German Shepherd Dog Club of Minneapolis & St. Paul

The German Shepherd Dog Club offers several training classes on Friday nights for German Shepherd Dogs. Unless otherwise noted, training classes are held at the Animal Inn Training School at 8633 34th St N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042 (map here).

Obedience: Puppy, Beginner and Intermediate

The German Shepherd Dog Club of Minneapolis and St. Paul offers Puppy, Beginning, and Intermediate obedience classes for German Shepherd Dogs. The goal is to form a leadership role in team work between human and their canine companion using positive motivation dogs naturally want to please their owners, and through training, learn to respect and understand what their owner wants. Obedience training teaches the owner how to communicate with their companion animal to gain their partnership. A trained dog should walk quietly at their owner’s side on walks, respond to handler's commands, behave at the vet’s office, and in general be a good canine citizen wherever they go.

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Agility

Agility is a growing dog sport in the United States, with over 1 million entries to the AKC’s program each year. Dogs race against a clock as they navigate an obstacle course with strong concentration and speed. Whether you just want to have fun exercising with your dog, or want to go further and enter an Agility competition, get ready for a fast-paced, rewarding experience that will get you and your dog in the best shape of your lives (source: akc.org/sports/agility).

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Rally | New!

Started in 2005, AKC Rally is a fun family sport and participation increases each year. Think of an AKC Rally event as any team sport: You and your dog navigate a course, side-by-side, as you steer them through a course of 10-20 different signs. Each of these signs provides instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. The dog and handler move continuously throughout the course with the dog under control at the handler’s left side. There is a clear sense of teamwork between the dog and handler both during and between the numbered signs. Although each performance is timed, having a good race time is not the goal; it’s all about working as a team while performing the skills, with the dog under control.

One way to begin in AKC Rally is to find a training club near you to take classes with your dog. Prospective students are usually welcome to observe a class before signing up. If you haven’t attended a Rally event in person, we highly recommend you attend one as a spectator. It will familiarize you with ring procedures and give you a chance to ask questions of those who are more experienced. (source: akc.org/sports/rally).

Want to get started? Let's go! Check out our class schedule via the link below.

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Monthly Socialization and Obedience Workshops

Andrea Lane and the Pointy-Eared Training team are pleased to invite you to attend our ongoing Monthly Socialization and Obedience Workshops. At these workshops, students will have fun training with ideas that they learn at the workshop and practice during the month. Your dog will be wagging its tail as it learns to work with you as the pack leader guiding the team. This is a positive and confidence building training for your German Shepherd.

The purpose of these workshops is to introduce you to the other local German Shepherd owners in a relaxed environment while improving socialization/obedience skills and knowledge. Students of all levels are welcome. Workshops are drop-in (no registration required), but please contact instructors before attending to discuss specific needs you and your dog may have.

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Monthly Drop-in Conformation Classes

The German Shepherd Dog Club of Minneapolis and St. Paul offers puppy, novice, and advanced conformation classes for German Shepherd Dogs. The puppy conformation class is for puppies 3 months and up. This class aims to make the conformation ring fun for puppies. The instructor will help you train your puppy to gait around the ring, learn to stack and accept the judges examination. We encourage the puppies to be confident and have fun! This will allow your puppy to know what is expected of them when shown in the conformation ring. The novice class welcomes those GSD owners with little or no experience in the conformation ring. The instructor will teach you how to stack and gait your dog. They will also explain the loose lead temperament test, coming and going, baiting and general ring procedure. This is great for someone new to the conformation ring. The advanced conformation class is for dogs with basic breed ring control and handlers with a working knowledge of stacking, gaiting, baiting and ring procedure. In this class handlers are fine tuning their dogs and can ask the instructor to help work on specific problems they need help with. Most handlers in the advanced class have exhibited German Shepherd Dogs in a dog show. Please bring your German Shepherd Dog, a show collar, a lead (4-6 foot, leather preferred), bait (treats to reward your dog), and wear comfortable clothing and shoes (No Heels!), as you will be running with your dog. Please keep your dog on leash at all times. Come join our classes with your German Shepherd Dog.

On Feb. 7 from 7:00 - 8:00 pm an instructor will be available act as the judge and assist students and handlers with ring procedures, handling techniques, etc.

Single drop-in class Members/Non-members: Per dog $5

Open Ring Conformation (as rings are available): Members/Non-Members $5

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GSDCMSP Members' Areas of Interest

Members of the German Shepherd Dog Club of Minneapolis and St. Paul share many interests such as; Agility, Barn Hunt, Conformation, Lure Coursing, Obedience, Rally, Dock Diving, Herding, Schutzhund, Geocaching, Tracking, Nose Work, Search & Rescue and more! All these events have different training requirements and may or may not offered by the club at this time but we can provide references as needed. German Shepherd Dogs are versatile and love to work. There are many active dog sports available, there is something for nearly everyone.

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