Pasanita Obedience Club has been around since 1940, making it the west’s oldest obedience club. It started as a straightforward dog training class called Santa Anita Obedience Club, with no regular meetings or membership dues beyond a modest training fee. Over time, the organization evolved into its own entity and adopted the name Pasanita—a blend of its Santa Anita roots and the city of Pasadena where it’s based.

Today, Pasanita operates as a non-profit member of the American Kennel Club, focused on promoting dog training and hosting obedience trials and matches that follow AKC rules. If you’re familiar with dog sports or serious training, you’ve likely heard of their events. The club holds its trials and matches each year at Brookside Park in Pasadena, which gives you a sense of the scale and consistency of what they organize.

What’s worth noting is how the club gives back to the community. Any profits they make get donated to the Pasadena Humane Society, where Pasanita maintains a Life Membership. That commitment to supporting local animal welfare shows their priorities extend beyond just running competitions.

Whether you’re looking to get involved in AKC obedience trials, want to understand what competition-level training looks like, or are curious about the history of organized dog sports in Southern California, Pasanita is worth learning more about. Their long track record and deep roots in the Pasadena area mean they have real experience and connections in the dog training community. The fact that they’ve stuck around for over 80 years says something about how they operate. You can find out more about upcoming events and how to participate by reaching out directly to the club.