Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club

Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club offers a comprehensive range of training programs structured across various levels and disciplines. Core offerings include Puppy Kindergarten and S.T.A.R. Puppy for young dogs (3-12 months), focusing on socialization, basic commands, and problem-solving.

Obedience training progresses through five levels: Basic Obedience (Obedience 1) for dogs 6 months and older, followed by Beyond Basic (Obedience 2), Intro to Competitive Obedience (Obedience 3), Beginner Open (Obedience 4), and Open/Utility (Obedience 5), which prepare dogs for formal competition titles like BN, CD, CDX, UD, and OTCH. Agility classes are structured in four levels (Level 1-4), introducing groundwork, obstacle performance, handling skills, and competition readiness.

Rally Obedience is offered with an Introduction to Rally (Rally 1) and a general Rally drop-in class, focusing on teamwork and navigating courses. Conformation classes are available for both beginners and advanced handlers, covering all aspects of showing purebred dogs. Trick training includes Trick Puppy, Novice/Intermediate Tricks, and Tricks for Canine Acting & Performance, aiming for various trick dog titles. A 5-week Therapy Dog class is also available, preparing teams for certification with organizations like Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Many classes are offered as 6 or 7-week sessions, with drop-in options available for more experienced students.

Pricing Summary

Payment is required at the time of registration to secure a spot in a class. Drop-in packages are available for savings.

Individual drop-in classes like Advanced Conformation, Beginning Conformation, Obedience 2 – Beyond Basic, Obedience 3 – Intro to Competitive Obedience, Obedience 4 – Beginner Open, and Obedience 5 – Open/Utility are priced at $15.00 or $18.00 per session. Group Agility Practice and Just For Fun Agility drop-ins are $18.00.

Seven-week courses such as Level 1 Agility, Obedience 1 – Basic Obedience, Obedience 2 – Beyond Basic, and Tricks – Novice/Intermediate are $120.00. Six-week puppy classes like S.T.A.R. Puppy and Puppy Kindergarten are $110.00.

Annual membership fees are $40 for a Family Annual Membership, $30 for a Single Annual Membership, and $10 for a Junior Annual Membership (ages 10-17). Members receive reduced class fees and can earn Doggie Dollars for classes and trial entries.

Policies

Payment must be made at the time of registration to hold a spot in a class. If payment is not completed, the spot cannot be held. Links to a Refund Policy, Vaccination Policy, and Printable Waiver are provided, but their content is not detailed in the provided text.

Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club (USDTC) is an all-breed, all-volunteer non-profit training facility that has been empowering people to become better dog owners for 60 years. They focus on positive training and education.

USDTC offers a wide variety of classes for dogs of all ages, from puppies to seniors, covering everything from basic manners to advanced competition. Their offerings include obedience, rally, agility, conformation, and trick training. They also provide specialized therapy dog training for those interested in community service.

The club provides benefits to its members, such as reduced class fees, bi-monthly membership meetings with guest speakers, and annual holiday parties. Members are also informed of upcoming trials and matches in obedience, agility, and conformation, and can earn “Doggie Dollars” redeemable for classes and trial entries by participating in club activities.

Accomplishments

Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club has been operating for 60 years, providing dog training and education. Their instructors hold numerous certifications and titles, including AKC CGC Evaluator, AKC Temperament Testing Evaluator, CTDI Certified Trick Dog Instructor, Stunt Dog Judge, and Animal Actor Evaluator. Many are also Certified Tester/Observers for Alliance of Therapy Pets and AKC Canine Ambassadors.

Instructors have achieved multiple competition titles with their own dogs across various disciplines, such as Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH), Companion Dog (CD), Companion Dog Excellent (CDX), Utility Dog (UD), Champion (CH), Grand Champion (GCH), Beginner Novice (BN), Canine Good Citizen Urban (CGCU), Trick Dog Novice (TKN), Rally Novice (RN), Rally Intermediate (RI), Rally Advanced (RA), Rally Advanced Excellent (RAE1), Agility Excellent (AX), Agility Excellent Jumpers (AXJ), Novice Agility Jumpers (NAJ), and various Trick Dog titles (DMWYC Expert, AKC Elite Performer, Champion Trick Titles). Some instructors are published authors and podcast hosts, contributing to the dog training community.

How to Get Started!

Prospective students can begin by checking the Frequently Asked Questions section if they are unsure where to start. Drop-in packages are available for purchase to save on class fees. Payment is required at the time of registration. For any issues with the registration and payment process, individuals are advised to contact the club directly.