Our Philosophy
The purpose of IDTC is to provide both members and non-members of the Club with help in training dogs as companions, as obedience competitors, and in other roles. We strive to promote responsible dog ownership, and to teach you how to train your dog to be a better behaved companion by using methods and tools tailored to your dog's needs. All breeds of dog are welcome in our classes and other events.
What We Do
Our major activity is running dog training classes. Beginning obedience classes are open to everyone. If you take one of these, find you enjoy training your dog, and want to continue past this level, we invite you to join the Club. Once a member, you may take more advanced classes, to prepare for competition in Obedience, Rally, or Agility trials, or just to have fun with your dog.
Monthly club meetings feature speakers on a variety of dog-related topics, and demonstrations of canine sports and activities. We are active in the community, participating in obedience and agility demonstrations at local schools and universities and at community events.
Special events such as seminars and matches (practice runs for competition) are held periodically. These are open to the public, but members may get preference if space is limited.
Monthly club meetings feature speakers on a variety of dog-related topics, and demonstrations of canine sports and activities. We are active in the community, participating in obedience and agility demonstrations at local schools and universities and at community events.
Special events such as seminars and matches (practice runs for competition) are held periodically. These are open to the public, but members may get preference if space is limited.
A Bit of History
The Ithaca Dog Training Club, Inc. was founded in 1951 by a group of dog obedience enthusiasts who were interested in helping each other train their dogs for competition, and helping area dog owners train their dogs to become better companions.
We have always welcomed all breeds of dogs in our activities, including mixed breeds. When we were founded, the AKC did not allow mixed-breed dogs to compete in its events, so club members were not interested in becoming AKC sanctioned and holding independent obedience trials. However, we held regular obedience “fun matches," or practice runs under trial conditions, and also supported obedience trials by volunteering to help at AKC events sponsored by the Finger Lakes Kennel Club (FLKC). The support for obedience at FLKC events continues today, and we continue to offer obedience, rally, and agility classes, as well as obedience matches and rally and agility practice runs. In 2011, the club held its first independent performance trial -- a CPE (Canine Performance Events) Agility Trial.
The Club has sponsored a variety of outreach activities, ranging from a Drill Team (shown in the picture) which participated in parades and demonstrations, to visits to nursing homes, to Agility demonstrations, to school visits.
We have always welcomed all breeds of dogs in our activities, including mixed breeds. When we were founded, the AKC did not allow mixed-breed dogs to compete in its events, so club members were not interested in becoming AKC sanctioned and holding independent obedience trials. However, we held regular obedience “fun matches," or practice runs under trial conditions, and also supported obedience trials by volunteering to help at AKC events sponsored by the Finger Lakes Kennel Club (FLKC). The support for obedience at FLKC events continues today, and we continue to offer obedience, rally, and agility classes, as well as obedience matches and rally and agility practice runs. In 2011, the club held its first independent performance trial -- a CPE (Canine Performance Events) Agility Trial.
The Club has sponsored a variety of outreach activities, ranging from a Drill Team (shown in the picture) which participated in parades and demonstrations, to visits to nursing homes, to Agility demonstrations, to school visits.