Joining the Club

Schutzhund is more than just a sport—it’s a rewarding journey that builds a strong relationship between dog and handler. At MVSV, we’re a community of dog lovers who share a passion for this unique discipline and support each other in reaching our goals.

This journey requires dedication, patience, and consistent effort. Training for Schutzhund involves a significant time commitment, both with the club and on your own. It often takes years of practice to prepare for trials and develop the skills necessary to achieve success. While it’s challenging, it’s also an incredibly fulfilling experience for both you and your dog.

We are a volunteer-run organization, not a paid training service, and our members work together to help each other succeed with their goals. Club dues are used to fund important resources like trials, seminars, training equipment, and training locations.

Membership in our club is by invitation, and we have an evaluation process to ensure it’s a good match for both you and your dog. During this time, we’ll get to know you, your dog, and your goals for training. The evaluation is a collaborative experience where we look consider:

Your dog's natural drives, temperament, and physical abilities.
Your dedication to training and the progress you make throughout the evaluation period.
The potential for you and your dog to achieve a minimum of an IGP1 title.
How well you align with our club's culture and values.

This evaluation period is also an opportunity for you to determine whether our club meets your expectations and aligns with your goals.

If you’re curious about Schutzhund or interested in beginning an evaluation, we’d love for you to visit one of our training sessions to see what we’re all about. You can find our schedule and locations on the events page. We do ask that you leave your dog(s) at home for your first visit so you can focus on learning about the club and observing the training.

Frequently asked questions

MVSV is a group of handlers who come together to support and encourage each other in training and competing in the sport of Schutzhund. Our mission is to promote Schutzhund as both a sport and a way to evaluate breeding suitability.

There is a fee of $150 to begin the evaluation process. The evaluation period is open ended, consisting of a minimum of one session and will continue until we’ve had a chance to get a good sense of your fit with the club.

If it feels like a great match for both you and the club, the club will vote to extend an invitation of membership at the next club meeting. Once invited, you’ll join as a probationary member for 12 months. During this time, we’ll work together to help you and your dog grow in all three phases of Schutzhund: tracking, obedience, and protection.

Schutzhund is a long-term commitment that requires regular, consistent training. Handlers need to dedicate time to practice with their dog both during club sessions and independently. Success in the sport can take years of training and persistence, but the rewards are well worth the effort.

Dues are determined each year based on the club’s budget. They cover shared expenses like training spaces, equipment, and trial costs. Some additional fees might apply for seminars, helper sessions, or traveling to events.

We ask our members to:

Be actively involved in training sessions and club events.
Help out where they can, like assisting with field setup or spotting other handlers.
Stay committed to progressing in training and showing good sportsmanship.

We ask that you leave your dog at home for your first visit. This way, you can focus on observing the training and getting a feel for how the club operates. During your visit, we’ll discuss the evaluation process and determine when you would be able to bring your dog to begin an evaluation.