Who We Are

Thank you for your interest in joining our team!

To become a member of our IGP club with a German Shepherd Dog (or with another qualified working breed) you need to be a dedicated dog owner/trainer who is highly motivated to achieve with his/her dog and is driven to be a valuable member of the DC team.

Most of our club members like to start training their dogs from the age of 2-3 months with puppy socialization and basic motivational obedience. Protection training starts from 7-9 months of age, after all the adult teeth are fully in place.

If you wish to try out our training with your dog, you may do so as a guest (up to 5 times), for a $50 fee per each visit.  For this fee you will be provided a spot in both obedience and protection training.  Please email us for an appointment if you wish to attend our training.

Currently our yearly membership fee is $1200 per person, with one dog.  This fee is used towards paying for our club activities and related expenses, like dog sports insurance, training equipment, events, judges, trials, website, etc.

Please note that our membership is very limited so there are times when our membership is full or closed, and in that case no new members will be voted in.  In case of a closed membership our club offers a 'waiting list', where potential new members are able to wait for an opening.

There is no mandatory participation each week.  As a member, you attend training when you can (or wish) but being regular helps you achieve your goals faster.  Please be aware that at DC we do not train your dog for you, you train your own dog - with us.  We do this as a sport, as a hobby as we are not a dog training business.  However, we will be happy to assist you to get the hang of it if you are a beginner or want to get more advanced.

Generally, DC meets for training two times a week. Usually on Mondays and Thursdays.  Many times we also go tracking together on weekends.

We hope that you had a chance to read up a little on the sport of IGP (formerly known as Schutzhund or IPO) to better understand our goals and mission.  Please visit our 'IGP Explained' page (click on link below) to learn all about it. 

IGP (short for Internationale Gebrauchshund Pruefung) is a challenging three part dog sport, formerly known as Schutzhund or IPO. The three phases of IGP are tracking, obedience and protection. When put together, the great effort involved in obtaining an IGP title, and the challenges which accompany this training, make for an obedient, stable, useful and well rounded companion, and create an incredible bond between dog and handler.

Schutzhund is a German word meaning “protection dog”, but there’s a lot more to it than that. Originally developed as a means of testing potential breeding stock, it has evolved into a sport that can be enjoyed on a variety of levels from hobby to international competition. As dog sports go, Schutzhund is without a doubt one of the most exciting and challenging. It is also one of the most rewarding. Above all, it is a team sport; the team of dog and handler. The two must work together, and perform in harmony. When done well, it is beautiful to watch and the bond between dog and handler is clear for all to see and many to envy.
Schutzhund training involves three phases: tracking, obedience and protection. When put together, the great effort involved in obtaining a Schutzhund title, and the challenges which accompany this training, make for an obedient, stable, useful and well rounded companion and create an incredible bond between dog and handler. Schutzhund by necessity involves stringent tests of the dog’s temperament, nerve, and overall willingness to work, and by any definition a Schutzhund trained dog is a well trained dog. As such, these dogs are safe, happy, and obedient with great self confidence, mental stability and a willingness to please the handler. These are the traits which make the German Shepherd Dog one of the most versatile breeds in existence, and which are still highly valued by professional trainers, law enforcement officers and families wanting an outstanding companion.
Schutzhund is a German word meaning “protection dog”, but there’s a lot more to it than that. Originally developed as a means of testing potential breeding stock, it has evolved into a sport that can be enjoyed on a variety of levels from hobby to international competition. As dog sports go, Schutzhund is without a doubt one of the most exciting and challenging. It is also one of the most rewarding. Above all, it is a team sport; the team of dog and handler. The two must work together, and perform in harmony. When done well, it is beautiful to watch and the bond between dog and handler is clear for all to see and many to envy.
Schutzhund training involves three phases: tracking, obedience and protection. When put together, the great effort involved in obtaining a Schutzhund title, and the challenges which accompany this training, make for an obedient, stable, useful and well rounded companion and create an incredible bond between dog and handler. Schutzhund by necessity involves stringent tests of the dog’s temperament, nerve, and overall willingness to work, and by any definition a Schutzhund trained dog is a well trained dog. As such, these dogs are safe, happy, and obedient with great self confidence, mental stability and a willingness to please the handler. These are the traits which make the German Shepherd Dog one of the most versatile breeds in existence, and which are still highly valued by professional trainers, law enforcement officers and families wanting an outstanding companion.