History

The Capitol Canine Training Club, a not-for-profit corporation, was incorporated on June 18, 1965. The Charter members were: Shirley Brower, John Campbell, Judy Campbell, Tamera Garlo, Jane Hoffman, Don McKittrick, Sue Price, Eunice Roderick, Betty Scarlett, Bernie Van Dorn, and Tony Von Huss. Tamera Garlo served as the first President.

The 2,740 square foot original building in Chatham was an automotive repair garage purchased sometime after the Club's formation. A 30 year mortgage was taken out to pay for the building and a "mortgage burning" party was held in the Fall of 1995. The kitchen, two bathrooms, hall and closet were added in mid-1970. Sometime in the early 1980's the 1,216 square foot small training room was built. Also on the property are two sheds; one for storing the lawn mower and the other for agility equipment; a lighted fenced in yard (approximately 60 feet X 145 feet) and a gravel parking lot.

The 1st Obedience Fun Match was held on May 8, 1966 and the 1st AKC Sanctioned Obedience Match was held on September 29, 1974. CCTC was sanctioned by the American Kennel Club in 1975 to hold an annual obedience trial. The 1st AKC Sanctioned Obedience Trial was held on October 9, 1976 at the Exposition Building, IL State Fairgrounds. No members of the CCTC were allowed to enter a dog in the trial. There were 209 dogs with a total of 236 entries. Rally was added to the annual obedience trial in 2005. Shirley Brower was the first member to earn the AKC Companion Dog (CD), Companion Dog Excellent (CDX), and Utility Dog (UD) titles in 1965, 1967, and 1971 respectively with her toy poodle, My Countess Gigi.

CCTC began holding tracking events in 1990 with an AKC Sanctioned Match on April 22, at Loren Dodd's Farm in Loami. The following year the 1st sanctioned Tracking Dog (TD) test was held on March 10 at Dodd's Farm. The entry fee was $30.00. A Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) test was held on March 17, 1996 at Foxview Farm in Mechanicsburg. In 1997, TD and TDX tests were combined and the location was moved to the State Fish and Wildlife Area, Site M, Chandlerville later to be renamed Jim Edgar Panther Creek (JEPC) Fish and Wildlife Area. A Fall TD Test was added in November 2004 at the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) and combined with a Sanctioned Variable Service Tracking (VST) Match at Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC). In 2005, however, the Fall TD was held at The Rail Golf Course in Sherman while the VST was held at LLCC. Since 2006, the Spring TD/TDX tests continue to be held every March at JEPC and the Fall TD/VST continues to be held in November at UIS/LLCC. Ruth Paule was the first member to earn a TD in 1976 with her dog Branscombe Pericles. Judy Lee was the first member to earn a TDX in 1990 with Hi-Point's Skip Off The OL'Block, a golden retriever.

The Club's motto, "Control With Kindness", reflects the purpose of the Club which is to promote the training of dogs and disseminate knowledge regarding training. CCTC's objectives include:

Conduct classes for the training of dogs and their handlers;
Encourage the training of judges;
Hold and support any AKC sanctioned event; and
Promote cooperation and good sportsmanship among its members in the training and exhibition of dogs.

Club membership has grown to about 120 members who volunteer their time to manage the business of the Club by serving on the Board of Directors or Committees, conduct classes for the training of dogs and their handlers, and hold a variety of AKC sanctioned events such as an annual Obedience and Rally Trial, Tracking Tests and Agility Trials. CCTC was given the Best Pet Trainer Award for 2000 from the Illinois Times of Springfield.

Conduct classes for the training of dogs and their handlers;
Encourage the training of judges;
Hold and support any AKC sanctioned event; and
Promote cooperation and good sportsmanship among its members in the training and exhibition of dogs.

2012 Margaret "Toni" Frank

2011 Margaret "Toni" Frank

2010 Kathleen Stevens

2009 Kathleen Stevens

2008 Kathleen Stevens

2007 Pam Thornburg

2006 Terry Bridges

2005 Ule James

2004 Terry Bridges

2003 Irma Knoles

2002 Terry Bridges

2001 Pam Thornburg

2000 Ule James

1999 Pam Thornburg

1998 Pam Thornburg

1997 Terry Bridges

1996 Mary-Lou Flowers

1995 Keith Gregory

1994 Keith Gregory

1993 Betty Maddox

1992 Diane Enger

1991 Tom Thornburg

1990 John Brunk

1989 Jerry Gies

1988 John Brunk

1987 John Brunk

1986 Marvin Hazelwood

1985 Tom Thornburg

1984 Tom Thornburg

1983 Madeline White

1982 Betty Maddox

1981 Dave Snyder

1980 Betty Maddox

1979 Betty Maddox

1978 Bill Denton

1977 Bill Denton

1976 Ken Stover

1975 Verlin Hibbs

1974 Verlin Hibbs

1973 Dave Garrison

1972 Robert Boyle

1971 Alan Holingsworth

1970 Betty Maddox

1969 Walter Jabush

1968 Martin Siecke

1967 Jane Hoffman

1966 Tamera Garlo