Oakland Dog Training Club

Oakland Dog Training Club offers a comprehensive training program structured into various levels, starting with Puppy class or Beginning Obedience, and progressing through Intermediate and Advanced (Off-Leash Control) classes. The curriculum includes specialized classes such as Introduction to Trick Dogs, Scentwork, Rally Obedience (Rally I, Rally II), Small Dog Obedience, and AKC Ring Ready Obedience (Novice, Open, Utility).

Classes are typically offered in 6-week sessions, with some shorter 3-week or 4-week options, and monthly run-throughs for competition practice. Higher-level classes often have prerequisites, such as successful completion of a prior ODTC class or instructor approval. Attendance at the first class session is mandatory for Puppy, Beginning Obedience, and Intermediate Obedience classes.

Pricing Summary

Classes are priced per session: $150 for 6-week sessions, $125 for 5-week sessions, and $100 for 4-week sessions. Some 3-week sessions are $75. Monthly run-throughs cost $15 each. Membership fees are $24.00 for individual and $36.00 for family. Members can rent the training hall for a small fee. Payments can be made via PayPal or by check at the first class.

Policies

No refunds are issued after the first class session. Bitches in heat are not permitted in the training hall during classes or personal rental time, defined from the first day of discharge until the vulva returns to normal size (approximately three weeks). Students whose bitches come into heat during a prepaid session may audit missed classes or receive a voucher for future classes.

For Open Skills & Utility Skills classes, dogs must be crated or tethered when not actively working and must be able to work calmly around other dogs. For AKC Ring Ready Obedience, handlers with multiple dogs enrolled must keep one dog safely crated or in their car while working another.

Oakland Dog Training Club has been teaching people how to train their dogs since 1947. They believe that both people and dogs are happiest when the dog is a well-behaved family member who knows what is expected of them. They have found that training integrates better into family life if an owner is the one who trains the dog, rather than having this done by a professional trainer.

Both purebred and mixed breed dogs are welcome at all their classes. ODTC offers a complete training program divided into different levels. In their group classes, your dog will learn to follow your commands even with the distractions of other dogs and people.

You can start with Puppy class or their Beginning Obedience class, depending on the age of your dog, and continue through Intermediate and Advanced (Off-Leash Control) classes. Many people even choose to continue their obedience training after the basics, and enter their dogs in Obedience Trials or prepare for Rally, Agility or Scent Work.

Classes are held in their indoor training facility, which is fully matted and has mirrors. You do not need to be a member to take their classes, but only registered students, club member dogs, and service dogs are allowed into their training facility. They are located near Point Isabel Dog Park, close to the Albany/El Cerrito/Richmond border.

The club also offers membership benefits such as training hall rental, training practice matches, educational presentations, and social events.

Accomplishments

The Oakland Dog Training Club was established in 1947. Its instructors have notable accomplishments:

Lizanne Kaiser is an AKC Obedience and Tracking Judge who has competed in AKC dog sports since 2005, earning numerous AKC titles including OTCH2, CT, and OGM. Her German Shepherd Dogs have ranked #1 in AKC Obedience and competed multiple times at the AKC National Obedience Championship, finishing in the top 20 nationally. In 2012, her dog Dante won German Shepherd Dog Club of America’s Obedience Victor and Top Scoring Obedience Dog of the Year, making him the only rescue dog from an animal shelter to achieve these awards.

Lauri Bobrosky has over 35 years of experience training dogs in basic and advanced obedience. She has extensive training with FEMA USAR teams, assisting with search efforts at events like 9/11 and hurricanes, and has received various obedience, tracking, AKC competition obedience, and conformation titles on her Rottweilers.

Marian Pott is an AKC and AHBA herding judge and trainer, as well as an AKC CGC and Trick Dog Trainer and Evaluator. She has earned multiple titles with her German Shepherd Dog and her Border Collies are triple herding champions.

Harriet Tucker began her dog training journey in 1974, earning conformation, obedience, rally, tracking, and agility titles on various breeds. Her Irish Terrier became the first Irish Terrier Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH) and earned the first Utility Dog Excellent (UDX) title awarded to a Terrier. She has been nationally ranked in obedience many times and teaches for multiple clubs.

How to Get Started!

New students should email the Registrar with a completed class application and waiver. Continuing students should email the Registrar directly. After enrollment is confirmed, class fees can be paid via PayPal (including class name, day, and time in notes) or by check at the first class session.

Some classes, such as Scentwork and Ring Ready AKC Obedience, require instructor approval or confirmation before enrollment and payment. Attendance at the first class is mandatory for Puppy, Beginning Obedience, and Intermediate Obedience classes. For monthly run-throughs, registration opens two weeks prior to the class and closes the Tuesday before, or when the participant limit is reached; early registration is not permitted.