Join Us
Berwick Obedience Dog Club offers a range of fun and interesting activities, making training your dog a rewarding experience whilst using positive and reward-based training methods. The aim of Berwick Obedience Dog Club is to educate members as to their r

Terms and Conditions

Owner responsibilities:

  • Health and vaccinations: Provide an accurate medical history and ensure your dog is current with all required vaccinations.
  • Equipment: Ensure your dog has a suitable, well-fitted collar or harness (not a car harness). You are responsible for controlling your dog using recommended equipment. See our website for equipment recommendations.
  • Dog behaviour: You are responsible for your dog's actions and must prevent them from lunging at, annoying, or overwhelming other dogs or people.
  • Safety: Follow all training instructions, such as wearing appropriate footwear (e.g., closed-toe shoes), and cleaning up after your dog. Buckets and bins are provided around the grounds for easy disposal.
  • Disclosure: Before attending class, inform the instructor about any physical limitations, or if your dog is difficult to control. 

Instructor responsibilities and class conduct

  • Training methods: Berwick Obedience Dog Club uses positive reinforcement-based methods. No hitting a dog, except to prevent an attack on another dog or person.
  • Supervision: The instructor will guide social interactions, but owners are responsible for their own dog's behaviour and safety, especially if they interact without guidance.
  • Rescheduling: Berwick Obedience Dog Club may need to reschedule sessions due to unforeseen circumstances, such as inclement or hot weather. 

Liability and cancellations

  • Liability: By participating, you accept the inherent risks of dog training, and release the instructor from liability for any injuries or damages caused by your dog.
  • Cancellations and refunds:  All fees paid are non-refundable, as it includes an insurance levy, so please consider your training position carefully before joining. A refund of unused membership will only be granted under extenuating circumstances, at the discretion of the club committee. 
  • Service termination: Berwick Obedience Dog Club can refuse training or ask you to leave if you violate the terms, which may result in forfeiting fees. Remember our Instructors, Volunteers, Office and Canteen Staff give up their time to help you train your dog. Please be respectful and kind to all our volunteers.

Ground Rules

  1. No bitch in season is permitted on or near the training grounds.
  2. During club hours, all dogs must be on lead and the handler must hold the lead at all times, unless under the supervision of an instructor (including in the off-lead area). No tethering of dogs on the grounds, with the exception of using the chains near the toilets.
  3. Dogs droppings to be cleaned up immediately.
  4. No hitting a dog except when trying to prevent a dog from biting a person or another dog.
  5. Smoking or vaping is not permitted within 10 metres of rings, off-lead pens, classes, clubrooms, sheds or BBQ area where food is being prepared or consumed.
  6. No dogs allowed in the club kitchen.
  7. Handlers must be financial members of the club to attend training.
  8. No children other than child handlers to be in the training areas.
  9. Children must be under direct adult supervision at all times.
  10. All handlers must wear their membership card when attending training.
  11. The committee may require a dog to be muzzled whilst on the club’s grounds if it has bitten or shown an extreme tendency of unprovoked aggression towards people or dogs.
  12. Members have the right to appeal against muzzling.
  13. Any member not complying with The Club’s Rules is subject to the provisions of The Club’s Constitution.
  14. If the temperature predicted on Friday night for Scoresby as published on the BODC website, is equal to or greater than 32c afternoon classes will be cancelled and morning training will be provided. If the temperature on the day is above 28C then there will be appropriately modified training as deemed by the applicable training subcommittee.
  15. No member is to enter the Club’s rings/classes without an Instructor’s authorisation.
  16. No member is to drive the Club’s tractor without authorisation from the Committee.
    a. No passengers are to be carried on the tractor or the trailer.        b.The tractor is to be immobilised when parked outside the shed.
  17. The minimum age of a child handler is 12 years. The dog should be a suitable size and strength for the child to handle.  Members under 12 years must be approved by the appropriate training subcommittee before handling a dog. Adult supervision during training sessions is required for handlers under 18.
  18. Off leash area – No members are to enter the off-leash area during club hours unless accompanied and supervised by an instructor.
  19. All handlers are to wear suitable enclosed footwear whilst training their dogs. E.g. No thongs or high heels.
  20. No unattended dogs are to be left in the clubrooms.
  21. Visitors must report to the Office on arrival. Visitors are not allowed to bring their own dogs or handle dogs of members. Visitors are permitted to observe only without disrupting classes and are not eligible to train.
  22. All dogs on the grounds during Club hours must be listed on a Club membership. Dogs being added to a membership must have a vaccination and equipment check. This includes dogs owned, fostered or temporarily being cared for by a member.