Obedience Training

A competitor in the Obedience Ring at August 2006 Show

I am pleased to welcome you to the obedience section of the Newcastle and Hunter Region German Shepherd Dog Club.

Obedience training takes place Tuesday nights starting at 7pm to 8pm. Beginner trainers are welcome at any time, however new members training starts on the first Tuesday of each month (excluding January). Please arrive from 6.15pm to fill in Application forms etc.

Our obedience program is breed specific and has been developed for the German Shepherd Dog over a period of thirty years. The program will be taught to you by our seven instructors who combined, have over 110 years of dog obedience training experience. Our instructors are:

Peter Belic - Chief instructor
Peta Belic
Chris Grey
Phil Grey
Kimberley Grey
Alisa Rhy
Kerry Rogers

Our club is actively involved in many aspects of dog ownership. We run two obedience trials, along with our shows in March and August each year, and many of our club members are involved in trialing and showing their German Shepherd Dogs. We have an obedience point score that is available to our financial members who enter the Newcastle & Hunter Region GSD Club trials.  To be eligible, you need to enter the March and August trials and the dog, which submits the highest aggregate score, will be the winner of the Citizen Companion Dog, Novice, Open, Utility Dog and Utility Dog Excellent Award. It should be noted that a zero score may be submitted.

We also hold backpack hikes. All club members who own a German Shepherd Dog carrying a backpack will gain a point for every kilometre they and their dog walks. On our point score system, owners receive a badge for 25, 50 and 100km accumulated on our hikes. After 25km the handler is given a cloth badge printed with NHRGSDC 25KM BACKPACK HIKE in bronze lettering. 50km as the above in silver lettering and 100km in gold lettering. These badges can be displayed on the handlers shirt. The point score is also displayed on a board in our small club house. Certificates are given to all who participated. Our two types of backpack purchased are our Basic Backpack at $70 and our Hiker Backpack at $110. These can be ordered in any colour combinations but for our club members, most prefer our club colours of royal blue and red.

Hiking is mainly done in the winter months through the bush or in warmer months along the water fronts. This activity is for all members, family and friends. We are holding our 1^st Backpack Camp over two days on 9^th and 10^th September 2006 at Riverwood Downs, Barrington Tops with hikes and activities happening all weekend. (details on Social page)

I can be contacted on email or 49581524.

Peter Belic
Chief Instructor