WOW...I'm psyched...had an awesome seminar weekend :) - Page 1

Hello Everyone,

Have you ever gone to a training seminar and come home so excited and focused on how you can achieve your training goals that you feel like your going to burst?

Well I just did. I just got home from a weekend training seminar with Debbie Zappia. WOW.....she is amazing!!!

I don't think I've ever learned so much in one weekend. Debbie teaches you how to train your dog in such a way that makes it very easy to understand how the dog views your actions or non-actions. She gives you confidence, and shows you exactly what you need to do to achieve a better working relationship with your dog. A truly gifted trainer of people and dogs. If any one is looking for an excellent seminar instructor I would highly recommend her for beginner to advanced handlers and dogs.

I went to this seminar with very specific things I wanted to learn and come home with so much more.

The folks at Cache Valley Working dog club were wonderful.....and I thank you for making me feel right at home .

Good Luck...you guys. I look forward to reading about your successes.

Here's a picture of Me and Cisco doing a track the Debbie way (there are others but I don't want to post a picture of Debbie without her permission). She started us like we had never done an IPO track before. Here we are walking up to the tail of track number 1. Remember Cisco was started as a SAR dog and he was used to used all of his senses to get the job done. His IPO tracking was fast and not precise. By the end of the fourth track he was deep in each foot step, slow and methodical and took the turn perfectly.....yay. 

For those of you who know the Cisco story here's a closer picture of the big guy we took after the training session  happy, healthy and doing wonderful .

 

 

Glad you had a great time. I took a seminar with her many years ago and she gave me the best advice and training for my dog I have ever gotten.

Oh, bloody he-l-l!  I was going to go to a seminar that was cancelled with Zappia.  You are soooooo lucky to spend time with her.  I went to the championships and I thought her performance was a THE best with that beautiful, gorgeous, Iron von den Wolfen.  Awesome!  :))

That is so awesome that you had such a great time. I have met Debbie before and she is a very careing and down to earth person. There are not many people like her. I considered it an HONOR to just talk to her.. You are so lucky to have been able to go to one of her seminars. I would LOVE to be able to do that some day. DId you just work Cisco or did you take Ava too?

By the way Cisco looks GREAT! Such a handsome fella..

 

 

Geez nothing to share but yr enthusiasm got me enthusiastic . good job.

LOL....OK....vk4gsd....just for you.

Some tips I learned from Debbie.

1. She starts all of her dogs with crate games and board games. You can purchase a dvd about crate games on Amazon. Crate games teach the dog self control, focus and manners. I have a crate monster, one that tries to bolt from the crate as soon as your hand touches the latch, so this helped us a lot. The board games also teach the dog many things and can be used as the foundation for sit/stay, platz/stay, recall, send out, foos position and other things that my brain can't remember right now.....lol.

2. Debbie prefers the 2.25mm prong with the prongs all running the same way and definitely no quick release. The smaller prongs make for a better correction. 

3. She never asks her dog to take the foos position unless she is prepared to pay attention to the dog. 

4. Never reward your dog with your right hand or from the front when working on healing.

5. Very important....Teach the dog to target your hand before you begin naming the healing exercise. 

6. We learned how to teach a dog to move it's hind legs in both directions while standing on a target tub....Also, a foundation exercise for healing turns and pivots.

7. She taught us how to correct a dog aggressive dog.....using my ornery little bitch as an example.....It takes some team work and you have to set the dog up....but boy did it ever work. A few more times and she will be cured of that nasty habit forever. I never laid a hand on her or raised my voice.....remained calm and indifferent. That's the key....the dog has to think it caused the correction.

That's the tip of the iceberg.....as I said she is a teaching wizard and a truly wonderful person. I believe she wants everyone to succeed at their goal no matter the size and she really loves training dogs.

 

Jyl...wish you could have made it. They ended up having an extra working dog slot open. I took Ava as my primary dog and Cisco to work on tracking. Ava is a new girl thanks to Debbie's methods. Cisco says thanks for the complement.

 

PS....Per Debbie...In her opinion it takes a solid 18 months of training before a dog is solid...in every way...in the healing position.

 

Great tips!!!

i should have gone :(

 

How was battling the rain?  

 

Now I am jazzed and I am not even doing IPO. Does she just work on IPO things or general obedience? I will keep her on my watch list.

Arrow....fortunately the seminar was conducted indoors (huge agility building). So we only had to battle the rain when it was time to get our dogs.

Fawnda......She is definitely one to keep on your watch list. In addition to IPO sport, Debbie trains dogs for both competitive AKC and IPO obedience. She is also very good at evaluating dogs.

Sounds like you had a great time... those were some great tips.. #3-5 are VERY important. I do not use the "heel" command until the dog completely understands the exercise then I add to "heel" command in. I too teach the dog to target my hand and then will transfer to a ball or tug in my hand and then will transition to the tug/ball under my arm.

 

I wish I could have made the trip there. It would have been great to watch and listen to Debbie.

 

I did not know that Ava was dog aggressive... Doesnt sound like she will be doing that for much longer....lol.