Welcome and please feel free to explore our website.  If you are new to dog training and to recreational dog sports, you may want to start with the information below on our beginner classes.

We hold regularly scheduled and very affordable dog obedience training classes as well as many other classes and events for various dog sports at our spacious, up to date training facility in Halethorpe, MD (immediately south of Baltimore near the junction of I-695 and I-95).

COVID-19 / Mask Policy

FALL 2026 ROLLING REGISTRATION SCHEDULE :
                                           

• 8/3 – Catalog Posted to ODTC Website
• 8/10, 6am – Registration begins for ODTC Contributing Members 
• 8/12, 6am – Registration begins for ODTC Training Members
• 8/14, 6am – Registration begins for ODTC Provisional Members & Non-members
• Week of 9/14 – Fall classes begin

FALL 2026 INTRODUCTORY CLASSES

(For Advanced Classes, please see our full Course Catalog )

[OB101] Puppy Kindergarten
Instructor:  Kara O’Connor
Assistant: Carol Carr    
Class Limit: 6
Starts:  9/15/26
Day/Time: Tuesday, 6:00pm – 7:00pm (6 Weeks)

For puppies 14 weeks to 6 months old. This class is for focusing on the start of obedience foundations and behavior issues.  Emphasis on positive socialization to people and other puppies, environmental surroundings and contacts. General behavior topics will include crate training, housetraining, reading body language, and reducing nipping and jumping. We will focus on skills like communication and attention to owner, loose leash walking, rear end awareness, good play and greeting skills with dogs and people, sit, down, come, wait, even tricks! This is a “food” reward-based class. The next class would be the Basic Obedience class.   Front Training Room.

Notes: Bring current rabies certificate for puppies over 4 months to the first night of class. Puppies attend the first class.

[OB101A] Puppy Kindergarten
Instructor: Rachel Lachow
Class Limit: 6
Starts:  9/17/26
Day/Time: Thursday, 10:00am – 11:00am (6 Weeks)

For puppies 14 weeks to 6 months old. This class is for focusing on the start of obedience foundations and behavior issues. Emphasis on positive socialization to people and other puppies, environmental surroundings and contacts. General behavior topics will include crate training, housetraining, reading body language, and reducing nipping and jumping. We will focus on skills like communication and attention to owner, loose leash walking, rear end awareness, good play and greeting skills with dogs and people, sit, down, come, wait, even tricks! This is a “food” reward-based class. The next class would be the Basic Obedience class.  Front Training Room.

Notes: Bring current rabies certificate for puppies over 4 months to the first night of class. Puppies attend the first class. At least 4 dogs must be registered for class to be held.

[OB104] Obedience for Everyday Life
Instructors:  Kara O’Connor
Class Limit: 6
Starts:  6/29/26
Day/Time: Tuesday, 7:15pm – 8:15pm (6 Weeks)

This class is appropriate for dogs over 6 months of age who may have limited or no prior obedience training. It is well-suited for first-time dog owners, recently adopted or rescue dogs, and anyone seeking to improve their dog’s foundational behavior in preparation for the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program or introductory dog sports classes. It focuses on building impulse control, enhancing the dog’s attention to the handler in the presence of distractions, and developing reliable loose leash walking. Ideal for teams looking to strengthen their communication and enjoy more relaxed, focused walks together. Weather permitting, training may take place on local grounds. Topics include, but are not limited to: Sit/Stay, Down/Stay, Recall, Loose Leash Walking with Distractions, Leave-It, and Focus/Engagement (“Look at Me”). This is a “food” reward-based class. Front Training Room.

Prerequisites:  Priority registration is given to students graduating from the prior session of [OB101] Puppy Kindergarten 

Auditor Spots:  There are auditor spots available for this class upon request. Auditors may not bring dogs to class. Auditors need to get permission from Tamalee Kramp, the instructor of the class, or the registrar.

[OB105] Basic Obedience
Instructors:  Tamalee Kramp
Assistant: Alex Harrell
Class Limit: 8
Starts:  8/15/26
Day/Time: Tuesday, 7:15pm – 8:15pm (7 Weeks)

This class is for puppies older than 6 months of age and adult dogs that are just starting their training or need a refresher. The course will introduce dogs to all the basic obedience commands such as sit, down, stand, come, off, and loose-leash walking. In addition, we will practice the commands with real life training exercises, such as not bolting through the door when opened and park bench manners, etc. This is a “food” reward-based class. Main Ring 1.

Priority:  Priority registration is given to students graduating from the prior semester of [OB101] Puppy Kindergarten.

Notes: 1) At least 3 dogs must be registered for class to be held.  2)The FIRST day of class, please come WITHOUT your dog & with a copy of your dog’s rabies certificate. 

Auditor Spots:  There are auditor spots available for this class upon request. Auditors may not bring dogs to class. Auditors need to get permission from Tamalee Kramp, the instructor of the class, or the registrar.

[AG050] Foundations for Dog Sports
Instructors:  Kim Culp, Chelsy Thompson, Dianne Hardy, Susan Rosenvold
Assistants: Galina Kuiper, Nancy Bromberg, Jill Kronstadt
Class Limit: 8
Starts:  9/16/26
Day/Time: Wednesday, 8:15pm – 9:45pm (10 Weeks)

This class is for dogs aged 6 months & up who have graduated from a Basic Obedience class. Dogs will be introduced to the basic relationship- building and foundation skills needed to be competitive in timed, physically active dog sports such as agility, flyball, rally, and disc dog. Foundation training includes board and target training, fitness training, impulse-control games, drive games with recalls and sends, emphasis on tugging as a reward, rear-end awareness, and body-coordination exercises. Dogs can and should be entered in this class at a young age (although it is reasonable to expect very young dogs to rotate through it twice to expose them to each foundation exercise twice during their “puppy brain” stage). This class is primarily taught using a clicker to shape behaviors. Students will be exposed to a variety of “proofing” techniques to improve their dog’s performance. Agility Ring.

Graduation criteria: (1) dog can hold a “stay” position with handler at least 10 feet away; (2) dog exhibits body control coordination through demonstration of class exercises; (3) dog can stay focused on handler while working around other dogs in low arousal situations; (4) dog sends around an object from at least 6 feet away; (5) handler exhibits understanding of training principles, including the 3 D’s for proofing, using a clicker for shaping behaviors, and handling/engaging with the dog. Students planning to move ahead to Agility 1 have the following additional criteria: (1) dog actively engages with a toy, viewing it as a reward; (2) dog is comfortable getting on the travel board with all four feet and turning around; and (3) ideally dog will target a toy and return it to handler.

Prerequisite: Verification of graduation from Basic Obedience class, a CGC certificate, or a completed evaluation by an Agility instructor.

Note: The first night of class is required for participation in the course. Dogs do not come to the first night of class.

Email questions to Jenn Spratt  at registrarodtc@gmail.com

Agility Privates

World team member Terry Herman is offering privates at the building on Monday and Wednesday.  Click here for more information, or  To register for a private lesson:

Monday or Wednesday Privates: click here: [EL AG540A] Privates

Interested in our advanced class offerings?  See this link.

About Us:  The Oriole Dog Training Club, Inc is a non-profit organization formed in 1945 to  promote  the utility of dogs regardless of pedigree as well behaved and reliable companions  for their own safety and well being, for the pleasure of their owners, and so they will be considered good canine citizens of the community.

We hold regularly scheduled and very affordable dog obedience training classes as well as many other classes and events for various dog sports at our spacious, up to date  training facility in Halethorpe, MD (immediately south of Baltimore near the junction of I-695 and I-95)

Our all volunteer instructing staff is passionate about both companion dog (pet manners) training and dog sports training, and collectively represents decades of experience.

We are a licensed club with the American Kennel Club  (AKC®) and in addition hold group membership with the following dog sporting organizations:

• North American Flyball Association (NAFA®)
• United States Dog Agility Association(USDAA®)
• North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC)
• Canine Performance Events (CPE)
• National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW)
• Barn Hunt Association (BHA)

Our club members range in experience from those just beginning the journey of learning how to train and trial with a dog to talented amateurs with a part-time interest in dog training and even to members who compete or judge successfully at the national (sometimes even international) level.

In addition to dog training classes, we organize and hold numerous community outreach activities, canine health clinics, seminars, workshops, and dog sporting events both at our training building and at multiple locations in and around the Baltimore, Columbia, and Washington DC metro area including:

• obedience (AKC®),
• tracking (AKC®),
• agility (USDAA®, NADAC, AKC®,CPE),
• flyball (NAFA®),
• rally (AKC Rally®)
• scentwork (NACSW, BHA, AKC®)
• coursing (AKC Fast CAT®)

Have questions?  Explore our website or start with our FAQ.

Address:
9 Azar Ct.
Halethorpe, MD 21227

Detailed directions to our facility can also be found here