Our History

The first meeting regarding forming an all-breed club was held on the September 9^th, 1979. There had been murmurings about separating from Manawatu Kennel Association to an all-breed club for dog training. There was an unsuccessful special general meeting held on December 12^th, 1979, in an attempt to get the club formed. The inaugural AGM was held March 27^th, 1980. Correspondence from Rosemary Cleator was sent afterwards, confirming TADTC was recognised as a club. Marie Stewart helped set up club and came up with the name Tararua Allbreeds Dog Training Club.

Our first club logo (left) made shortly after the club was established. It adorned club clothing and was put on the obedience champ show catalogues. The second club logo (right) was drawn by life member Tanya Emms. This logo was created in 1997 and is still in use today.

Through the many years, the club has grown and evolved, members coming and going. The best people to tell you about the club would be the life members who have made significant contributions to the club.

Life Member Testimonials:

“We used to do displays. Mostly mass heelwork and recalls.  One popular exercise was to have a row of dogs doing a down stay, while other dogs treated them as hurdles. Always got applause.
Travelling to shows was an adventure. Dogs ranged from corgis to wolfhounds. Travelling back from a show with Robyn Bland and our GSD and Boxer were loose in the back. She had won a trophy made of some sort of cow bone and when we got home, we found one or both dogs had had a good chew on the way.”
– Sue Cooper

“TADTC continues to have a positive culture supporting and encouraging members to achieve goals no matter what they may be.”
– Tanya Emms

“I started with the Tararua Club in February 1998 with my first dog “Polly”, a Yellow Labrador. I joined the club to learn basic obedience and then fell in love with competing and the people I met. I joined the committee in 1999 holding various roles. We were a very social bunch of people, many fun evenings were spent after club night, in the club rooms socialising or socialising after many working bees spent tidying the grounds and club rooms.
My first time in Beginners with a 5^th placing thanks to Tanya Emms’s coaching (she was also the stewarding). The Judge was Norm Claude, far left, who was a great supporter of our club and towards the end of his time in Obedience, he became our Test Manager for our champ shows, which he did for a number of years.”
– Robyn How

“My best memories were from various NDOA’s. Whanganui had a Riverboat theme evening function. Tanya and Clayton were dressed in theme attire. Of course, Clayton had his face blackened. They made a detour joining the wedding party at the same venue. Oops. I remember Bronwyn, Kevin and others doing a wonderful lip sync and at to ‘I want to break free’ by Queen. I represented Zone 3 in Novice obedience with Tully at an Auckland NDTA and the great support of the team. Those were very special times, fun and a great team spirit.”
– Meredith Pitcher