SUNBURY and District Obedience Dog Club's role has become more vital in the wake of a spate of dog attacks in the state, including the mauling of a four-year-old girl in Pakenham last week.
The volunteer organisation, which has been operating for 25 years, resumes classes next month.
President Sharon Kemp says the club provides the owners with "tools" to deal with problems, including handling difficult dogs.
"It's about training the dog's owner, not the dog.
"We focus on general obedience and deal with issues that handlers may have."
As of November last year, 149 dogs were registered as dangerous in Hume.
A four-year-old girl in St Albans was fatally mauled by a pit bull cross in August.
"We get to know why the dog is acting a particular way and deal with the problem and work out how to help," Ms Kemp says.
"A lot of the time, a dog needs more socialisation and they need to be out and about."
She says the club begins training dogs when they are four months old.
For more information about the club, call 0424251122.
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