Allentown Dog Training Club (ADTC) offers a variety of classes to serve the diverse needs of dog owners and conducts classes throughout the year in all levels of Obedience and Rally, as well as other venues such as scent work. We offer classes in Puppy Kindergarten, Obedience, and Rally. Purebred and mixed breed (All American) dogs are welcome at all classes.
Classes are held at Macungie Park, 50 North Poplar Street, Macungie, PA 18062.
Training is indoors from mid-September through mid-April and outdoors during the summer months.
Members have early access to classes at an exclusive, discounted, members-only rate.
Current Classes & Training
Class sessions are 6-weeks, with select classes occasionally offering a drop-in option. Classes are currently offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays at Macungie Park.
Check the Home Page frequently for class notifications and cancellations.
This is a Socialization, Training and Confidence Building Class for puppies 8 weeks to 5 ½ months. The new dog owner is guided through the first few months of dog ownership by addressing issues such as housebreaking and basic house rules. Class size limited.
AKC STAR Puppy
This is a positive, educational, and fun experience for dogs up to the age of one year. The components of the course are Socialization, Training, Activity, and handlers learning responsible dog ownership. Puppies are well socialized and learn the skills that are the basics for more advanced training. The S.T.A.R. Puppy test is offered with this course.
Beginner
This class is for dogs 5 1/2 months or older and is meant to teach basic manners and controlled walking (called heeling), come, sit, down, stay, figure 8s , stand for exam (for grooming and veterinary exams), and paying attention. This is taught thru playing games that make learning fun.
Advanced Beginner
All new members must start in this class and will advance as they and their dog make progress in training. This class is structured to teach the mechanics of the novice exercises. Dogs and handlers will become familiarized with our group training. This class is also for young dogs that need an opportunity to become familiar with group training on a low-key level.
Novice
This class is for dogs and handlers who have finished the requirements for the Advanced Beginner Obedience Class and are ready to move on to having fun perfecting the obedience exercises on leash. Exercises consist of attention, heeling on and off leash, figure 8, recalls (with the goal of off leash recall), sits and downs, and sit/stay and get your leash. Games are an important part of this class.
Show Ready
This class is for dogs and handlers who are ready to show and want to perfect their performance. Handlers and dogs will be introduced to advanced exercises as well.
Open
The second level of obedience includes more complicated exercises which teach the dog to do a variety of tasks and to follow commands either by voice or signal. Exercises include: Heel Free and Figure Eight (same as novice, but off leash), command discrimination (stand dog, leave, go 15 ft, turn, down dog, leave & go another 15 ft, return to heel position), drop on recall (can be a lifesaving command for a dog, since it gives the handler control in potentially dangerous situations), retrieve on flat, retrieve over high jump, broad jump, sit/stay (1 minute, 30 ft away), down/stay/get your leash (dog must remain in a down position while handler leaves ring to retrieve leash).
Utility
The third and highest level of regular obedience competition. Exercises include: signal exercise (shows the dog’s ability to understand and correctly respond to the handler’s signal to stand, stay, down, sit and come; no voice commands are given, only hand signals are involved), scent discrimination (shows the dog’s ability to find the handler’s scent among a pile of articles), directed retrieve (proves the dog’s ability to follow a directional signal to retrieve a glove and promptly return it to the handler), moving stand and examination (the dog must heel, stand, and stay as the handler moves away; the dog must stay and accept an examination by the judge and return to the handler on command), directed jumping (the dog must go away from the handler, turn, and sit; then the dog must clear whichever jump its handler indicates and promptly return to the handler)
About Rally Classes
The main objective of Rally is to train dogs to behave under any circumstances. Rally offers both dogs and handlers an experience that is fun and energizing. Rally was designed with the traditional pet owner in mind, but it can still be very challenging for those who enjoy higher levels of competition. A Rally course includes 10 to 20 stations, depending on the level. Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional Obedience. Communication between handler and dog is encouraged and perfect heel position is not required, but there should be a sense of teamwork between the dog and handler. There are five levels of Rally (See Below).
Basic Rally Obedience
You will learn to read and work the Rally signs.
Rally Novice Obedience
This is the first level for those just getting started in competition. All exercises are performed with the dog on leash. There is a requirement of 10-15 stations to complete with no more than five stationary exercises. The exercises performed vary from turning 360 degrees to changing paces during the course. Exhibitors at this level may clap their hands and pat their legs through the course.
Rally Intermediate Obedience
This is the second level, which includes the Advanced signs. All exercises are performed on leash. There is a requirement of 12-17 stations with no more than seven stationary exercises. Exercises are the same as Rally Advanced, but with no jump exercise. This exercise is replaced with another sign.
Rally Advanced Obedience
This is the third level, which includes more difficult exercises throughout the course. All exercises are performed off-leash. There is a requirement of 12-17 stations with no more than seven stationary exercises. Exercises include a jump as well as calling your dog to the front of you instead of to a heel position.
Rally Excellent Obedience
This fourth level of AKC Rally is more challenging. Exercises are performed off-leash. You may not clap your hands or pat your leg. You can use verbal encouragement only. There is a requirement of 15-20 stations, with no more than 7 stationary exercises. There is also a sit/stay, get your leash after you pass the finish station. The leash is placed 15 ft from the sit/stay sign. The Excellent level exercises include backing up three steps while the dog stays in the heel position, a moving stand while the handler walks around the dog, and dog circling handler.
Rally Masters Obedience
This is the fifth and most challenging level. All exercises are performed off-leash and you may use verbal encouragement only. The course must include 3 Advanced, 3 Excellent and 4 Master signs, not including the recall over the jump. The course may also include a cloverleaf, send away to a cone, and circles right, left and around handler.
About Tricks Classes
Novice Trick Dog (TKN)
The dog performs 10 skills from the Novice list. (see link to “Application” below for lists of skills). If a dog has a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate or title on record at AKC, it can do 5 Novice tricks (CGC + 5) to earn the Novice title.
Intermediate Trick Dog (TKI)
The dog must have the Novice title, plus perform 10 Intermediate tricks.
Advanced Trick Dog (TKA)
The dog must have the Intermediate title, plus perform 10 tricks from the Advanced list.
Trick Dog Performer (TKP)
In this title, handlers perform a short routine with at least 10 tricks previously learned.
Trick Dog Elite Performer (TKE)
Testing of this truly elite trick dog level requires the dog to perform 10 tricks with at least 5 props and there must be a story.
About Scent Work Classes
Scent Work
Scent Work is a fun search and scenting activity for dogs and people. This sport builds confidence and focus, and provides a safe way to keep dogs fit and healthy through mental and physical exercise. It starts with getting your dog excited about using his nose to seek out a scent. Some supplies will be required.
About Canine Good Citizen Classes
AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
This course is for those who have completed a Basic Beginner Obedience Class and need to continue working on the basics of good manners. This course fine-tunes your dog’s good manners and attention skills as well as further improves your training skills (which were introduced in a Basic Beginner Obedience Class). Dogs will be schooled on the exercises that are part of the Canine Good Citizen test. The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test is included as part this course. Prerequisite for this class is a Basic Beginner Obedience Class. This class is taught by an AKC Canine Good Citizen approved evaluator.
AKC Community Canine (CGCC)
This is the advanced level of AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program. In this course you will be extending your dog’s knowledge of the CGC exercises. You will be working in a natural setting such as a park or near obedience training classes. Prerequisite is a CGC. The test for the CGCA title will be offered at the end of the course. This class is taught by an AKC Canine Good Citizen approved evaluator.
AKC Urban Canine Good Citizen (CGCU)
AKC Urban CGC requires that the dog demonstrate CGC skills and beyond in an urban setting. As with Canine Good citizen, AKC Urban CGC has a 10-step test of skills that a dog must pass to earn the AKC Urban CGC title. This class is taught by an AKC Canine Good Citizen approved evaluator.
Allentown Dog Training Club Classes Instructors
ADTC instructors are club members with years of experience in training dogs to be better citizens and to compete in various venues.
Training Director Terry Papineau
Phyllis Broderick
Carol Hahn
Beverly Springer
Joanne Stock
Cheryl Corson
Maryann Beatty
Debbie Achenzie
Gail James
Judy Lasso
Linda Eldon
Allentown Dog Training Club Classes Location – Macungie Park
Classes are held at Macungie Park, 50 North Poplar Street, Macungie, PA 18062.
Training is indoors from mid-September through mid-April and outdoors during the summer months.
