Obedience Dog Training Club

Most classes run for 6 weeks, with class sizes strictly limited. Classes canceled due to inclement weather are at the discretion of the instructors, with decisions made at least 4 hours prior to class start. Students are contacted via email/telephone, and cancellations are posted on their Facebook page.

Programs include AKC Star Puppy for puppies 10 weeks to 12 months, covering practical skills and puppy-raising questions, concluding with the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy test. Family Manners (Beginner Level I) is for dogs over 6 months, teaching basic commands using positive reinforcement and addressing common household problems. Manners & More (Beginner Level II) focuses on real-world situations and culminates in the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Test.

Agility classes range from Foundation/Beginner, introducing equipment and simple sequences, to Advanced Beginner and Intermediate 1, focusing on equipment fluency, handling, and teamwork. Specialized Agility Handling Skills & Drills and Agility Contacts and Weaves classes are also offered.

For competition obedience, classes include AKC Beginner Novice and CDSP Starter Novice, AKC Novice & CDSP Novice, Rx For Heeling, and Utility, covering exercises for various competition levels. Coached Run Thru’s provide weekly practice for AKC and CDSP obedience levels. Foundations for Hunting/Field Dogs teaches basic whistle commands and hand signals for field sports. A Jr Handlers program is available for ages 8-17. Aggressive dogs are not accepted into any classes.

Pricing Summary

Class fees for STAR Puppy, Family Manners, and Manners and More are $140 for non-members and $130 for ODTCW club members. All other 1-hour class fees are $140 for non-members and $120 for ODTCW club members. These fees are non-refundable and non-transferable after the first week of classes. Fees include 6.35% CT Sales Tax.

Weekly Coached Run Thru’s cost $27 for members and $38 for non-members. The Junior Handlers class has special pricing at $60. Membership provides discounts on certain classes.

Policies

Class fees are non-refundable and non-transferable after the first week of classes. Classes may be canceled due to inclement weather at the instructors’ discretion, with at least 4 hours’ notice provided via email/telephone and Facebook. Aggressive dogs are not accepted into any programs.

The Obedience Dog Training Club of Waterbury, Inc., founded in 1946 and located in Oxford, CT, is a volunteer-run organization dedicated to training dogs and their handlers for both companionship and competition. They aim to help thousands of dogs become better-behaved pets or highly trained obedience competitors.

For pet owners, they offer a Puppy class to give puppies and their owners a good start, and a Beginner Obedience class (Family Manners) that uses positive reinforcement to teach basic commands and address common household issues like leash pulling, barking, and potty training. Their Manners & More class prepares dogs for the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, which is administered at the end of the 6-week course.

The club provides comprehensive competition training for American Kennel Club (AKC) and Companion Dog Sports Program (CDSP) events, covering all levels from Beginner to Utility. They also offer specialized training in Agility, Rally, and Field sports. Their instructors are experienced competitors in these disciplines, continuously refining their teaching methods.

Becoming a member of ODTCW offers benefits such as invitations to exclusive “Members Only Events,” advance notice of trials and seminars, and discounts on certain classes. The club encourages and promotes the sport of dogs, their health, and training. Please note that aggressive dogs are not accepted into their programs.

Accomplishments

The Obedience Dog Training Club of Waterbury was founded in 1946. Its instructors have extensive experience and accomplishments.

Laurie Cafaro has obtained numerous obedience titles in AKC and CDSP, as well as tracking, NACSW nosework, dock diving, BCAT, WC, Canine Good Citizen, and Trick Dog titles. Her dogs have won challenge trophies and appeared on television shows and in advertisements.

Mindy Costanza has been showing in obedience for over 30 years, successfully competing with various breeds in AKC, UKC, ASCA, and CDSP Obedience, earning UD’s, UDX’s, and an OTCH.

Frank McKane began teaching dog training in 1999 and went full-time in 2001, having helped over 4,000 dogs. He has put 63 AKC obedience and field titles on 16 different dogs, amassed over 300 ribbons, qualified for the Master Retriever National 16 times, placed two dogs in the Golden Retriever Hall of Fame, and appeared on ESPN television.

Laurie Strimavicius has a 15-year background in veterinary medicine as a surgical technician and is an AKC CGC evaluator. She has earned multiple titles in AKC Rally, AKC obedience, and CDSP Obedience, including placing 7th in the Excellent class at the 2020 Rally National Championship and an OTCH-C.

Barbara Siegel’s dog career began in 1974, managing a breed kennel and showing in conformation. She has trained and shown in obedience and agility (CGC/TDI, Rally, AKC, USDAA) and completed apprenticeships at Bobbie Bhambree’s North-East Regional Dog Training Academy. Her dog, Ivan, earned AKC Masters Preferred Bronze in Jumpers and Standard.

How to Get Started!

To get started, visitors can log in or create an account on the website. Class registration is typically done by clicking the title of a class on the “Classes” page. For “Coached Run Thru’s” and “Club Night,” registration is available weekly through SignUp Genius. “Drop-In Rally” is available for drop-in only, with no online registration. New member applications and membership renewals are also handled via SignUp Genius links. A mail-in registration form (PDF) is also available.