Founded in 1958 as the ACT's first dog training club, the ACT Companion Dog Club helps people learn how to train their dogs. Classes are held in basic obedience and in advanced exercises for those members who wish to pursue competition in obedience, agility, flyball or tracking trials.

Over the years thousands of dogs, both purebred and crossbred, have received their education in the Club's classes. The Club also does demonstrations and has an active group visiting nursing homes and special schools.

The Club is a non-profit organsiation, run by volunteers and many people contribute their time and skills so that today we have a well-equipped club with an average membership of about 800.

The core of our training methodology is motivational training. This method relies on motivating the dog to want to do as it is asked (rather than being compelled to do as it is told) by rewarding appropriate and desirable behaviour - that is if the dog does something that is followed by a pleasant experience it is more likely to repeat this behaviour again. Motivational training uses techniques that follow least harm strategies (particularly for people training a dog for the first time) - if you get it wrong you get a disobedient dog that still loves you (rather than a disobedient dog that is afraid of you). For many dogs food is the primary motivator (what really turns them on) but toys, balls, pats or just about anything that the dog finds rewarding can be used. To learn more about our training methods, look at our Principle of Training page.

A typical day training at CDC.