FAQ

Town and Country Dog Training Club, Inc. offers year round obedience and rally classes to South Bay Area dog lovers. We are a non-profit organization actively conducting training classes for over 40 years and currently offer classes in the San Jose MetroEd Campus on Thursday evenings. Classes are held outdoors, on well -lit and well manicured lawn. 

We strive

• To teach and promote force-free training techniques based on smart reinforcement strategies.
• To provide a training program that focuses on solid fundamentals that can be applied to a variety of dog sports.
• To foster a conducive training environment for dog and handler teams across a wide range of training skills.
• To increase the awareness of various dog sports and activities that can help you do more with your dog.

We believe that an ideal human-canine relationship, whether at home or in a competition ring, should be based on mutual understanding and trust, not fear.  We teach and encourage humane, compulsion-free techniques that are scientifically proven to develop a holistic relationship between handler and dog, and to make them willing partners for life. By liberally using treats, praise and toy play, we focus on the emotional well-being of our dogs while training, and strive to ensure that this is something they look forward to.

We do not teach or encourage the use of aversive techniques based on intimidation. We have a strict policy against choke, prong, pinch or electric collars and do not allow these on our premises.

We offer classes both for owners who want to train their pooches to be a happy family companion as well as for those who are interested in exploring the world of dog sports. Please visit our classes page which lists what we current offer. Our class flowchart is also a great place to orient yourself with our training program.

Classes are offered on Friday evenings starting from 5 pm. For the most up to date information, please visit our classes page

Our classes are held inside the San Jose MetroEd Campus on a well manicured lawn, on Thursday nights.  We may have classes running simultaneously, and set up rings if needed.  There is a potty area available for pooches to use, as well restrooms for the humans. Please bring your own chairs and crates if you want to use them. 

Our class page mentions what we cover in a particular class, and also mentions the prerequisites that are needed and/or would help you to reap maximum benefit from a class. If you need more clarity or direction, please feel free to email either a specific instructor or our training director, Bea Moore.

Typically there are three classes being conducted simultaneously. Dogs of all skill levels attend these classes, and you will hear barking, an occasional whine, voices and other distracting sounds (akin to a dog show).  This can be challenging in the first week or two, but most dogs we know get over this bump, and are able to work well, and in fact, it becomes a GREAT place to practice your skills in a real world situation where distractions are hard to predict.

If your dog is particularly sensitive to his/her environment, or has trouble working around other dogs, please reach out to the trainers and they might be able to give you some suggestions or even make some accommodations to make it easier for you. In the past, we have used sight barriers and/or ex-pens around a dog-handler pair to give some insulation and help with visual / space sensitivities.

We do realize that this might not work for everyone, so if you have some specific concerns, we encourage you to come stop by on a Thursday evening and check us out.

When you sign up for a class, you will be asked if your dog has any issues that you might be concerned about. Please pick an option from the drop down menu that describes your dog’s issue the best. We will reach out to you either by phone or email to discuss and evaluate if you and your dog would be able to fit in the group setting.

Typically, the next session starts immediately after the current session ends. For exact dates, please check our calendar.

Preferred method : Sign up for our classes online

Please visit our classes page and peruse through the classes we offer.  Click on a class that interests you the most and you feel will be a good match for you and your pup. Enter the relevant details on the right and add the class to your cart. You can then proceed ahead and continue to pay either with your PayPal account or your Visa / Mastercard.  You should receive an email confirmation with the details and confirmation of your purchase. Your registration will then be forwarded to the secretary and the instructor, who might reach out to you if they have any specific questions. Here is a video showing our updated online sign-up process. (Best viewed in full screen)

Paper Registration:  We only accept online registrations. No paper registration. 

Refund policies for classes:

• Up to one week before class starts : Class fees minus $8 (processing fees). You also have the option to ask for full class fees as a credit- this credit can be used for any class/seminar/special events that TCDTC offers in the future.
• In the week before class starts :
  • If we are able to fill the spot: Class fees minus $8 (processing fees)
  • If we are not able to fill it, then we will save the full class fees as a credit against your name – this credit can be used for any class/seminar/special events that TCDTC offers in the future.
• Once class starts : Requests will be considered only for valid medical reasons. No refunds, only credits for the number of classes you will miss from the time you notify us – this credit can be used for any class/seminar/special events that TCDTC offers in the future.
• If TCDTC cancels the class for some unforeseen reason : Entire class fees will be refunded

Refund policies for CGC and Tricks testing: No refunds, unless we are able to fill your spot.
If TCDTC cancels the tests, or we are not able to test you for any reason when you show up, the entire fee will be refunded.

Refund policies for seminars: The refund policy for seminars will be mentioned in the seminar description or flyer.

Yes, you can! Please make sure that there are no handler and dog conflicts when you sign up for multiple classes.

Here is a handy checklist.

• A flat/rolled/martingale collar or a harness, and leash of a fixed length.
  NO CHOKE, PRONG OR PINCH COLLARS. NO RETRACTABLE LEASHES
• Bait bag and clicker (box clickers are available for sale with the trainers for $1 each)
• LOTS of small, moist treats (e.g. Zuke’s, boiled chicken, string cheese, chopped hot dog, etc.)
• Toys (to use as a reward. Avoid squeaky toys since they can be distracting to others )
• Soft crate if your dog prefers to use his/her own.
• Mat (such as a bath mat or towel)
• Water bowl, water, and a cloth/towel to clean up if you spill water
• Items specific to your class (e.g. dumbbells, scent articles, platforms, pivot bowls, combs, etc. )

Please potty your dog only in the dirt patch opposite Building 100.  No Potty on the grass or any vegetation.

CGC and AKC Tricks tests are offered in the last week of most sessions. Please check our calendar to find out the dates when they will be offered next. If you want to save a spot for yourself, please sign up either for the CGC or the AKC Tricks Test on our classes page.

To get a CGC title, the dog must be comfortable with the skills that will be tested. There is no age limit for the CGC test. A dog is never too old to be a good citizen.  For more information visit the official AKC Canine Good Citizen Page

The AKC Tricks test stipulates that the dog must be able to perform a minimum number of tricks from the either the AKC Trick Dog Novice Checklist or the AKC Trick Dog Intermediate Checklist  or the AKC Trick Dog Advanced Checklist.

You will require either an AKC Registration Number, a PAL number or a AKC Canine Partners Number for the test. For more information visit the official AKC Trick Dog Page

Yes, you can definitely sign up. However, we do have limited spots and we will give preference to students who are either existing or past students of our club. If we are not able to accommodate you, we will refund the money you have paid.

We are thrilled to hear this, and hope you stick around to continue your training journey with us.  As a small non profit training club, we would really appreciate

• A review on Yelp or Google Places or Facebook, to spread the word about the classes we offer.
• Joining our club as a member and help with various activities. For more information, send us an email and download our TCDTC Application for Membership.

We currently offer a one-time rescue dog discount of $10 for any member coming to train with us for the first time. Please sign up for the class of your choice, and email us a scan of the rescue paperwork, we will refund $10 back to you.

Yes! We would love to hear from you. Please email us, or catch one of the trainers / training director on Fridays and discuss your suggestions with them.

Please feel free to email either a specific instructor or our training director, Bea Moore.

Please email us and let us know which class you are interested in, in which session. If we are maintaining a waitlist, we will add you to our list.

Besides weekly classes, we also host seminars and conduct clinics by well known trainers, covering a variety of topics. You can sign up for any upcoming seminar just like you would sign up for class online, or by mailing in your registration form. For a list of interesting events hosted by us as well as others in our area, please visit our events page.

We also have annual picnics and a Christmas party that is open to all students, old and new. Please follow our Facebook page for more details.

The most reliable place to get information for a specific dog sport is from the website of the parent association (e.g. AKC for AKC Rally®, NACSW for K9 Nose Work® , etc.). However sometimes the information available there can be confusing or overwhelming, especially for a new comer.  Most of our trainers / club members participate in more than one dog sport and will be happy to talk to you and give you some basic information on where to get started.

We would love to talk to you and find out exactly what your needs are. We can also provide you with good references to other trainers in our area who share our training philosophies. Please feel free to email us or reach out directly to our training director, Bea Moore.