Dear Prospective Member,

Thank you for inquiring about membership with the Central Pennsylvania Schutzhund Club (CPSC). Our primary goal is to promote Schutzhund training. Members are expected to participate and train in all three phases of Schutzhund (Tracking, Obedience and Protection). We welcome visitors to bring your dog to training; however, do not bring the dog onto the field without first asking permission.

Membership is as described as; having voting rights, full benefits of and participation within CPSC and paying annual dues. CPSC offers different types of membership; Individual Members, Family Membership and Youth Membership. Members shall also maintain a current membership with The United Schutzhund Clubs of America.

Applying for Membership:

1. You must fill out and sign a Central PA Schutzhund Club Membership Application.

2. Sign a Central PA Schutzhund Club Waiver.

3. Pay an application fee of $50.00. The CPSC Directors at Large will review your application. If your application is accepted the $50.00 application fee will be kept and is non-refundable. At this time the person applying for membership will be known as an Applicant.

4. Attend training for six (6) times with your dog, within an eight (8) week period. This is so you can observe what we do before, during and after training. You will also meet the members and they will meet you.

5. After the eight (8) week period, at the next General Membership meeting or specially called meeting, your status for becoming a club member will be voted on. If voted in as a member, Annual Membership dues are due.

6. Provisional Member will have a probation period of at least six (6) months. At the end of the six (6) months your status as a Provisional Member will be reviewed by the Directors at Large. The Directors at Large will determine if you are to move on to Full Membership.

7. The Provisional Member shall present proof of current membership with the United Schutzhund Clubs of America and maintain good standing prior to the Directors at Large moving to Full Membership.

Dues and Fees:

Dues and fees are the basis for CPSC financial income. Accordingly, the following shall apply:

1. Annual dues for a Full Membership are per year and are as follow:

   a. Individual Membership $100.00 (one person)
   b. Family Membership $150.00 (two legal spouses or two people living
   at the same physical address)
   c. Youth Membership of $50.00 (Under the age of 18 years).

2.Training due are levied to all who are actively training dogs with CPSC.  The dues are $75.00 paid quarterly on March 1st, June 1st, September 1st and December 1st.  Observers are exempt from this fee. 

3. Annual dues are due on the 1st day of June. Dues for members are accepted into CPSC during the calendar year and shall be pro-rated according to the month of admission. All club dues are non-refundable. A photocopy of the United Schutzhund Clubs of America membership renewal card showing the expiration date shall be included when annual dues are paid.

4. Failure to pay annual dues may be grounds for suspension or expulsion from CPSC. A member will be automatically suspended if annual dues are not paid within 30 days of the due date. This suspension will be rescinded upon the receipt of these dues.


Safety, Courtesy and other Considerations:

As part of participation at Central PA Schutzhund Club; some observances need to be maintained during training. This is for the consideration and safety of the people and dogs involved in training.

1. When protection work is being performed, any dog not physically training with the Helper must be off the field, leashed and in a crate.

2. For the consideration of our host facility, please exercise your dog in the designated area and clean up after your dog. Fouling of training field is highly discouraged.

3. We train near a residential community and for the consideration of the residents, please quiet excessive barking.

4. We highly encourage everyone to watch, listen, pay attention and enjoy the training sessions. Quite often you can pick up a lot of information by watching the situations involved in training.

Please remember safety is in the utmost importance in all involved in having a meaningful and enjoyable training day. If you have any questions please ask one of the Directors.


Important Notes:

1. Provisional Member may only train one dog per session.

2. Annual dues are not dependent on the number of sessions attended or the number of sessions held.

3. Attendance of a minimum of 75% of the training sessions in all phases is required.

4. Prospective new members must show initiative and willingness to work with the club during training sessions, trials and events. In addition, prospective new members must fit in with the other club members.

5. To keep protection training on track with the time allotted, dog handlers need to be prepared to train their dog. i.e. Next dog leashed off the field and ready for protection work.

Thank you,

Central Pennsylvania Schutzhund Club