Obedience seminars

**IdahoLabs** · 09-27-2011, 10:29 PM

It looks like I may have the opportunity (ie, time and location is compatible with my schedule) to attend a 2-day seminar and/or private lesson(s) with an obedience trainer who has trained/handled over a dozen OTCH dogs and at least one NOC. I'm looking for opinions... my pup is 2 and he's competing in Open. I'd like a UD and more with him - I think the seminar is a good idea, I just don't know if *now* I'd be getting the most out of it, or whether I ought to wait another year or two, or...? What do y'all think? TIA.

**MicksMom** · 09-28-2011, 07:37 AM

I'd go for it. You may not have this chance in a year or two. Betsy gave everyone a spiral bound notebook & pen at the seminar at Top Dog so people could take notes. Also, a couple of people videoed bits and pieces of the seminar.

**patm** · 09-29-2011, 05:21 PM

I say go now also - first, you might not be able to attend "in a few years" and second, hopefully you will learn all kinds of things that you can apply to train your dog now.

**IdahoLabs** · 09-29-2011, 08:47 PM

Thanks for the input. I went ahead and emailed to say I'll be there. It'll be at the end of spring break... have to be back for class on Monday, but I don't see any reason the seminar won't fit into my schedule.

**ThreeTs** · 09-30-2011, 03:55 PM

Can you say where/when/who ? Just thought maybe it is something I'd be interested in. The good thing about going to it now is to save yourself from having to retrain your dog later after making a bunch of mistakes you didn't know you were making, know what I mean?

Ran across something this weekend you might be interested in, a DVD rental service like netflix, but with only dog training DVDs, called bowwowflix. Name is cheesy but it sure has a lot of DVDs.

**IdahoLabs** · 10-02-2011, 08:17 PM

I think I can say who... Dee Dee Anderson... don't think I can say where/when as the original email said not to until they knew how many of the people that were invited were actually coming. (Maybe email her if you're interested in a future seminar and see if she'll be in your area.)

I'll check out bowwowflix, definitely sounds interesting! I'd sure like to be in Utility next year and I'm thinking we'll need some outside advice to get there. Heard a local trainer say recently that it takes 3-4 years to train a Utility Dog, I hope not! I don't think it takes everyone that long and I sure don't want to wait that many years!

**windycanyon** · 10-02-2011, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by IdahoLabs

I think I can say who... Dee Dee Anderson... don't think I can say where/when as the original email said not to until they knew how many of the people that were invited were actually coming. (Maybe email her if you're interested in a future seminar and see if she'll be in your area.)

I'll check out bowwowflix, definitely sounds interesting! I'd sure like to be in Utility next year and I'm thinking we'll need some outside advice to get there. Heard a local trainer say recently that it takes 3-4 years to train a Utility Dog, I hope not! I don't think it takes everyone that long and I sure don't want to wait that many years!

Are you going to brag for yourselves this weekend? I didn't see how it ended up today as I was attempting to get Tango's head screwed on better, lol. Must have worked... I had a much better girl today!

I say do as many seminars as you can since I almost always walk away w/ something from all of them. Only one (that I can think of) was a huge disappointment.

**ThreeTs** · 10-02-2011, 11:35 PM

Anne, how do you get the head screwed on straight? I always end up with crossed threads...

**windycanyon** · 10-03-2011, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by ThreeTs

Anne, how do you get the head screwed on straight? I always end up with crossed threads...

Oh THAT'S our problem!!!??? lol

**Milesmom** · 10-05-2011, 06:47 AM

I agree with the others. Go for it. If your dog is 2, now is the time to gather the tools. You can be working on utility skills while working on your CDX. Good luck!