility 2

    Beginner Agility 2

    Beginner Agility 2 Beginner 2 continues where Beginner 1 left off, expanding handler skills and elevating teams to short sequences. This class will help build a safe, positive foundation to […]

  • Beginner Agility 1

    Beginner Agility 1

    Beginner Agility 1 Beginner Agility builds on core Agility Foundation skills. This class will help build a safe, positive foundation to play agility together with your dog. Learning objectives include […]

  • Home Companion

    Home Companion

    An 8-week course for dogs beginning their training that emphasizes the foundation training essential for well-behaved pets. NOTE: Dogs must be at least 6 months old. Owners learn to teach […]

  • Puppy Elementary

    Puppy Elementary

    Puppy Elementary is designed for dogs 4 to 7 months of age who have either completed Puppy Kindergarten or are a little too old to play with those youngsters. Goals […]

  • Puppy Kindergarten

    Puppy Kindergarten

    This course for puppies from 10 to 16 weeks old helps socialize young pups to humans and other dogs, as well as to different environments. Puppies learn basic commands using […]

  • Kathie Lawrence

    Kathie Lawrence

    I have had Scottish terriers for over 50 years, a few other breeds have slipped in along the way. Training and management are key to keeping a harmonious household with […]

  • Robin Haggard

    Robin Haggard

    I have been training dogs for over 50 years and been breeding Alaskan Malamutes since 1963. I have taught Puppy Kindergarten at DTCCU for over 30 years. Courses Taught Puppy […]

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