Joining a club is the best way to start Schutzhund training with your dog. It’s a group of handlers that train together and meet up to help each other progress in the sport of IGP, formerly IPO. So having a community of like-minded people and experienced trainers is perfect for beginners.
Now you just have to find a Schutzhund club that’s near your location and ideal for your needs. North Carolina is a large state with beautiful mountains and beaches. But is it a good area to improve your dog’s obedience, tracking, and protection skills? Let’s find out!
List Of All Schutzhund Clubs In North Carolina!
There are many Schutzhund clubs located in NC. So you have several options when it comes to finding a place to train for this dog sport with other handlers. Here’s a list of all the organizations you might consider in the Tar Heel State!
- Asheville Working Dog Club
- Black River Working Dogs
- Coastal Carolina SchH Club
- Dark Water IPO
- Fayetteville Schutzhund Club
- Piedmont Schutzhund Club
- Raleigh Schutzhund Association
- Sandhills Working Dog Club
- Twin Beech Schutzhund Club
- Carolina DVG
- North Carolina DVG
- Triangle Schutzhund Club
| Schutzhund Club Name | Region | Contact Information |
| Asheville Working Dog Club | Asheville, NC | Mary Leonidas Email: [email protected] Phone: (828) 712-9310 |
| Black River Working Dogs | Angier, NC | Dawn Flood Email: [email protected] Phone: (919) 417-8708 |
| Coastal Carolina SchH Club | Hubert, NC | Patricia S Baysden Email: [email protected] Phone: (910) 545-7924 |
| Dark Water IPO | Lumberton, NC | Herbert Lowry Email: [email protected] Phone: (910) 729-2794 |
| Fayetteville Schutzhund Club | Dunn, NC | Arthur Collins Email: [email protected] Phone: (910) 658-6670 |
| Piedmont Schutzhund Club | Claremont, NC | Richard Shook Email: [email protected] Phone: (828) 315-1329 |
| Raleigh Schutzhund Association | Durham, NC | David MacAlpine Email: [email protected] Phone: (919) 808-2739 |
| Sandhills Working Dog Club | Lillington, NC | Aleashia Hernandez Email: [email protected] Phone: (336) 480-8379 |
| Twin Beech Schutzhund Club | Stoney Point, NC | Bev Roberts Email: [email protected] Phone: (828) 461-0037 |
| Carolina DVG | Greensboro, NC | Frans Slaman Email: [email protected] Phone: (803) 707-7769 |
| North Carolina DVG | Louisburg NC | Brenda Nyx Email: [email protected] Phone: (919) 500-6384 |
| Triangle Schutzhund Club | Angier, NC | Stan Trustman Email: [email protected] Phone: 919-639-6360; 919-538-8112 |
The information in this table was retrieved from the USCA and DVG Club Listings.
North Carolina Schutzhund Clubs Per Region
Now that you know what your options are, it’s time to figure out which ones are near your location. But with all the Schutzhund clubs in North Carolina, I’m sure you will have a couple not too far from you. So let’s divide the state into three parts: Western (or Mountain), Central (or Piedmont), and Eastern (or Coastal Plains) Region.
Western North Carolina – Mountain Region
Asheville Working Dog Club (Asheville, NC)
This club is located in Buncombe county at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers. Asheville is the largest city in Western North Carolina.
Central North Carolina – Piedmont Region
Piedmont Schutzhund Club (Claremont, NC)
This club is located in Claremont, a small city in Catawba county. It’s just northwest of Charlotte and not too far from Asheville.
Raleigh Schutzhund Association (Durham, NC)
Durham is a large city situated in the northern part of North Carolina, near Raleigh and Greensboro.
Twin Beech Schutzhund Club (Stony Point, NC)
Stony Point is a small community situated in Alexander and Iredell counties. Near Claremont, it’s halfway between Asheville and Winston-Salem. It’s about one hour to Charlotte by car too.
Carolina DVG (Greensboro, NC)
This club is located in Greensboro, a big city in the northern part of North Carolina. It’s in Guilford county, near Winston-Salem.
North Carolina DVG (Louisburg NC)
Louisburg is a small town in Franklin county. It’s about 45 minutes of driving from Raleigh and Rocky Mount.
Eastern North Carolina – Coastal Plains Region
Black River Working Dogs (Angier, NC)
Angier is a small town in Harnett County, near Raleigh and Fayetteville.
Triangle Schutzhund Club (Angier, NC)
Here’s another club located in Angier. As I already said, it’s a small town in Harnett County. It’s north of Lillington and about 35 minutes from Raleigh by car.
Coastal Carolina SchH Club (Hubert, NC)
Hubert is a small coastal town situated in the eastern portion of Onslow county. It’s about 15 minutes of driving from Jacksonville.
Dark Water IPO (Lumberton, NC)
This Schutzhund club is located in the city of Lumberton. It’s in Robeson county, about 40 minutes South of Fayetteville by car.
Fayetteville Schutzhund Club (Dunn, NC)
Dunn is a city in Harnett County. As its name implies, this club is near Fayetteville. To be more precise, those two places are about 30 minutes of driving from each other.
Sandhills Working Dog Club (Lillington, NC)
This Schutzhund club is located in Lillington, a town in Harnett county. It’s near Dunn, approximately in between Fayetteville and Raleigh.
Best Schutzhund Clubs In North Carolina!
Your location isn’t the only factor you should consider. Now that you know what clubs are around you, it’s time to choose the right one for you. To save you some time, here are the best places I found in North Carolina where you can train your dog for Schutzhund.
Piedmont Schutzhund Club
Location: Claremont, NC
They are a large group of handlers that work together in a positive and supportive atmosphere. The Piedmont Schutzhund Club welcomes all dog breeds from German Shepherds to American Bulldogs, passing by Dobermanns and Malinois.
Members usually meet twice a week for obedience and protection. The club also hosts around 2 to 3 trials per year. For more information about them, you can visit their website.
Raleigh Schutzhund Association
Location: Durham, NC
This club is a dedicated group of dog sport enthusiasts that train together. It has been active since 1986, and many of its members have participated in high-level competitions. The RSA is also an all-breed club, including Dobermanns, German Shepherd Dogs, and Malinois.
They meet two days per week for training, generally on Wednesday evening and Saturday morning. For more information about their club and how to visit them, check out their website.
Dark Water IPO
Location: Lumberton, NC
This working dog club is associated with the USCA, AKC, PSA K9, and AWMA. Their mission is to build a bond between the dog and owner through socialization, exercise, and training. They offer one on one lessons, group classes, and seminars.
There’s not a lot of information about their Schutzhund club on their website, but this page is where I found the most details about it. You can also contact them to ask questions and figure out how to visit or join them.
What About Other Schutzhund Clubs?
Any place that’s not too far from you where you and your dog are comfortable about training there should do the job. The 3 Schutzhund clubs up there are just some of the best options distributed around the state of North Carolina.
Another group of handlers might be more appropriate for your needs, goals, and preferences. So feel free to do your own research on other clubs in your area. Here are some links that could be helpful to find more information on another place where you can train for Schutzhund in NC.
- Asheville Working Dog Club
- Black River Working Dogs
- Coastal Carolina SchH Club
- Fayetteville Schutzhund Club
- Sandhills Working Dog Club
- Twin Beech Schutzhund Club
- Carolina DVG
- North Carolina DVG
- Triangle Schutzhund Club (N/A)
Dog Training Centers For Schutzhund And Protection Work In North Carolina
Other Schutzhund Clubs Near NC
Here are some other clubs that aren’t in North Carolina, but close to it. So depending on your location and needs, they might still be worth considering.
- North Beach Schutzhund Club (Longs, SC)
- Coal Mountain SchH Association (Cumming, GA)
- Tidewater Schutzhund Club (Chesapeake, VA)
Last Thoughts About Schutzhund Clubs In North Carolina!
Finally, there are many places in North Carolina where you can train your dog for Schutzhund. I’m sure you will find at least one club near you to enjoy this activity with other handlers. If you have a couple of options in your area, you can visit them all.
After that, you will have a better idea of how each Schutzhund club works and what the atmosphere is like there. With that in mind, you can choose the best group for your needs, goals, and preferences.
Let’s Find That Club!