Evansville Obedience Club

The Evansville Obedience Club offers a comprehensive range of training programs focusing on both companion pets and competitive dog sports. Classes are typically six-week, one-hour sessions, held in a climate-controlled facility with professional sports flooring. Beginner One and Beginner Two classes are prerequisites for all advanced classes, including Rally.

The curriculum includes Puppy class (for 3-6 month olds, covering basic commands, housebreaking, and behavior discussions), Adolescent Dog class (for 6-12 month olds, focusing on self-control and obedience), and a progressive series of Beginner classes (One, Two, and Three) for dogs aged 6 months and older, building foundational obedience skills like leash walking, sits, downs, stays, recalls, and focus. Specialized classes like “Attention” are offered to strengthen the handler-dog bond.

For those interested in competition, the club provides classes for Novice, Open, and Utility Obedience exercises, including specific training for retrieves and scent articles. Proofing classes and a “Pre-Competition Ready Class” are available to prepare handlers and dogs for the show ring. Rally classes cover all levels from Novice to Masters, emphasizing teamwork and course navigation. Agility training includes Intro to Obstacles, Intermediate Sequencing, and a Weave Pole BootCamp. Additionally, the club offers classes and testing for AKC Family Dog Titles such as Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and Trick Dog. The club also hosts seminars with renowned trainers and “Show and Go” events for practice before trials.

Pricing Summary

Membership dues are $40.00/year for a single membership, $50.00/year for a family membership, and $25.00/year for associate and junior memberships. Regular classes, including Puppy, Adolescent, Beginner One, Beginner Two, Beginner Three, Open, Utility, Competition, Conformation Working Sessions, and Rally Classes, cost $150 each. Novice & Grad Novice Competition Prep is $130, and the CGC Class and Test is $100.

Class packages are available: Puppy and Beginner One Class for $275, Adolescent and Beginner One Class for $275, and Beginner One and Beginner Two for $275. The second class in a package must be taken within 12 months. A $10 discount is offered for dogs rescued from a 501(c)(3) shelter, applicable to one class session within one year of adoption, and cannot be combined with other discounts.

For Show and Go events, EOC members pay $8 for the first run and $5 for the second run per dog, while non-members pay $12 for the first run and $8 for the second run per dog.

Policies

EOC obedience classes are cancelled when Ivy Tech cancels its classes due to weather. For class packages, the second class must be taken within 12 months of the first. A $30.00 fee applies to returned checks.

During classes, family members are welcome, but children should remain quiet to avoid disturbing the class. Only one handler is permitted on the floor with the dog at a time, and junior handlers must be accompanied by a parent. Auditors or spectators are not allowed, and dogs not registered in the class are prohibited. Students are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs, and male dogs are not permitted to “mark” inside the building.

The Evansville Obedience Club, established in 1971, is a dog training organization committed to helping dog owners train their pets. They operate from a permanent indoor, air-conditioned/heated facility at 1101 N Congress Avenue, which opened on January 1, 2024, and is designed with flooring suitable for training and showing dogs. This new complex is larger, allowing for three possible show rings and ample crating space.

The club boasts a membership of over 80 people and approximately twenty experienced instructors. They offer training classes for all experience levels, from absolute beginners seeking a well-behaved family pet to advanced levels of competition in Obedience, Rally, and Agility. Their primary goal is to teach owners how to effectively train their dogs and enjoy the many benefits that obedience training provides.

In addition to regular classes, EOC provides training and evaluations for Canine Good Citizenship Certificates. Some members are certified with Therapy Dogs, International and Delta Society Pet Partners Program, enabling them to visit nursing homes. The club is licensed by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and hosts various show-n-go events to help prepare students and members for upcoming competitions. They also sponsor seminars featuring top-level trainers to assist those who wish to excel in training.

Accomplishments

The Evansville Obedience Club was formed in 1971 and held its first sanctioned AKC obedience match in 1974. In 2011, the club hosted 17 Obedience and Rally trials, along with 6 Agility trials. It is licensed by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

The club has a history of hosting seminars with top-level trainers, including Diane Bauman, Connie Cleveland, Bridgett Carlson, Al Breece, Julie Hill, Janine Rousch, Lynn Weinberg, Adele Yunck, Marion Crain, and Matthew Twitty. Its instructors hold numerous AKC titles across various disciplines such as Obedience (CDX, UD, PCD, CD), Rally (RE, RAE3, RACH3, RM9, RAE8, RC, RM), Agility (MACH, PACH, MXJ, MXP, XFP, OAP, NJP), and other areas like Tracking (TD), Herding (PT, HCT-sheep), FastCAT (DCAT, FCAT), Trick Dog (TKI, TKA), Canine Good Citizen (CGC, CGCA, CGCU), Farm Dog (FDC), and FitDog. Instructors also hold titles from UKC, NADAC, NADD, APDT, IABCA, ICE, ATTS, and BHA.

Individual instructors have received various club awards, including the EOC Team Award, Rally Award, Achievement Award, Good Sportsmanship Award, Dorothy Lang “Teddy” Award, and the Blumenaur Award multiple times. One instructor holds a PhD in English and served on the Evansville-Vanderburgh County School Board for 24 years. Another is a Nesdca certified Professional Bedbug Detection K-9 Handler and Trainer. The club’s members are active in a wide variety of dog-related activities and some are professionals in dog activities.

How to Get Started!

To enroll in classes, prospective students must submit an application form, indicating a first and second choice of class and time. The application must be accompanied by payment, made out to Evansville Obedience Club, and proof of the dog’s vaccination record, which must include parvo and distemper. Applications should be submitted promptly as class sizes are limited and spots are not reserved without full payment.

Applications, vet records, and payments should be mailed to Kristi Schmidt, EOC Co-Registrar, at 11458 N CR 100 E Chrisney, IN 47611. For questions or class inquiries, Lynda Robey, EOC Co-Registrar, can be contacted at (270) 233-0701. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, and verification is provided via email or phone. Registration for classes closes on the Wednesday prior to the session start date. For membership, prospective members must meet certain requirements before completing a membership application.