German Shepherd Dog Training Club of Chicago, Inc

The club offers all-breed obedience classes year-round on Sundays and Wednesdays in their indoor facility, with outdoor options in spring, summer, and early fall. These classes range from basic puppy obedience and socialization to competitive Novice, Open, and Utility training. Registration is required for all obedience classes.

Obedience Drop-In Training is available every Thursday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM for individuals preparing for obedience competition who wish to train on their own. All-breed agility classes are offered on Monday and Tuesday nights year-round; interested individuals should contact Nancy Bartosch for waitlist openings.

Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) classes are offered for dogs 5 months and older, with two 9-week sessions per year starting in March and September on Friday evenings. These classes cover basic obedience and socialization, emphasizing fundamentals like heel, sit, down, and tolerance for other dogs and people, with no prior training experience required.

CGC Star Puppy Classes are available for puppies up to 5 months, scheduled during the same March and September timeframe on Friday evenings. These classes focus on puppy socialization and encourage desired behaviors using positive reinforcement. All-breed correctionals, which are practice obedience trials, are held on the fourth Friday of every month, except November and December. The club also holds spring and fall TD/TDX combined tests and a VST for tracking, with informal support available for members interested in tracking.

Policies

Pre-registration is required for all classes. There are no classes held on business meeting nights, which occur on the 2nd Wednesday in January, the last Wednesday from February through October, and the 3rd Wednesday in November.

The German Shepherd Dog Training Club of Chicago, Inc. offers a wide range of dog training instruction in agility, nosework, and obedience. They host annual events that provide opportunities for dog owners to demonstrate skills attained in agility, obedience, and tracking.

While club membership is limited to owners of AKC registered German Shepherd Dogs, their training classes are open to all-breed and mixed-breed dog owners. They provide training from basic puppy obedience and socialization up through competitive Novice, Open, and Utility training.

The club operates in a large, fully matted indoor facility, with outdoor classes available during spring, summer, and early fall. Outdoor practice rings are also accessible. They also have a “Wishing Well” that collects donations, which the club matches, to support various canine charities.

How to Get Started!

To inquire about obedience classes, interested individuals should fill out a provided online form, and a trainer will respond. Alternatively, one can send a private message on Facebook with the subject line “Training Class Wait List” or call the club. When contacting by phone, individuals should provide their name, phone number, email address, dog’s age, breed, and any training issues. For agility classes, individuals should contact Nancy Bartosch to be added to the waiting list for class openings. Registration is required for all obedience classes.