About CCSC

Two decades of dogs done right

Born from a desire to provide a safe and friendly environment in which to train their dogs, Kathy Echols and Virginia Huxley founded the Columbia Canine Sports Center in 2002.

The facility

Room to run

The main building is a canvas-covered open space 120′ wide by 240′ long, fully matted in ½-inch rolled rubber. The agility area adds a turf surface on top of the rolled rubber mat — easy on joints, fast underfoot.

We offer everything from puppy socialization and pet manners, Canine Good Citizen and therapy dog training, up to top competition-level classes in agility, obedience, rally, conformation, nose work, barn hunt, and more. Class sizes are kept very small — generally 6–8 students, occasionally with an assistant instructor — so you get lots of one-on-one attention.

Wide view inside the CCSC training building
Training rings and matted flooring inside CCSC Agility equipment set up on the turf surface at CCSC
Our philosophy

Positive methods, deeper bonds

“We believe that the relationship between humans and canines is special. By using positive methods we can deepen that relationship — improving both our lives and the lives of our dogs.”

Our curriculum is overseen by Certified Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT), AKC Certified CGC Evaluators, and several AKC judges, ensuring the most progressive, positive, effective, and humane training methods.

The people

Our instructors

Our instructors are volunteers who compete — and title their dogs — in the sport that they teach. You're learning from people who do this, for real, every weekend.

Want to join them?

If you actively compete in your sport and want to give back, there's a path from assisting to leading your own class. Become a trainer →

Our history

Knocked down, rebuilt better

In January 2019, heavy snow collapsed our original training building. The response from our students, members, and the mid-Missouri dog community was immediate — and by the end of that year we were training again in a rebuilt, stronger facility. The brick walkway out front commemorates everyone who helped bring CCSC back.

Today CCSC is a multi-faceted dog training and event center located in Columbia, Missouri — halfway between Kansas City and St. Louis — hosting classes four nights a week and trials nearly every month.

Other services

Canine chiropractic on site

Dr. Andria Cogswell, MSc, DVM, CVA, offers canine chiropractic adjustments. Reach her at (573) 489-4580 or andriacogswell@gmail.com.