Westmoreland County Obedience

WCOTC offers structured, multi-level group training programs across obedience, rally, agility, scent work, therapy dog, and conformation. Obedience includes Puppy (12 weeks–6 months), Basic I (over 6 months), Basic II (CGC prep), Advanced Basic Skills, and competition levels (CD, CDX, UD). Rally classes progress from Novice (on-leash) to Advanced and Excellent (off-leash), with weekly course changes. Agility training starts with safe obstacle introduction and progresses to competition levels. Scent work classes are offered for all levels, with mock and official trials. Therapy dog testing is integrated into obedience classes. All classes are held at their Delmont facility seven days a week.

Pricing Summary

Classes are reasonably priced, with no specific rates listed. Registration requires email inquiry. No packages or pricing tiers are detailed on the website.

Policies

No cancellation or rescheduling policies are stated on the website. Entries for AKC trials are limited by judge time (8 hours/day) and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. UDX class closes if Open B or Utility B reaches capacity.

Westmoreland County Obedience Training Club (WCOTC) is a non-profit dog training organization founded in 1983, offering affordable, high-quality group training classes for dog owners in Westmoreland County and surrounding areas. They provide structured obedience, rally, agility, scent work, therapy dog, and conformation training programs in a dedicated, climate-controlled facility. WCOTC is known for its experienced, patient instructors, small class sizes (e.g., 10 dogs with 3 trainers in puppy classes), and community-focused mission, including hosting AKC-licensed obedience and agility trials since 1995 and 1999 respectively. They were the first club in Pennsylvania to hold an AKC-licensed agility trial and the first in the state to host an AKC Scent Work trial in 2017. The club also runs an active Thera-Paws pet therapy program, offering testing and volunteer opportunities. Their training emphasizes positive, reward-based methods with a focus on building strong handler-dog bonds.

WCOTC offers classes for puppies as young as 12 weeks through adult dogs, including Basic I, Basic II (Canine Good Citizen prep), Advanced Basic Skills, and competition-level obedience (CD, CDX, UD). Rally and agility classes progress from beginner to competition levels, with weekly course setups for practice. Scent work classes are available for all levels, and therapy dog certification is integrated into obedience training. The facility is large, heated, and air-conditioned, with two training buildings on-site.

They are active in the community through demonstrations, parades, and pet therapy visits, and encourage owner involvement—many members eventually become instructors. WCOTC welcomes mixed-breed dogs registered through the AKC Canine Partner Program and supports both recreational and competitive dog sports.

The club is run by a volunteer board of directors, with no single named primary trainer listed, but multiple instructors are referenced in testimonials as patient and skilled.

Email inquiries are required for class registration, with phone numbers requested for follow-up.

WCOTC does not offer private in-home training, boarding, grooming, or day care services.

They are not a breeder, pet store, or dog walker, but focus exclusively on training and competition support.

Accomplishments

WCOTC has been training dogs since 1983 and became the first club in Pennsylvania to hold an AKC-licensed agility trial in 1995 and an AKC obedience trial in 1999. They were the first in Pennsylvania to host an AKC Scent Work trial in October 2017. The club has trained over 750 students annually and maintains an active Thera-Paws pet therapy program. They host four AKC Obedience/Rally trials and six AKC Agility trials each year.

How to Get Started!

Prospective students must email wcotcobedience@gmail.com for obedience and rally classes, or wcotctherapaws@gmail.com for therapy dog information. Include your phone number in the email for follow-up. Class registration is not available online; contact via email is required.