Dog obedience training is a wonderful way to form a better bond with your dog and make him a better member of your family. Basic or functional obedience generally involves teaching your dog to walk on leash; stand, sit, lie down, and stay on command; and come when called. Some basic obedience classes also cover clipping nails, spay/neuter issues, etc., and obedience trainers can generally give suggestions for housetraining, curbing jumping, and other household manners.
Beyond the basics, an obedience class can teach you and your dog the formal exercises needed for "show obedience," in which you are judged against a set of standards to obtain obedience titles with the American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, or other breed registries. Click for more information about "show obedience"
MKC does not offer obedience training and has no specific plans to do so at this time. Please note that Mattaponi Kennel Club does not endorse any particular method or group for obedience training.
Obedience training comes in many forms: dog training clubs, commercial dog training facilities, personal trainers, some pet supply stores, "self-help" courses marketed on television and the internet. The continuing education units of your local educational institutions may also offer obedience courses (for example, the Loudoun campus of NVCC has recently offered obedience classes).
Obedience training techniques can vary greatly from one location to another, with some subscribing to extremely positive methods, including food and clicker and some using methods that are based on physical corrections. If you want to take a class from any of these organizations, ask if you can attend a class (without your dog) to observe their techniques, talk with their clients, and determine if they are in keeping with your own feelings about training.
For obedience training, you might try looking at the following sites (listed in alphabetical order):