Our History

In 1947, an informal group of interested dog owners from the Concord, Massachusetts area joined together and formed an association for the purpose of training their dogs.  The following year they officially established The Concord Dog Training Club as a not-for-profit organization designed to provide and promote the sport of obedience training.  Since that date, the club has been predominately located in Concord and has offered that community and surrounding areas professional training in all levels of dog obedience.

The Club’s first meeting was held November 4, 1948 at the Concord Scout House.  Mrs. James A. Ford was President and Mr. Burt Turnquist was the head trainer.  Until 1953 classes were held in the Scout House during the winter months and informal classes, as well as member’s matches, were conducted at private residences throughout the summer months.  In 1953 the club moved to Mr. Newbold’s barn in Concord.  This site remained our training quarters until 1962 when classes were then relocated in Dr. Sosman’s barn across the street.  During this time, Mr. George Hall was our obedience instructor and remained so until 1958, when Mr. Philip Jacobs accepted the position.

In the spring of 1964 the Concord Dog Training Club was incorporated and classes were moved to the Concord Veteran’s Building.  There we remained until the early 1970’s occasionally training in other facilities when the Veteran’s building was unavailable to us.  In 1974 our new training quarters became the Brook School, at which breed handling classes were introduced under the professional instruction of Mrs. Margot Dwyer.  Another move was made in September of 1975 to the Unitarian Church in Carlisle and the Carlisle Grange.  Moving to West Concord in 1979 the club offered breed and obedience classes at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center.

The Concord Dog Training Club held its first AKC licensed trial in conjunction with the Middlesex County Kennel Club in 1953, a tradition that continued through 2007.  We now offer an independent trial in November.  The club also holds AKC licensed Tracking and Tracking Excellent Tests at the High Ridge Wildlife Area in Gardner, Massachusetts.

The Concord Dog Training Club has also been very active with educational endeavors, from obedience and breed demonstrations for nursing homes, civic groups and community organizations to our weeklong exhibitions at the Burlington Mall for National Dog Week.   These exhibitions, which were held for several years, and for which the club received the NEON Hall of Fame Award for outstanding service in the interest of dogs, were designed to inform and educate the general public in all phases of canine care and training.   Currently, the club sponsors a Canine Good Citizen test annually.

At the meeting of the American Kennel Club held on September 10, 1985, the Concord Dog Training Club was elected a member of the AKC, thus allowing a closer relationship with the largest national organization concerned with canine activities. 

After spending three years holding training classes at the Concord Armory, the Concord Dog Training Club is  excited to be moving to  new permanent quarters in West Concord.  Conformation ("breed") handling, obedience and puppy kindergarten classes will continue to be offered in a pleasant and instructive atmosphere.