Is your dog a bad pup who keeps peeing on the floor and eating your shoes? Thanks to Hagen Park and their dog obedience classes, your shoes and your house will be relatively safe.
It all started in April 1979 when Diane Sedberry, Donna Carvalho, Terri diMarino, and Diane Freund decided to start the class. Sedberry herself was inspired to do the class because of her own dog.
“My first Doberman was three quarters of my body weight and I knew I needed to be able to walk her, and not vice versa,” she said. “Since the Doberman was a rescue dog, the members that I adopted her from were all doing obedience training and encouraged me to begin training my new rescue Doberman. I enjoyed the work and began formal training and AKC Obedience Trails to earn titles on two of my Rescue Dobermans. Over the years I titled the two Dobes, and four Shetland Sheepdogs, in Rally obedience, formal Obedience and Canine Good Citizen. I have also gone to events such as career day at Wilton Manors Elementary many years ago and the Ladies Club of Deerfield to show obedience demos. We also have a Drill Team of 4-6 dogs and their handlers that we perform for at the Imperial Point HOA once a year.”
Dogs who attend the class will learn basic skills such as loose leash heeling and commands such as “come,” “sit,” “down,” “stay,” and more. Owners are also encouraged to play with their dogs and do minor jumping in the beginner’s class. Rally obedience classes, on the other hand, are geared for trainers that are showing in the Rally show ring to earn titles on their dogs. Other classes offered include the Canine Good Citizen Classes and the AKC (American Kennel Club) testing.
Your dog will also be in very good paws, er, hands. The trainers as well as their own dogs are certified: their dogs participate in Obedience Trials and all have obedience titles. Jackie Powell, one of the trainers, is accredited with a CPDT-KA (Canine Pet Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed) Title from AKC (American Kennel Club). In addition, there are at least three qualified teachers at each beginner’s class.
“We are a non-profit organization and our trainers volunteer their time because of our love of dogs and not wanting to see any dog have to go to a shelter, for lack of training,” Sedberry commented.
In regards to any inspiring stories she may have, Sedberry said, “We all started out as students ourselves, and have come full circle to show our dogs in AKC obedience competition and to want to give our time freely to the club, to teach others how to train their dogs. We hope to inspire all owners to train their dogs and help their dogs to be all they can be. We encourage the trainer’s children to stand in with their parents so they can be an important part of the family dog’s life. Some students only train once a week while they are in class, other students take it to the next level and work with their beloved pet every day to have something they are really proud of and show their skill set weekly as they improve. Everyone is actually a dog trainer, we just try to pull that skill to the top and help them to train and totally enjoy their family pet.”
Not to mention, all proceeds from the classes are given to the Doberman Rescue League, to help pay expenses for vets and food for the homeless and abandoned Dobermans. What’s not to love?
Registration for the classes take place at 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month, excluding July, November, and December. From there, classes are from 7-8 Thurdays and the Skill Building Drill Class is at 8 on Thursday for $5. All classes are held on the basketball courts at Hagen Park, 2020 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors. Class cost $70 for a 6 week class.
Call Diane at 954-563-7061 for more information
