Des Moines Obedience Training Club

Classes are structured in 6-week sessions, each lasting 50 minutes, with new sessions starting approximately every 8 weeks. Beginner training requires dogs to be 6 months or older and covers loose-leash walking, sit, down, stay, and recall. Puppy classes are for 8-week to 6-month-old puppies and include AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy testing. Progression to intermediate, advanced, CGC, agility, rally, and trick dog classes requires completion of prerequisite levels. All classes are taught by experienced instructors, often with assistants, in a dedicated indoor facility.

Pricing Summary

Most group classes are 6 weeks long and cost $150 for the entire course. Registration is required in advance and opens approximately 3–4 weeks before each session begins. No refunds or waiting lists are offered.

Policies

Pre-registration is required for all classes; no waiting lists are maintained. Registration closes when classes fill. For the first session, owners must arrive 15 minutes early with proof of vaccinations, a leash, buckle or prong collar (no retractable or chain leads), and soft treats. E-collars are prohibited. Dogs must not show aggression toward people or other dogs to participate.

Des Moines Obedience Training Club is an AKC-affiliated obedience club founded in 1950 that offers group training classes for dog owners in Des Moines, Iowa. They provide structured, multi-week courses in obedience, puppy training, rally, agility, trick dog, and Canine Good Citizen (CGC) preparation, all taught in a dedicated, climate-controlled facility with over 7,000 square feet of matted training rings. Their instructors are active competitors and experienced trainers who emphasize positive methods to build strong owner-dog partnerships. Classes are designed to progress from puppy and beginner levels to advanced competition training, with a clear pathway to AKC certification. The club also hosts obedience, agility, rally, and therapy dog trials, as well as seminars and workshops, creating a community-centered environment for dog sports and responsible ownership.

They offer classes for puppies (8 weeks to 6 months) and dogs 6 months and older, with no senior dog classes listed. All classes are group-based and held at their facility, with no private, in-home, or board-and-train services offered. The club requires pre-registration and does not maintain waiting lists; new sessions begin approximately every 8 weeks. They emphasize proper equipment use, requiring leash and buckle, slip, or prong collars (no retractable leads or e-collars), and require proof of current vaccinations.

The club supports AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy and CGC programs, with instructors certified as AKC CGC evaluators. They also offer tracking, scent work, and conformation handling classes, making them a comprehensive resource for dog owners interested in competitive or companion training. Their facility is wheelchair accessible and includes free parking.

Accomplishments

Founded in 1950, DMOTC is the only AKC-member obedience club in Des Moines. Instructors are active competitors and AKC CGC evaluators. The club hosts AKC-sanctioned obedience, agility, rally, tracking, and therapy dog trials, and offers AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy certification.

How to Get Started!

Visit the website to check current class availability via the online registration portal. Register in advance when registration opens, typically 3–4 weeks before the session start date. Attend the first class 15 minutes early with required equipment and vaccination records.