Gas City Dog Club offers discounted classes for owners of rescued dogs. -- SUBMITTED PHOTO
Gas City Dog Club is doing what it can to support owners of rescued animals.
The local training centre is offering half-price classes for owners of rescued animals in an attempt to support rescue agencies.
“If someone comes in with a rescue animal, their first class is half price to try and support those rescue agencies. We run classes for $140 for a six-week session,” explained GCDC president Alta Magee. “If they have more than one dog in the class, the price goes down. Their second and subsequent classes are less as well. If someone starts in Puppy Obedience and then want to do Level 1 Obedience and then Rally Obedience the price of the class goes down each time.”
The club also runs workshops that are three hours long, usually on the first Saturday of the month. Introduction to Scent Detection, Focus Games, Freestyle Obedience and Loose Leash Walking are the four workshops on offer, with the first workshop being held Sept. 10.
“Introduction to Scent Detection is a prerequisite for a six-week course on scent detection. It can be used for competition or just for fun. A new workshop is Freestyle Obedience and should be lots of fun. It teaches your dog various tricks, such as weaving through your legs and then you put it to music,” said Magee.
The workshops are limited to eight dog/handler teams so everyone gets the full benefit of the three-hour time. If more than eight people want to register, the club tries to put on a second workshop that month.
“The group of members is very small,” stated Magee, “it’s a very cohesive group that works well. We have some instructors that are club members, and they volunteer their time. Some the club pays to instruct and that is what the fees are for, to pay instructors and pay the rent. We are registered as a non-profit so anything we earn goes back into the club, the teaching of classes, equipment, supplies and that sort of thing.”
The club recommends bringing lots of small, soft treats, enthusiasm, and a desire to have a fun learning experience with your dog. Workshops are appropriate for all ages of dogs.
Gas City Dog Club is located at 821 Industrial Avenue SE in Medicine Hat. Check out their website is at http://www.gascitydogclub.ca for more information.
