About Heartland Dog Training Club
Heartland Dog Training Club was formed in March 1996 with a goal of providing United Kennel Club obedience and agility to north central Kansas.
UKC approved Heartland as a provisional obedience and provisional agility club in April 1996. We were fully approved as Kansas' first UKC licensed obedience club in June 1996 and were licensed by UKC for agility in October 1996. In fall 1997, Heartland was approved by the North American Dog Agility Council to offer agility trials. In spring 1999, the American Kennel Club gave Heartland approval to hold sanctioned agility trials. Heartland's first AKC agility trial was held in May 2000.
Heartland members are involved in a wide variety of activities with their dogs, ranging from UKC and AKC obedience and agility to flyball and less formal events such as Frisbee and scent hurdle racing. Many members are involved in rescue efforts for their breeds, and in promoting responsible pet ownership through Canine Good Citizen tests, puppy classes, and other activities.
Heartland members have a wide range of experience levels, from beginners with no training experience, but who are eager to learn, to members with lifetime experience.
All breeds of dogs -- and mixed breeds -- are welcome at Heartland activities and at all UKC events.
For safety reasons, dogs that are aggressive towards people or other dogs are not permitted to participate in club events or classes. But we evaluate each dog on its own merits, not on a breed-specific list.
What Heartland offers you and your dog:
All classes/workshops have limited enrollment so you will receive lots of
personal attention.
* Puppy classes Have fun with your puppy as you teach your young friend important basic skills. Class taught periodically for puppies five months of age and younger. Our classes have limited enrollment and usually fill without our having to advertise, so we suggest you reserve space early. Your puppy class enrollment fee includes a three-month trial membership in Heartland, so you can continue to come to training even after your puppy class concludes.
* Competition obedience Classes held on specific topics such as retrieve, scent discrimination, etc., upon member interest.
* Agility Workshops held occasionally at all levels. Basic agility introduces your dog to the fun obstacle course for dogs. Includes obstacle familiarization and control exercises. Intermediate agility helps you and your dog learn to run sequences and improve your handling.
* Matches We occasionally offer non-sanctioned agility matches for fun and practice. Our obedience matches, held periodically, allow exhibitors to choose to show under either (or both) AKC or UKC rules. Food and minor corrections are allowed in the ring.
We regularly schedule informal, free training activities in both obedience and agility for our members.
What Heartland asks of you
All Heartland members are expected to exemplify the highest standards of sportsmanship and personal responsibility.
Training methods
Heartland's by-laws specify that, when training our dogs, our club members
prefer using positive methods consistent with the principles of operant
conditioning. Abusive training methods are not permitted at Heartland trials,
other events or practices.
Volunteerism
All of Heartland's activities are made possible by the efforts of our members,
who are not paid for their contributions. Therefore, when you join Heartland,
you are expected to help facilitate the activities that you will enjoy as a
member.
These pages are copyrighted
(c) 2000, 2001, 2002 by Heartland Dog Training Club