Half a century of canine coaching

Over the past 50 years the Hobart Dog Training Club has experienced significant growth, both in the number of local pooches under its tutelage and the variety of training on offer.

The non-profit organisation began as an outlet for improving behaviour, but now offers specialised classes in agility, rally, tracking and scent training.

Vice-president Cynthia Jones said the growth of the club was a testament to the commitment of its volunteers.

“So many of our instructors and committee members are long-serving volunteers and we are proud of the fact that for the past 50 years the club has stayed as a volunteer-run organisation,” she said.

“Originally we ran out of a little shed, but thanks to the wider domain upgrades we now have access to some beautiful, well-equipped clubrooms.

“As an affiliate of Dogs Tasmania, we run all our classes under its regulations and provide some competitive outlets for some of our members in ‘titled’ sports like agility and obedience.”

Ms Jones said due to the increased number of bookings, the club was constantly on the lookout for new volunteers.

“All puppies need training, they’re like little sponges when it comes to taking on new skills and information at that age,” she said.

“We would love to see some new faces join the club and help usher in the next generation of instructors.”

Classes at the Hobart Dog Training Club run from February to mid-December with some select sessions in January.

For more information on volunteer positions or to make a booking visit www.hdtc.org