Why train your dog
The obedience training methods used by the Club were developed by Jim Powell, founder of the Northern Suburbs Dog Training Club. The aim of the Club is to teach you, the individual, how to train your dog. Each week you are taught a series of simple exercises in class which you can then repeat at home during the week. The Club recommends spending 15-20 minutes of training each day at home.

When training your dog there are several important things to remember. Dogs learn by repetition. They do not reason but they do learn to recognise clear, single word commands. We give the dog a command, eg 'sit' at the same time showing him/her what is expected with an action eg using our hands we put the dog in a sitting position. It is important to then praise the dog for doing the exercise correctly. These words and actions must be consistent for the dog to learn what is expected of him. You will need to be very patient with you dog as it may take a lot repetition before he/she realises what is expected. It is important to concentrate on your dog during the training sessions; in turn your dog returns the concentration by watching for your next move. It is also important to establish eye contact with your dog by calling his/her name and praising him/her before you do an exercise.

To train your dog, you will require a soft lead of 1.5 to 2m long and a training collar. Both items should be used for training purposes only. It is also important to remove any flea collars etc before training. Check collars can become entangled and choke a dog to death, so it is very important to keep your dog in sight if he/she is wearing a check collar. Some types of chain collars will become tangled on long-coated dogs and do not work effectively. If you are unsure as to what type of collar you need, it is best to check with your Instructor prior to class or to inquire at the Clubhouse where training collars and leads are available at very reasonable prices.

It is important to let your instructor know at the beginning of the class if your dog is likely to bite. All the Club's instructors have ten fingers and would like to keep it that way! They will also be able to give you some assistance in socialising your dog.

Children are welcome, but we urge parents to keep them away from the classes and, for their own safety, to never approach a strange dog or one that is tied up, as they face the risk of being bitten.

Afternoon tea is available at the Clubhouse after classes at 4pm. All are welcome and it is a wonderful opportunity to meet other Club members and Club instructors.

Happy training!

Gael Goldsack, Club Secretary
Northern Suburbs Dog Training Club