The Freeborn County Kennel Club provides an outlet for dog lovers to spend more time with their pets in a variety of capacities.

The club meets on the second floor of the City Arena on the second Monday of every month and offers the community obedience classes, but also teaches owners how to train their dogs for competitive shows.

The Freeborn County Kennel Club boasts around 20 members and is dedicated to the promotion of pure-bred dogs in addition to serving an important community service by providing obedience lessons for dog owners and an annual competition.

The Freeborn County Kennel Club hosts its own show every year at the City Arena and attracts a wide range of dog owners and pets every summer.

Approximately 900 dogs and owners attended the show this past August and it is the biggest event the club puts on every year.

Although the club promotes a number of things, the one above all is the bond between owner and canine.

“What I enjoy most is the bond that you have with your dog,” said Teri Nelson, who has been involved with the club for 15 years. “That’s what I enjoy.”

Nelson owns a Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Kashia and has traveled around the state to take part in rally competition. Rally is a sport where owners guide their dogs around a random course which typically includes a hurdle, a stop and down command, a 360-degree circle, a halt, a pivot to the left, a serpentine weave, a stand and down command, all while the dog has its chest parallel to the owner’s leg.

The dogs and owners earn awards based on their performance, which benefit the dog’s status. Much like horses and horse breeding, the more awards and accolades, the more likely the dog is viewed as more valuable. But the honors and value are more often disparate ideas for the owners.

Jeanne Hendrickson recently ran a course with her border collie, Emma, at the St. Paul Dog Training Center, where the duo had a flawless run. Hendrickson said she felt a strong bond between her and Emma that day.

“She and I were truly one,” Hendrickson said. “It’s the first time I’ve ever felt that way with a dog out there.”

Emma is also a registered therapy dog and has gone to schools in Albert Lea and the library so children can read to her.

Training the dogs takes a big time commitment, Nelson said.

“We train our dogs four to five times a week,” she said. “And it’s for years.”

Larry Reese, club president, has trained dogs for more than 25 years. He owns a German shepherd named Cody. He says he enjoys rally for the competitiveness, but also the camaradarie. He often helps other club members train their dogs for competitions.

“As members we train dogs to enter in other shows in the area,” Reese said. “The members help each other out in the club room here, practicing for those things.”

The Freeborn County Kennel Club offers three classes throughout the year for $70.

The club has also started holding rally classes every week.