The Dog Training Club of Dallas County [a not-for profit organization] was formed in 1974 by a group of dedicated obedience trainers and their dogs. One of the main objectives or goals of the club is to promote responsible pet ownership in our community and to support the sport of obedience and other canine activities. Additionally, the club seeks to provide the opportunity for club members to be able to serve the community through educational programs in libraries, schools and churches. The club also provides training which enables club members to certify their dogs for therapy dog work. Healing Hounds (the club’s Therapy Dog group) regularly visits The Ronald McDonald House, Grace Presbyterian Nursing Home, and Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Club members and their canine companions participate in parades and festivals in the suburban communities of Duncanville, Cedar Hill, Midlothian and others. One year, when club members dressed in Christmas outfits and their dogs dressed like reindeer, the mayor of Duncanville posed for pictures with the group during the Duncanville Christmas Parade.

Each year, thousands of dogs are taken to shelters due to “bad behavior” such as digging, jumping up, licking, chewing, barking, etc. Actually these “misbehaviors” are natural for a dog to do. We teach our students to learn to channel a dog’s natural instincts into acceptable behavior in our human pack and to develop good manners so that they can become Good Canine Citizens. Since we know that only about 30% of dogs live out their lives with their original owners, we teach students how to communicate with their dog and provide exercises that will establish a relationship that will provide many years of loyal companionship. The Dog Training Club Of Dallas County offers the following classes: Kindergarten Puppy Training (KPT) for dogs under six months of age, Beginner classes for dogs over 6 months of age as well as offering advanced classes from Intermediate to Utility for students who wish to enter competitive obedience trials.

All instructors are experienced and volunteer their services. All revenue goes toward maintaining club and service work.

The DTCDC building, at 604 Crestside in Duncanville, is comfortably climate controlled.

DTCDC keeps up with the sporting times in teaching classes (for members only) in the dog sports of Agility, Flyball as well as Canine Freestyle, the latest event in “dogdom” where dogs compete doing creative routines to music. In November of 1998, club members won a very impressive 2nd place with a 10-member-10-handler Canine Freestyle Team, and individual club members won 1st and 3rd in their category.

Club members come from all walks of life: dentists, doctors, schoolteachers, nurses, electronic technicians, truck drivers, secretaries, computer programmers and more. Everyone pitches in to maintain our building, keep the training equipment clean and in good working order and run the operation of the club. We come together with a common purpose, which is to train dogs to be Good Canine Citizens and to further the sport of dog obedience.

Copy by Sally Browing, Stella Moore and Charlotte Strom