While this is good news, we do it with the understanding that the situation may well change again. The pandemic represents an unprecedented and uncontrollable challenge for small nonprofit organizations like SPDTC. The return to classes will be organized by the Program Directors. Instructors and students can expect to hear from them regarding the specifics of the reopening.
The Board would like to share the seriousness of the Club's financial situation with the staff and the membership. While a return to classes will offer some relief, student fees will not be enough to keep the Club going for long.
The Board would like to share the seriousness of the Club's financial situation with the staff and the membership. While a return to classes will offer some relief, student fees will not be enough to keep the Club going for long.
Services
SPDTC was founded by Alward "Elkie" Johnson who trained guard dogs in the service during WWII. Al returned from the service to train the first police dogs in St. Paul, and was one of the first AKC judges in our area. He then decided to focus on training family dogs and their owners and founded St. Paul Dog Training Club along with Dr. Thomas Gehan, Dr. Edward Emerson, Carl Nordby, and Betty and Jim Sheehan.
SPDTC offers classes for people who want a well mannered companion animal, and also for those who want to achieve all levels of obedience, agility and rally competition with their dogs. A not-for-profit organization, SPDTC is run by a volunteer board, whose members willingly share their time and expertise to ensure high quality classes and an encouraging environment where you and your canine companion can excel at what ever activity or level in which you participate.St. Paul Dog Trainng Club was established in 1953 and is licensed by the American Kennel Club.
2007 Lighting Project: Serveral members got together many Saturdays to change out the lights to conserve engery and monies. We had some fun while doing the project. The toys were donated by members and non-members from St. Paul Dog Training Club. Good Fellowship, Good Food, Great Dogs and Great Courses to Run!
Puppy Headstart and Puppy Einstein are a great place to start building and strengthening your relationship with your puppy. Puppy Classes at Saint Paul Dog Training Club are open to dogs at 8 weeks of age. We require that all puppies participate in a vaccination protocol developed and overseen by a practicing veterinarian, and generally in compliance with the American Animal Hospital Association guidelines for dogs.
Reviews (8)
Sandi Klimers
Mar 28, 2022
Jacob
Mar 17, 2022
I can't express my thankfulness and empathy for Saint Paul dog trinity I have been there for close to a year and have always been happier going there. Very professional and helpful with everything I recommend people with nervous dogs as they understand all dogs situations and are very flexible. Prices are reasonable. AKC approved, side note - reviews from months or years old may be true for the time being and is not true as far as I have seen I 100% recommend this club.
B. R.
Aug 09, 2021
I really like the trainers. I do not like the fact that a Board Member communicated to me via e-mail that this club gets cleaned once a week on Thursdays. I've seen how many dogs go through this club and they really need to be cleaning a lot more than that. The probability of spreading disease is way too high to be cleaning just once a week.
BonnieJean MacKay
May 27, 2021
I was invited by my sister to visit with her between her agility runs. The facility is large enough for 3 or 4 dog training classes to be conducted simultaneously. Due to the COVID19 risk, only 2 instructors and 4 or 5 handlers were present. I felt safe and welcome. The club sent out a memo after my visit to inform all trainers and handlers yet no visitors will be permitted going forward. So I will not be going back
Nancy Carpenter
Dec 11, 2018
I'm currently training a second dog at SPDTC and am completely satisfied. I've never had an issue with being mistreated or disrespected, nor has my dog ever been mishandled. I have politely refused certain training techniques I disagree with, but have received tons of personalized help. The daytime Novice and Open walk-in classes are usually not very crowded, so we each get a lot of help.
I pay for a block of 10 classes ($90) which need to be used within 6 months, but can apply to any of the classes above Intermediate. I often spend about 3 hours in ne day working with my dog in Open (retrieves, jumping, advanced heeling and recalls), Novice (polishing heeling and fronts & finishes), then start work on the Utility exercises. Three levels of work for about $10!
I highly recommend working with several training facilities to expose your dogs to many situations and approaches. Two other good venues are Tails Up in Burnsville, and Bloomington Obedience Training Club in Bloomington.
I pay for a block of 10 classes ($90) which need to be used within 6 months, but can apply to any of the classes above Intermediate. I often spend about 3 hours in ne day working with my dog in Open (retrieves, jumping, advanced heeling and recalls), Novice (polishing heeling and fronts & finishes), then start work on the Utility exercises. Three levels of work for about $10!
I highly recommend working with several training facilities to expose your dogs to many situations and approaches. Two other good venues are Tails Up in Burnsville, and Bloomington Obedience Training Club in Bloomington.
D. B.
Jan 29, 2018
Puppy Einstein class was fun and very helpful. The participants were people who loved their puppies and wanted them to have a good start and there was a variety of mixed and pure bred puppies in class. The instructor, Amber, really had good tips for behavior issues and educated us in characteristics and challenges of behaviors of different breeds.
She reassured us that sometimes we would get frustrated and that was normal. She never made anybody in the class feel like they were doing poorly (I read this in other reviews about some instructors in this club). The instructor observed each puppy and helped the owners work effectively with that pup. Registration was easy. The only negative experience was a very crabby lady at the front desk the first night, but that was the only time we interacted with her.
She reassured us that sometimes we would get frustrated and that was normal. She never made anybody in the class feel like they were doing poorly (I read this in other reviews about some instructors in this club). The instructor observed each puppy and helped the owners work effectively with that pup. Registration was easy. The only negative experience was a very crabby lady at the front desk the first night, but that was the only time we interacted with her.
Sue Mac
Dec 22, 2016
I've trained dogs with this club off and on since 1965. Yes, it's a club, not just a training school, with very hard working members who give a lot of their time. The trainers are experienced dog owners/trainers/exhibitors and the methods are a proven mix of old and new. Am currently working two dogs in different levels of obedience, , and one of them in Nosework and am completely satisfied with my instructors. Thumbs up SPDTC. You only get out of dog training what you are willing to put into it.
Jennifer Macaulay
Nov 16, 2014
We had a pretty good experience with one of our dogs, although we felt like things were not particularly well organized, especially on testing days. However, for continuity's sake, we sought out training for our new puppy. Despite my husband's multiple phone messages and calls and emails to try to enroll in the puppy class, we were ultimately just castigated by Ron, on behalf of the Club because we were unable to decipher exactly what we needed to do from his cryptic email communications.
Rather than trying to alleviate the misunderstanding and help us to enroll in the class--or not, he sent multiple condescending messages to me indicating that it was MY misunderstanding rather than his miscommunication. They may do a decent job of training dogs, but they do a horrible job of treating their human customers with any respect or dignity. There are at least a dozen other comparable places that offer obedience training that know how to treat their human customers appropriately.
Rather than trying to alleviate the misunderstanding and help us to enroll in the class--or not, he sent multiple condescending messages to me indicating that it was MY misunderstanding rather than his miscommunication. They may do a decent job of training dogs, but they do a horrible job of treating their human customers with any respect or dignity. There are at least a dozen other comparable places that offer obedience training that know how to treat their human customers appropriately.
