Join Gem City

Gem City Dog Obedience Club is Dayton’s best all-volunteer dog training club. What makes us stand out?

  • Classes taught by volunteer instructors. Our instructors are all club members that have successfully trained their own dogs for competitions and shows.
  • We offer a variety of classes to fit your dog, from puppy and beginner obedience classes to advanced level competition classes in Agility, Barn Hunt, Disc Dog, Freestyle, Obedience, Rally, and more.
  • Classes and Seminars are offered at a special price to our members.
  • A real community feeling – a supportive group, positive atmosphere, a place where you can help and ask for help.

Photo by Pawz to Pose Photography

Membership Perks

We are a membership-based nonprofit organization based in Dayton, Ohio. You can read our By-Laws and Standing Rules to learn about how the club functions.

Benefits of membership include:

  • Half price and/or free classes, depending on the amount that you volunteer with GCDOC
  • Leadership and growth opportunities in all dog sports
  • Opportunities for discounted trial entries at GCDOC, dependent on the types and amounts of volunteer service you provide to the club
  • Companionship and community among fellow dog-lovers

How to Join?

Joining GCDOC is a process meant to let you get familiar with the club and its members – and our members to get to know you! You can apply anywhere in the membership journey, but to move from Applicant to Member, you’ll need to do the following:

  • Complete two classes, with at least one at our Northcutt location
  • Volunteer a minimum of ten hours with the club. You can check out volunteer opportunities here.
  • Submit your application and pay the application fee
  • Appear at a membership meeting to introduce yourself and get voted in
  • After becoming a member, you must complete 20 hrs of service annually and pay dues to keep your benefits. Our membership year runs Oct 1 to Sep 30.

Ready to Join Us?

There are two ways to apply for membership! You can download and print the Application for Membership, or you can complete it online. Payment is by check or online via PayPal. After you apply, keep an eye out for an email from the Membership Chair for your next steps. If you’re currently taking classes, you can also drop off a completed application and payment to either location – just hand it to your instructors, and they’ll get it to the right place.