Trippin' Over Training Club

[Landshark!]

So, I've been seriously considering joining a training club. I've been more interested in training and not just parlor tricks but trials or at least the training leading up to trialing. I need a positive hobby, J-Roc needs a mental and physical outlet...so it seems like a step in the right direction. The only thing I'm hung up on is the requirements to get in the club. I don't know if sharing a link to the training club is allowed so I'll outline what's causing me to trip:

Our club requires prospective members to: (a) be sponsored by TWO CLUB MEMBERS in good standing and (b) to be approved for membership by a MAJORITY OF CLUB MEMBERS.

Ask two club members to be your sponsors. If you are a new acquaintance, or new to the dog world, don't be surprised if they ask some questions to get to know you better. They may even ask to visit you at your home. We want to get to know you, so we can be sure that you agree with our values and are willing to be an active member in our club.

Ok, so I know that doesn't sound like they're asking much but it causes me to hesitate. Let's say I go to the meetings and decide, "Hey, all these activities sounds like a good time!" But once I sign up for their classes it doesn't LOOK like I'm having the best time ever. These club members are judging me and having a case of Resting Bitch Face doesn't really help. Social anxiety doesn't either. I haven't been a "serious dog person." I've never so much as picked up a Karen Pryor or Ian Dunbar book and my pup although well-behaved isn't a canine Einstein.

I hate sounding defeated before I've even attended a meeting but I'm worried I won't live up to their standards. I'm young, live in an apartment and am eating ramen while J-Roc is eating commercial dog food. She has second hand toys, one leash, a few collars and her bed is an old folded up comforter. I don't want these club members to come to our place look around and deem me an unfit owner and potential club member. Any advice, thoughts, suggestions or experiences both positive and negative?

 

[Red.Apricot]

Does the club offer training classes or drop in night? Either of those are often a good way to get your foot in the door at a club without joining, and it's a great way to meet members who can sponsor you!

 

[iriskai]

My club has those rules as well, two sponsors and a vote. We also require new members to take a couple classes before applying for membership. After those classes, usually your instructors or another member who took the class with you are willing to sponsor you. I've also never seen our club vote 'no' on any potential member, not that I attend many meetings.

 

[Elrohwen]

Does the club offer training classes or drop in night? Either of those are often a good way to get your foot in the door at a club without joining, and it's a great way to meet members who can sponsor you!

Yeah, most training clubs I have seen encourage new people to just take classes first for a while before applying. Once you take a couple classes you'll meet people who can sponsor you and learn if you are really interested in joining. I've taken classes with a couple training clubs without joining either.

 

[Landshark!]

The club does offer training classes which is how I found the club in the first place. I'm renting and probably will be for awhile and I'd like to add some kind of certifications to J-Roc's "resume" so to speak. I also need her manners to be impeccable while living in close proximity to other people...so that was a big push in actually researching what was available in the area. We just need a puppy class right now and I'm not comfortable with our local Petsmart trainers.

The club has meetings as well so maybe after the first class is over, I might go sit in on one of those if it is allowed. I guess my biggest fear was having a good time and learning a lot from more serious dog people and then getting rejected for membership. That would be mortifying!

 

[Elrohwen]

The club does offer training classes which is how I found the club in the first place. I'm renting and probably will be for awhile and I'd like to add some kind of certifications to J-Roc's "resume" so to speak. I also need her manners to be impeccable while living in close proximity to other people...so that was a big push in actually researching what was available in the area. We just need a puppy class right now and I'm not comfortable with our local Petsmart trainers.

The club has meetings as well so maybe after the first class is over, I might go sit in on one of those if it is allowed. I guess my biggest fear was having a good time and learning a lot from more serious dog people and then getting rejected for membership. That would be mortifying!

What do you hope to get out of membership? The training clubs I have trained at require a decent amount of work from all of their members, from running shows/trials, to setting up fundraisers. I would be sure that you're really into dog training before you consider joining. Classes are easy and no stress, and nobody cares if you take them all or only take one and never come back.

Once you are part of the club, there is an expectation that you will be involved for a while. Dog sports are not for everyone and the majority of people who start classes in a sport will drop out after a year or three. It's better to find out that you're not that into it when you don't have any obligations to anyone.

I guess my advice is to just take it slow, take classes, and make sure you're really enjoying and and want to become more involved.

I've been steadily involved in dog training classes 2-3 times per week for a couple years now, and I'm still not sure I'm interested in joining any of the local training clubs. I need to get to know the people and make sure I really want to see them and deal with them all the time (not all clubs are well run) and if I want to put in the work. At this point, I haven't found a place where it would be worth it to me to join. Not all cubs are run the same way, and some don't require a ton of your time and effort once you're a member, but it's important to find that stuff out first. Don't rush itm especially as you haven't even taken a class there yet. You might not even like the trainers or the classes.

 

[xpaeanx]

^^^^That!

I hesitate to join local clubs because a lot have volunteer requirements. With my schedule it's honestly just easier to pay the higher fees than commit myself to the club.

 

[Kyllobernese]

We really don't have any Obedience training clubs in our area. However, at our arena in town I pay $100 a year and usually train with Kris with a small group at least two or three times a week. In the good weather we use other places to train also. Some of the other dogs already have their CD & CDX degrees and have been very helpful with Kris.

The one Agility Club I belong to has been sort inactive last year although we did put on one trial last August.

 

[Landshark!]

Thanks for all of the advice y'all! Elrowhen especially gave me a lot to seriously consider before even thinking of committing to the club itself. I haven't so much as even dabbled with dog sports before and I'm glad I reached out before taking on that beast pretty much blindfolded.

Everyone made very good points and even pointed out some things that hadn't even crossed my mind, such as mandatory volunteer time and helping with fundraisers. I currently work a high stress, corporate like position and with my hours and set schedule there is NO room for flexibility. Right now even my days off are mainly devoted to studying work procedures and all of that jazz. So I don't feel as though I would be 100% devoted to the club like they might expect me to be.

I just can't imagine balancing work+life+serious hobby at this point in life. That's just stretching myself a bit too thin. As far as training classes go, those would be manageable since the days and time the puppy class starts on meshes well with our current schedule. That'll also give me a feel for the trainers, their training techniques and if they teach in a way that benefits J-Roc and I.

 

[Moth]

Most clubs have requirements like that for joining.

I would attend a few meetings and chat with people there. In my experience most clubs are happy to have prospective members come check them out and love to chat with people that are considering joining.

I agree that trying out some of their classes before committing is a good idea.

Also by getting to know them a little you can feel out how much participation and volunteering the expect from members. Every club is a little different. The really great thing is that clubs are often a wonderful place to find dog friends

 

[Snark]

There are no clubs near where I am now but when I lived closer to the city there were 3 or 4 clubs in the area. I took a few class sessions with various clubs and that gave me a better idea of which club's training techniques worked best with my ultra-soft dog.

One thing I did do (and still do occasionally) is talk to the club contact person of whatever sport I'm interested in, find out when their next trial/test is and volunteer to help out. It's usually a one or two day commitment (sometimes only a half day), it gives me a chance to see how trials/tests for that sport work, it helps out the club (who are usually looking for workers) and I get to meet quite a few knowledgeable people in the sport.