Hey all! How would I go about lobbying for a new club to be added? I would LOVE for there to be a Schutzhund/IPO Club, or a PSA Club! (Or both!) My passion is training protection and working dogs in real life, and I breed Mals on here, so I would be super pumped to have a club aimed in that area! I’ve noted there is a Working Club, but I’ve found it is based just on AKC’s working breed list, instead of including breeds that I find are actually prominent working breeds in government/military/police agencies, SAR, or as service and therapy dogs (ie. German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, Labs, Goldens, Bloodhounds, etc.) I know there is a lack of activity in a lot of clubs on here, but I hope I can get some enthusiasm up for this! :) I would love to use it as a place for people to learn more about these awesome dogs, or even to help people get started and provide access to information if they want to look into getting into Schutzhund/IPO/PSA with their dogs in real life. I know I was super interested in IPO for years before I got into it, but I didn't know anybody who did the sport, and I felt so out of my depth because all I had ever done is train household pets. I had no clue where to start! It wasn't until I finally got the guts up to contact the head of my city's working dog club and ask for guidance, that I finally was able to really start learning more and doing what I love. 

I realize this is pretty long winded and I probably should have kept it shorter if I wanted people to actually read it hahahah! But I really hope we can make this happen! I know I would ABSOLUTELY be extremely active in a club like this! :D Let me know what you all think!

I hope you all have an amazing day! :)

-Nik

I think having an IPO club would be amazing! I just reached out to a local trainer who does offers this and is apart of my regions club to bring my GSD mix for some training.

I am like you were, I don't know anybody who does it and had to do some searching to find someone. 

That is so great!! You'll have to update me as to how it goes! :D I could talk dog training for years and never get sick of it hahah!

I like this idea :) As many breeds can be used, Ive seen from the typical dobermans to pitties, to even some mutts that arent pedigreed. 

Absolutely! I knew a girl who took her husky mix out to the club to train. Granted, the dog will never get it’s IPO 3, but still! 😃 Such a fun sport! It’s my dream to get my dog titled in PSA one day too, but it would involve so much more travelling than I am currently able to do with work and everything 

So I am feeling like a total jerk now - I haven't been active in the forums too much other than games due to real life drama and certain events - I've been slacking I even almost missed training on  a few of my shepherds [I had to stop typing this to go deal with that ugh]. and I totally missed this post and I would NOT have put my name on the ballot if I had see it. I just saw it added - got super excited and was like YAY JUST IN TIME FOR MY BIRTHDAY MONTH! I own a German Shepherd and a German Shepherd cross , neither of which are IPO - but both of which who I hold near and dear to my heart. My uncle used to work for a Sherrifs office though and he trained their K9 unit and one of my favorite things was to go watch them be trained and watch them work - it was amazing.

I would like to reach out and offer my sincere apologizes. I did not see this until 11:40ish pm and at that point it was too late to stop the locomotive that I had started. So please accept my apology and I will 100% support you in you taking over the club next month? I would offer to share this term but giving someone I don't know access to my main account makes me uncomfortable.

I am really sorry!

Hahaha no worries Con! Congrats again on the win!!!! I'm just happy we got the club in the first place, and that we had so many voters!!!! :D :D

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH!!!!! :D

Nikita i will also like to offer my votes for august term :) 

Aw, that’s so nice! Thanks Peike!! :)

You can have mine, too! :)

I'll throw in the 75 I have. 

Thanks Tana and Siib! You guys are all so sweet!! 💛💛💛

I always vote first come, first serve. But you messaged me last month so I'm just gonna roll it over. ;) 

Hahaha! You’re awesome!! Thank you!! 💛😃 

(Do the emoticons come out in the forum? I’m posting from my phone so I see them, but I’m not sure if you can from a computer lol)

They do show up in the forums!

👍😃

i have 10 for you!

Thanks Phism!!! 😃😃