ClickerExpo offers terrific courses for folks who participate in almost any canine sport. But there’s even more to Expo than individual courses. Here are my “fab five” reasons why canine sports enthusiasts will love ClickerExpo 2016.
- We Get High Scores!
- The Promise of Precision without Boredom I must admit that what some people see as “precise” I have often seen as “boring,” like synchronized swimming. Then I met Hannah Branigan and watched her competition obedience routines. Holy cow! Beautiful! Obedience is a game where our dogs' behaviors are judged down to the inch. In that context, precision is truly a thing of beauty. With Hannah, to my surprise, it also looked fun!
- You might be my eldest daughter, and
- More importantly, you will LOVE these classes!
- Dare to be Great!
- We Believe in Canine Cross-Training:
- It’s the Ring, Mr. Frodo!
ClickerExpo faculty members compete and win at the highest level, often in more than one sport and, over time, with multiple dogs. Michele Pouliot, Hannah Branigan, Laura VanArendonk Baugh, Emma Parsons, Eva Bertilsson, and Emelie Johnson-Vegh all have awesome track records. Take Hannah Branigan, for example. Hannah has titled her dogs in conformation, obedience, schutzhund, agility, and rally. Her dogs have multiple class wins, both AKC and UKC High in Trial awards, and scores that qualify for several Front & Finish Awards of Excellence (FFX). How about Michele Pouliot? Arguably one of the best freestylers in the world, Michele and her dogs Cabo, Listo, and Deja have received the special "Perfect 10" award a record-breaking total of ten times and counting! Among the ten awards for perfect 10s, six different routines are represented. “MP” (as she is known to me) is not one to brag, but prior to freestyle she was a successful competitor in other sports as well. But you’ll have to come to Expo and talk with her about that.
By isolating specific muscle movements, clicker training gives you the scalpel to shape behaviors to the exacting standards of the obedience ring. Hannah can help you see your routines in a way you’ve never seen before, provide the means to achieve the precision you and your dog need for success, and offer a way to do it that amps up the fun factor. Come practice in the Learning Lab, too! If you think precision is synonymous with boring, then you NEED this Session and Learning Lab. If you think precision is a synonym for exciting, then: High Precision, High Scores Click Your Heels! Heeling for Performance
ClickerExpo is a laid-back environment, but we are not mellow about creating an atmosphere that fosters learning and skill development. As my friend Alexandra Kurland writes, “No one attends ClickerExpo to learn to be a mediocre trainer. We come because we are curious, because we love to learn, because we want a deeper connection with our animals. We don’t want to be just good trainers. We want to be GREAT trainers.” So where does excellence come from? Is it the province of the extraordinarily talented or the extraordinarily persistent? Are there practices we can adopt that help us achieve excellence? Alex says the answer is “yes.” She’ll share the data to back it up in her Session The Origins of Excellence.
Cross-training means developing skill sets for multiple environments, not just one. The exercises in human cross-training are designed to build strength, balance, cardio fitness, and coordination so that I can play tennis, run, ski, or play touch football with some deftness—and without ending up in the hospital. At fifty-plus, I’m still trying to be a well-rounded athlete and be a little less round (if you know what I mean). At ClickerExpo, we have a fantastic introduction to the canine cross-training concept. Most canine competition sports are built off a core set of foundation skills. Master those skills and you are off and running (so to speak). Plus, by using a range of muscles and building robust balance, you are lessening the likelihood of injury. If you are deep into the intricacies of one sport, this Learning Lab is a fun way to explore and understand the “portability” of your dog’s skills. If you are just starting to put a paw into the canine sports water, games designed for “cross-training” will develop a well-rounded canine athlete, and give you and your dog lots of games to play together. Instructors welcome! X Marks the Sport: Getting Ready to Compete
As we know, not all rings are created equal. Wedding rings bring out joy. The dark rings on the coffee table left by your nephew who forgot to use a coaster bring frustration. In canine sports, the performance ring can be your own personal Mordor. Is the distracted dog at your side at show time really the same super-focused dog you worked with all month? Here’s the straight scoop. If you want your dog to perform best on performance day, you have to prepare right. No one is better at teaching you how to prepare than Michele Pouliot. The ring is an environment; no matter what ring or environment you are headed for, this course will help you. Come alone or come with your club, but come. Residents of the Shire are welcome. Curtain Up! Unlock the Secrets to Top Ring Performance See you at ClickerExpo 2016!Register now for Cincinnati March 18-20, 2016
Aaron Clayton is President of Karen Pryor Clicker Training and TAGteach International, and a member of the ClickerExpo Faculty.
