Tri State Dog Obedience Club

Tri-State Dog Obedience Club offers a comprehensive range of dog training classes, structured primarily as 6-week sessions, with some agility classes being 5 weeks. Programs cater to various stages of a dog’s life, starting with Puppy Kindergarten for puppies 3-5 months old, and S.T.A.R. Puppy for ages 5-12 months, which includes preparation for the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy test.

For older dogs (6 months and up), Basic 1 covers fundamental obedience commands like sit, down, stay, come, and leash walking. Beyond basic obedience, classes include Family Manners/Canine Good Citizen (CGC) for everyday challenges and CGC certification preparation, and Pre-Novice for those preparing for agility, rally, or obedience classes.

Specialty and competition-focused classes are also available, such as Rally (AKC), Novice, Open, and Utility for competition obedience, and various levels of Agility (Agility For Fun, Beginner, Intermediate, Foundation, Sequencing, Advanced Coursework, and Competition). They also offer Breed Handling for conformation showing and Nose Work/Scent Work at all levels, covering elements like Containers, Interiors, Exteriors, Vehicles, and Handler Discrimination, with preparation for ORT and trials. Classes are limited in size, and proof of vaccinations is required.

Pricing Summary

Class fees are $140.00 for a 6-week session, with no refunds. A discount is available for Working Club Members, and an early bird discount of $10 off is offered if payment is received by April 21. Agility Beginners and Intermediate classes are 5 weeks for $115.

Policies

Class fees are $140.00 for a 6-week session, with no refunds. A discount is available for Working Club Members, and an early bird discount of $10 off is offered if payment is received by April 21. Agility Beginners and Intermediate classes are 5 weeks for $115.

No bitches in season are permitted without pre-approval by the instructor. Proof of vaccinations must be attached to the application. The schedule is subject to change, and the club reserves the right to change or cancel classes if there is insufficient registration. Clients are responsible for calling to check for class cancellations due to bad weather.

Tri-State Dog Obedience Club, formed in 1958, is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping dogs and people build a better understanding for a more enjoyable relationship. They offer a wide variety of classes, from puppy training through advanced levels of obedience, agility, conformation, and rally.

Their facility is located in the Shohola Business Center in Shohola, Pennsylvania. It is fully-matted, large, climate-controlled, and provides ample parking. The club aims to help owners build a deeper understanding with their dogs.

Accomplishments

The Tri-State Dog Obedience Club was formed in 1958. Its instructors have extensive experience and notable accomplishments:

Detta Andreana has trained and titled her German Shorthaired Pointers in AKC, CDSP, UKC, and NACSW. Valerie Bernhardt has over 50 years of experience, has titled over 40 of her own dogs in bench championships, obedience, working field dogs, rally, agility, and scent work, and has been training for TSDOC since the mid-70s. She was a past president of the Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America and an AKC delegate.

Joan Clemmons has earned titles in Rally, Obedience, and Agility with her dogs and was involved with AKC Rally at its inception. Chrisanne Cubby, a Nosework instructor since 2021, raised puppies for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and her dog Satin achieved the NACSW Elite Championship Title in 2022. She is a UKC Nosework judge and oversees UKC Trials at the club.

Linda Husson, involved in dog training since 1986, has an AKC Obedience Trial Champion and multiple MACH titles in AKC and ADCH titles in USDAA Agility, including Gold & Platinum levels. Several of her Border Collies have been in the USDAA Top 10 and were Steeplechase & Grand Prix Finalists at Cynosport. Her dogs competed internationally for Team Australia.

Barbara Miller, involved since 1979, has earned over 100 titles in Obedience, Agility, Herding, Tracking, Flyball, and Conformation, including breed “firsts” like the first AKC agility title on a Basset Hound and the first VCD1 on an American Foxhound. Cathy Mann, teaching at TSDOC since 2015, is an AKC CGC and AKC Tricks Evaluator and is certified in Pet CPR and First Aid. Her dogs have earned titles in WCR Rally, Barn Hunt, CDSP Obedience, AKC Tricks, CPE Agility, and UKC NW, and have been included in WCR Rally Annual ‘Top 20’ Rankings.

Betty Padgett, involved since 1969, has earned multiple High In Trials in obedience and herding, Herding Championships, Breed Conformation Champion, Agility Excellent, Tracking Dog, Rally Excellent, Trick-Dog Performer, CGCA, and ScentWork Master. Her home-bred Border Collie is competing at AKC ScentWork Master and Detective levels and is a Registered Therapy dog. Rose Robischon is the President of the National Owner Handler Association, Inc., a board member and AKC delegate of the Wallkill Kennel Club, and Vice President of the Stewards Club of America.

How to Get Started!

To get started, prospective clients should pre-register by mail or use the secure Drop Box by the front door. An Obedience Application (PDF) is available for download. Proof of vaccinations must be attached to the application. For more information, clients can contact Linda Husson, the Training Director, via email or phone.