THE CONVERSATION OF TEAMWORK
Presented by: Dana Zinn, CNWI, CPDT and Sue Sternberg
Dates: Saturday, April 30th & Sunday, May 1st 2022
Time: 9am-4pm each day
Location: Girl Scout Camp Icimani, Roanoke
This two-day workshop will provide valuable information about how we, as handlers, influence the search with our body movements, direction and pathways, and speed and body orientation. Sue and Dana will also discuss what we are communicating to our dogs from all of our “handler actions or inactions” throughout the search, and why we may be getting certain behaviors from our canine partners in trial that baffle us.
This workshop will include video footage from other dog sports and video submissions from those attending the workshop as auditors, to demonstrate deliberate and inadvertent communication between dogs and their handlers. Additionally, Dana will set up exercises to highlight handler movement and the dog’s response to better understand what our dogs are communicating “at each moment” and improve our productivity as handlers without diminishing drive and independence.
You will also be given specific handling tools to increase your ability to listen while simultaneously allowing the dog more freedom to make choices and hunt independently.
Sue and Dana deliver this workshop with humor, compassion and enthusiasm knowing that teams will leave with a new way of looking at the search and new tools to strengthen the handler/dog team through the long-term journey of this amazing game.
Registration Information: This workshop builds on information over the two days so you are strongly encouraged to sign up for both days. There are limited spots to work dogs. To be considered you must have signed up to audit and must be willing to audit if you do not get selected. We cannot take registrations from people who only want to work a dog in order to attend. We will chose working spots from the pool of applications, see below.
Working Spot Requirements:
Participating dogs should be on all three odors. A title is not required, but dogs should be comfortable working in front of a larger group of people than in a regular class and have a very good drive for target odor (and have spent training time working hides that are not paired with food). Dogs who have less experience or understanding of odor or who can become easily distracted by the environment would not be well suited for a working spot given that it typically takes some time to work through those things. Additionally, dogs who are reactive/aggressive with people or more than mildly reactive with other dogs would not be well suited for this type of format so we ask that you don’t request a working spot.
If you would like a working spot (one day only to allow maximum participation) complete the second page of the application form.
Deadline for application is February 26th 2022. Working spots will be selected from the application pool and everyone will be notified by March 5th 2022. Payment for a working spot will be an additional $150 and will be due within 72-hours of notification. (So a person who gets working spot will pay $175 to audit and an additional $150 for their one-day working spot).
Dogs will need to be comfortable and quiet crated in a kennel or staying in the car. Please bring whatever your dog needs to be made comfortable and cool/warm enough in between working exercises.
Dogs must be able to stay quietly in their vehicles when out of sight from their handlers.
REGISTRATION
Print the application form and mail it with your check to the address on the form.
Working spots: Working spots will be chosen from the application pool for both days. PLEASE see above for detailed information.
$175 to audit both days
$100 to audit one day
Working Spot (one day only): is an additional $150 if selected
Refreshments – Coffee, water and snacks will be provided. Lunch is on your own.
COVID REQUIREMENTS:
Please be prepared to wear a mask and to social distance.
The situation is changing all the time, we do not know what the situation will be in April, so be prepared to be flexible as far as COVID restrictions.
AUDIT/VIDEO TAPING: ONLY ONE other video camera (and only at the request of the handler currently running a dog) besides the presenter’s camera may be operating at any given time during the event. Absolutely no other audio or video-taping is allowed. Videos may only be posted on social media if the sound has been removed (you do not have permission to post a video if the Presenter can be heard speaking). Thank you for your cooperation.
PHOTOS: Everyone is WELCOME to post any PHOTOS of themselves, of the Presenter, of dogs etc. on social media at any time during or after the seminar. Be sure you have permission of other participants before posting photos that include them. Photo restrictions: No photos of Sue eating and if she is making a horrid face for no reason, please delete those photos and do not post.
CANCELATION POLICY: All cancellations must be in writing by email to Ann at info@cannyk9companions.com No other forms of communication for cancelation will be accepted. A confirmation of cancelation will be emailed back to you by Ann at Canny K9. Cancelations by noon eastern time on April 20th 2022 - will receive a refund minus $25 processing fee. Cancelations after noon April 20th 2022- will not be refunded unless there is a wait list and someone can take your spot.
REGISTRATION FORM - word doc
REGISTRATION FORM - PDF
QUESTIONS: Contact Ann at info@cannyk9companions.com
Dana Zinn
Dana Zinn has been working with and training dogs since 1999. Her many years of dog training experience include working at the spcaLA as an Animal Behavior & Training Specialist. It was the time working with dogs in the shelter that drew her to the sport of K9 Nose Work®; not only for her own dogs, but for the many dogs in need of a "job" to do.
Dana was involved in the first publicly offered Nose Work class in Long Beach, CA. She not only participated but eventually assisted in instruction. From there, Dana became involved in the development of the K9 Nose Work® instructor certification program. Dana was one of the first participants to be certified as an instructor for the K9 Nose Work® curriculum approved by the National Association of Canine Scent Work, LLC. She is proud to be a founding faculty member, certifying official, and judge for sanctioned NACSW trials across the country. She is also a Supervising Certifying Official, which means she is involved in the training of new COs for NACSW In regard to K9 Nose Work®, her learning never stops as she continues to teach classes, instruct at camps, compete in trials, and conduct workshops and webinars. One of her proudest moments was placing first in the 2014 NACSW National Invitational with Kudos, her Belgian Tervuren.
Sue Sternberg
Sue has been working in shelters and as a dog trainer since 1981. Sue was the 2016 recipient of the APDT's Lifetime Achievement Award. She founded the shelter featured in the HBO documentary: Shelter Dogs. Her over 40 years of canine behavior experience includes as a dog control officer, behavior consultant at the ASPCA, shelter owner, successful competitor in a variety of dog sports (with Nose Work being her current wild favorite) and a teacher of dog trainers world-wide. She has published many books and DVDs on all aspects of dog behavior, training and assessments, available through www.Dogwise.com and www.TawzerDog.com.
Sue is a hobby paleontologist, and spends as much free time as she can exploring the desert with her dogs looking for fossils and also pretty rocks. She loves all things Star Trek, is an avid tea drinker, and plays the fiddle, too.
