Jump to content

Would You Attend?


 Share

Recommended Posts

Im a member of a Polish dobie forum and lots of people there do IPO.

Recently they organised a mega training workshop with a famous Czech trainer.

The mega workshop run for over a week, was run somewhere in the Czech Republic country side, on someones farm with bed and breakfast. The atendees all train for IPO and their dogs are somewhat trained, so it isnt the basic training stuff that is covered.

Reading the responces of those that attended it was a total blast, training full on few times a day, they has several decoys, people that specialise in tracking, agility and competitive obiedience.

They all stayed in the cottage, or some camped there, spend basically a week together 24/7.

I wish I could attend something like that with my dogs (obviously my dogs are not being trained in bite work, but all other aspects sound really appealing to me) had a holiday, social gathering and trained dogs in the mean time.

If someone organised something like that here, would you attend??? If yes how much would you be prepared to pay for something like that?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 63
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Hi Myszka

Since 1999 I have attended 4 search & rescue dog workshops in USA, Holland & Germany and had the sardogs from Poland attended as well.

The itinerary was similar and we stayed in a boyscout camp in the forest and had caterers come each night from the town to deliver 3 course meals.

After the meals we sat and had intense discussion of the days training and the information "thrown around" was extremely valuable and the next day I absorbed the discussion from the night before and saw each dog progress accordingly.

I think the social side of these workshops added to the incredible rapport between all attendees and even though I didn't have my dog I still enjoyed and gained so much from them.

The average cost for the 6-7 days (accomodation and meals included) was $450AUS. Mind you we slept on the floor in our sleeping bags but that didn't matter!!!!! Of course I had to pay for the air-fares to Europe & US but it was so beneficial as we do not have anything like this in Australia. The contacts and friendships developed after these workshops are fantastic.

We had the Chairman of National SARDA UK,Scotland & Wales here this weekend assessing our dogs and this input is so necessary- unfortunately we have to pay for these highly qualified people to come here to our country as we cannot take our dogs overseas....quarantine etc to get them back!! Our country is so different so it is better the dogs are worked in the environment they have to be deployed.

Julie

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds great Julie!!! Tell me more about the Polish SAR dogs, from memory we have quite a few of them in the mountains.

Im wondering if people in Australia would be willing to attend something like that. But with the dogs, using local trainers. Or would it make a difference if there was a O/S trainer coming over to train?

On the Polish forum they all had their dogs there, and say the biggest problem was that the dogs were not physically or mentally prepared to have so much trianing done to them, but those that attended it for the second time were.

Just interesting to read some responces there and how much people enjoyed themselves.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes I would definately attend something like that, sounds like it would be great fun! It would be great to invite a well known (And succesfull) overseas trainer to come over and run a seminar like that. As long as it was a GOOD trainer and not just someone who happened to come from Europe (That doesn't impress me very much!! :laugh: )

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maybe I should get this Czech guy :laugh: they all seem to be in love with him :)

I was considering perhaps organising something like that, I didnt ask any local trainer, nor o/s ones, just having an idea.

But such week isnt a job for one person to organise..... so far now its an idea and a question.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Credibility is the key these days. Way too many courses are run by people who can talk the talk but are unable to walk the walk.

You need to do a lot of research before committing to bringing such a person to our shores as it costs so much money to bring them out and accomodate them as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OMG - really???

Do you want K9 as a trainer (and who will ask him? :laugh::):laugh: ) or do I get someone else, maybe SARDOG would want to do it? would you Julie??

if someone else I thought I could research those IPO trainers Poles use, at least I could translate...... if we get a German than who will???

This is a huge idea it might never happen but I thought it would be nice to go to some farm, camp for a week and have dog training every day. And be with like minded people holidaying really. But hey Im crazy :D

so who has got a farm we can use or do we go to QLD? :D

Edited by myszka
Link to comment
Share on other sites

OMG - really???

Do you want K9 as a trainer (and who will ask him? :laugh: :D :D ) or do I get someone else, maybe SARDOG would want to do it? would you Julie??

if someone else I thought I could research those IPO trainers Poles use, at least I could translate...... if we get a German than who will???

This is a huge idea it might never happen but I thought it would be nice to go to some farm, camp for a week and have dog training every day. And be with like minded people holidaying really. But hey Im crazy ;)

so who has got a farm we can use or do we go to QLD? :laugh:

Don't think K9 would have the time to run a week's course..................... :laugh: And besides I think being stuck with us lot for a week would probably drive him insane anyway *Pauses and imagines K9 running screaming, hands in air after only 2 days of intense bonding with half a dozen crazy people and their insane dogs* :laugh:

There must be IPO trainers that can speak english? You'd want to look for someone that had trialled at a top level but can also TEACH! Not neccesarily something that would go hand in hand! Cool idea tho, maybe you should look into it!

As to the farm, could have helped there a few months ago.......................have loads of friends on property tho that may 'lend' it to us for a week! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would love to go to something like this...but also know that reality is that I an't afford it :) (student budget)

...& the only time I get back to the mainland now is for family crisis....not exactly prime time for training focus (I'm talking about me..not the dog! :laugh: )

..however.....if anyone was inclined to have a holiday in the gorgeous island of tassie..... :D :D ....you know, you haven't really seen the best of Australia until you've visited tassie! ;) hehehe

and yes..I am qualified to say this...I've driven to every major destination in Aust except Broome!!! (and it's still on the list! :laugh:)

:laugh:

Aus

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For the money involved you really need to get the right person.

For someone to run a workshop in a specialty field (ie k9 sar/) I would consider someone who has actually gained the qualification by training the dog to top level and retained that level over a number of years.

I have been to a lot of workshops where there is a lot of "talk the talk".

Most of the workshops I have been to overseas there has been a mixture of problem dogs and others who want to increase training level/standard. We have always had the one instructor for the courses who is able to produce both of the above. The evening discussion was note taking and participation in open discussion which was always extremely beneficial. :laugh:

The Germans who attended these workshop all spoke English BTW.

This is where it is important to research.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I suppose the bonus of finding local trainers would be that you could have a couple of them over the week? It would be too expensive to bring out more than one trainer from overseas, but you could maybe have two or three local trainers who specialise in different fields? Dunno, but I do like the idea.................... :laugh:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share


×
×
  • Create New...