Welcome to the Port Macquarie Dog Club. Established in 1973, we are affiliated with Dogs NSW and operate as a volunteer non-profit dog training organisation.
We offer members basic Obedience training classes from beginner’s right through to trial level. For those interested in more informal instruction we offer classes that are more fun orientated, such as "good manners” training. We also offer a comprehensive Agility training course right through from beginners to trial level instruction.
Our Aims
:
Our Club uses the POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT (or reward-based training) method. We understand and accept that there are many ways to train a dog and appreciate every dog is an individual. Just like us dogs have different temperaments, needs, level of understanding and ability to learn.
A reward is “payment” for a job well done. When beginning to learn the “reward” is used at a very high rate, almost every step of the way.
At obedience training, we use moist food treats as payment.
A reward “marker” is a word (simple like good or yes) or a sound (like a clicker) that the dog associates with success. The “marker” must be given immediately the correct behaviour is given by your dog. The “reward” (food, pat, praise, toy etc) follows. That way your dog associates the “marker” word with something good coming.
We do not punish incorrect attempts but repeat the exercise and reward when done correctly.
Our aim is to make training for both you and your dog fun, rewarding and productive, setting you up to succeed so you can enjoy a happy partnership within your family and the community.
Our instructors are all volunteers who give their time because they love dogs. Between them, they have years of experience training dogs and many trial their own dogs. They look forward to helping you change an untrained, sometimes crazy dog, or your excitable young puppy, into a well-mannered much-loved family member and better canine citizen. They are always available and happy to help.
If you decide to progress, from basic training to trialling your dog, they will help you in any way they can to achieve your goals.
President: Sally Hopkins
Snr Vice President: Karen Toms
Vice President’s (2): Tina Paul & Gunilla Haydon
Treasurer: Betty Lambert
Assistant Treasurer: Lynne Booth
Secretary: Sarah Radford
Committee (4): David Paul, Becky Kydd, Sheryn Spletter
Show Secretary: Jasmin O’Grady
Public Officer: Lynne Booth
Chief Agility Instructor: David Paul
Chief Obedience Instructor: Karen Toms
Chief Rally Instructor: Karen Toms
Council Liaison Officer: Karen Toms
Equipment Manager: Vacant
May Agility Trial Manager: Sally Hopkins
August Agility Trial Manager - Vacant
Obedience Trial Manager - Vacant
Trial Secretary (all trials): Sarah Radford
Publicity Officer: Sheryn Spletter
Life membership is awarded to members who have given outstanding service to the club for more than five years. They have served on the committee and/or instructed with the club. They may have also acted as Judges, Stewards and Competitors in the many competitions or trials held.
Thank you for being there when both of my dogs needed training. I still apply the skills I learned in the classes. You do a wonderful job for the community.
Annie
Thank you to all the amazing instructors who do a wonderful job. The training we have had over the past 7 months has been fabulous - we have had a great time and have learnt lots. Many thanks.
Clare and Charlie
Love this club. Its been worth the 2.5 hrs return travelling to see the improvement in my girl
Gentiana
Wow how lucky were we? Perfect weather, brilliant weekend for our Agility trial. Thanks, guys for all the effort to make this happen and for it to be such an enjoyable weekend. Well done!!!
Jackie
Thank you so much to everyone from Port Macquarie Dog Club for a wonderful first trial for Matthew and Jemma! Thank you for being so patient with all our questions Had an awesome first trial experience and I loved seeing the young handlers do so well! Some truly, amazing dogs got the pleasure of watching and some very awesome handlers!
Christine
Wonderful weather, fantastic new grounds, lovely friendly and well-run trial :) To all the beautiful and extremely hard working committee and club members ...... Awesome work guys !!!
Gina
First time at one of your trails I had so much fun everything was very organised and so friendly pulled off an awesome trial many thanks to a great committee
Alicia
It was a great atmosphere and well organised. We enjoyed it!
Karin
Awesome Fun! Great atmosphere and organisation...
Robyn
thanks heaps guys for your time, patience and commitment, we had a great time, both exhausted now
Mary
Many thanks to David (you're still a legion!). And big thank you to Karen for much-needed support with Rally. Was a lovely afternoon of training with a great bunch of people.
Veronica
Thank you, everyone, for last evening's session. You are such a lovely group. Thanks, Dave and workers.
Lorraine
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