Announcing: long distance classes!
New LoLaBuLand project for 2011: long-distance classes!!! You can either participate or audit, all through this website, all on a special wish from those who live too far to come to classes. We'll do both puppy and handling classes, the plan is as follows:
For handling class:
I send a course map of a course we did in my handling class and then give you two weeks to set it, run it and send a video. Then we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different choices, I will also publish a video of my dogs on that course. After a week or two of discussion, I send another course and then you again have two weeks to set it and post a video. We'll do 4 courses, so the class will be about 3 months long.
For puppy class:
I write you a "to do" list, you ask if something is not clear, you start with your dog, tape it and send it, I comment, give suggestions on how to proceed etc. You get a new list every two weeks, taking old tricks further, checking the progress and starting with new stuff. We'll go through 6 "to do" lists, so this class will be 3 months long.
What do you think? Let me know how many of you would be interested in this. Those who want to participate in handling class need to have an access to equipment to set a course somewhere and a camcorder to tape it. To participate in puppy class, all you need is a dog (not even necessary a puppy!) and a camcorder. Those who want to audit don't need anything other than paying auditing fee and by this, you get an access to all the videos and comments and you're welcome to ask questions and participate in the discussion. The plan is to start end of February, but you're welcome to post your wishes and preferences.
Oh, and yes, we're getting fancier, that's the new look of our training DVDs:
It sounds very good… I’m actually thinking about Puppy Class with my older dog who is not so skillfull. I think it would be very beneficial to hear some advices from you 🙂
Sure, why not, there is no age limit, old dogs CAN learn new tricks 🙂 and it’s actually very good for them, it keeps them young and busy 🙂
Sounds fantastic, I would be very interested in the handling classes. How much is it going to cost?
I think 100e (about 130usd) for participants, 70e (90usd) for auditors.
Great idea!
When you say that handling students need to have access to equipment, do you mean all the obstacles? I don’t know about other people interested but in my area, many people have their own home made equipment at home and don’t have all the obstacles (first of all contacts, I have them but I have a really nice father who likes building thing!). Maybe you could offer runs that can be done without contacts.
And can we join the classe after it has started or do we have to suscribe in February?
I’ll love it, thank you a lot for offering this!
Greetings
Pauline
Sure, no need to have all obstacles. Contacts will be included in courses to some degree, but can always be either skipped (they will often be at the end) or replaced by jumps or tunnels. Probably, it will also be possible to join later.
I’m definitely interested! End of February sounds good to me.
hey fantastic !!
love the idea !! and we will sign up as soon as we can :))
thanks Silvia !!
looking forward to those classes !!
Evelyn
I would be interested in both 🙂
Excellent idea, Bobby (my PyrShep) will love to do these! Will wait with baited breath 🙂
Cool! Looking forward to meet Bobby! 🙂
I am definitely interested in Puppy classes.
Looking forward to your classes!
S,
This sounds like a great idea. I bet we could get a group together locally to participate that way you could see what we are all doing and we could all take advantage of setting up each course only once. We usually have to do ring rentals to get access to all the equipment so sharing the course set up would be helpful. Will you let us know when you have a price structure set up?
Thanks,
Mary & The Pyr Sheps …Zane & Wisp
Yes, that’s a great idea and even more fun! I’m thinking 100e (about 130usd) for participants, 70e (90usd) for auditors.
I second the Q about contacts: unless I find another person interested in participating that is using the same field as I do, I cannot set up all of the contact equip myself….could you do jumpers courses only maybe ?
Thanks, Noa.
Yes, I think we’ll do it that way: contacts only at the end, so that those who don’t have them can skip them. That way or another, we’ll keep them at the same spot for all the courses, I’m not moving them very often either 🙂