By Alfred De Witte
K9Force welcomes many visitors who admire the drive, engagement, and sheer joy of our dogs on the field and who are eager to start IGP training. However, the time commitment required to train for all three IGP phases—tracking, obedience, and protection—is prohibitive for many. That’s why we created the Starter Membership in 2024, designed for handlers who want to enjoy the benefits that IGP training brings in a dog-handler relationship, without redesigning their professional and family life around dog training.
Since its founding in 2016, K9Force has been actively growing IGP training in Calgary, welcoming many enthusiastic newcomers to the sport with a focus on obtaining IGP titles and competing in trials. Many members aspire to compete in major European trials, and several have already done so. Prospective members who want to compete in all three disciplines must complete successfully an eight-week “Intro to IPO” course before obtaining K9Force membership—a concept adopted by several other dog clubs.
With the Starter Membership, IGP training becomes accessible to a much wider group of people. To ensure that handler-dog teams can be successful, dogs are assessed beforehand to ensure they are well-suited for IGP. One of the first to join was Sabine who says: “I can train at my own pace, focusing on engagement and obedience without feeling pressured.”
Led by Dorota, an experienced IGP competitor, the Starter Membership is a club membership where like-minded, first-time dog handlers experience the joys of IGP together. John, who trains with a puppy, shares: “She balances seriousness with fun and really cares about our development.”
The Starter Membership marks the beginning of a journey into the world of IGP, with different destinations for different handlers. Some see their goal as building a strong bond with their dog, while others aim to achieve a BH/VT and will see where the journey takes them thereafter, like Megan: “I think the Starter Membership is the best group for that.” Art already has long-term aspirations, and after a half year made the switch to training in all three IGP disciplines: “My long-term goal is for Vio and me to progress as far as we can go and to thoroughly enjoy the ride!”
Our members report excellent progress—from sharper obedience to stronger handler-dog connections. However, the most enthusiastic participants are the dogs themselves. As Stephanie shares: “Since joining, my dog Bond is ready and waiting at 5 a.m. for our drive to the club—I can't sleep in anymore!” After all, as the song (almost) goes, Dogs Just Wanna Have Fun.
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