September 2016 “To Utility and Beyond” Workshop (similar to next year’s Advanced Workshop):
Lana Kline: Attended the 3-day Utility & Beyond workshop with Betsy Turner-Scapicchio and Linda S. Brennan at Top Dog Obedience School this past Fri - Sun. What a great workshop!! Betsy and Linda just keep getting better and better with their presentations. Tons of information on proofing Open and Utility exercises and motivating and keeping the dogs happy. Love it! I took about 20 pages of notes with ideas for myself, my dogs, my students, and classes. Betsy Turner-Scapicchio And Linda S. Brennan you two totally rock!
Mary Horne: Another outstanding workshop - informative, enjoyable and inspiring, as always. Thank you, Betsy Turner-Scapicchio and Linda S. Brennan for sharing your knowledge, passion, humor and joy with all of us! What a great group of handlers and dogs, too - loved catching up with so many friends. Can't wait for the next one.
Bets Keen: Linda and Betsy, you have such a special ability to see small details that make such a difference in our training. Your seminars are fast pace yet clearly cover each subject. Showing us how to add FAIR distractions to Open and Utility exercises was very helpful. You constantly suggest small changes that make us so much better as a team. We are so thankful to have your help.
Bonnie Burman: The old saying goes that a seminar is worthwhile if you learn just one thing. By that metric, the Top Dog workshops are WAY BEYOND worthwhile!! Could be the best EVER!!! I return home with too many to count practical, immediately usable techniques to teach, proof, and maintain all of the Novice, Open, and Utility exercises. Betsy and Linda have a well-proven method and commonsense approach to dog training. There is no smoke and mirrors. The emphasis is on ensuring that the dogs truly know the exercises and are confident performing them. And Betsy and Linda make it SO much fun! Moreover, even with a whole group, they provide individual attention for each dog/handler team. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Betsy and Linda!!!
Valerie Earwood: I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful seminar. It was just what Ansel and I needed right now and couldn’t have been more timely! I have just had a chance to go over my notes-which were quite extensive. I loved the tips on doing the articles alone. I train a lot by myself and any tips on how to make that more interesting for the dog really helps. I also appreciated the tip on how you go thru each step mentally while you are in the ring to help your nerves. I get VERY nervous in the ring and will certainly apply your technique. I also was fascinated in the way that you try to explain things to the dog. I have never thought of that. I just kind of expected him to know what to do. (my bad) I am anxious to try the gloves and go outs. I have never combined the two and it looks like fun. I must say, I was stunned when you did the exercise on releasing the dog on the signal stand. It was something that was always “forbidden”- and you could tell- it was the first time that I ever did that! However, now that I see the reason, it certainly makes sense. I just can’t say enough about the seminar. It was fabulous and I can certainly understand how both of you get those high scores. Many, many thanks!
Rena Dershowitz: seminar is well organized. What I love most, is the fact that I have homework to do--I have many things to work on with clear instructions! Very helpful. It always impresses me when I'm in a large group, and I still receive individualized attention. Thank you Linda and Betsy!
Elaine Sorrentino: I thought the workshop was very well organized and ran very smoothly. The mechanics were spot on! I really liked that we were placed into small groups. While one group worked another group acted as judge or distracter. I am a visual learner, however we all learn better by doing! Acting as judge or distracter gave me a great chance to learn by doing without the distraction of my own dog! I have already recommended your seminars to others and am making plans to attend another one! Linda and Betsy have developed a great training system and communicate it clearly. You place the dog and handler in a position of success! Truly fun for both dog and handler! Thanks! I am completely converted!! I can hardly wait to start a puppy under the Top Dog system of learning & training (not soon...)! Both Linda and Betsy have an impressive depth of knowledge about how the dog learns and thinks. Not only that, you thoughtfully and successfully apply that to every dog and handler team in a variety of training exercises. I, for one, am also very appreciative of you patience!
Marilyn Traurig: I really enjoyed the seminar! Yes, it is train the Top Dog way in every essence of the phrase. I can attest for all the years that I have trained at Top Dog these are the methods you use in class. Betsy is there religiously training her dogs side by side with her students. I really would like to stress the value of attending the seminar as an auditor. There were several points that were mentioned in class, then again, at the seminar, there was a realization of the importance and implementation in the training techniques that made it all come together!
April 2016 Advanced Workshop (similar to next year’s Intermediate Workshop):
Debbie Cuiffo: What can I say! Betsy and Linda you guys are amazing. Your logo should be a magic wand. You two just pull out dogs and fix everyone's "issues". After they step into your ring there are no "issues" just positive results with dogs understanding what is expected but then more importantly doing everything enthusiastically!!!! "Are we having fun yet!!!" Yes yes and yes.... Get that video out ASAP. Thanks again we had a blast!!!!
Bob Blackstone: Linda and Betsy I don't know how you fit at least a years worth of ideas into four days but you did and you did it with with your infectious good spirit, humor and focus. Thank you both so much!! And to all of the other participants, thank you for sharing your dogs, your stories and your aspirations with the rest of us. I feel so lucky that I was there.
Cathy Brooks: This was an awesome workshop!! Pixel and I learned so much. Betsy Turner-Scapicchio and Linda S. Brennan are the best! So much information that helped every dog, every breed, every level. Thanks!!
Mary Alice Piotrowski: Your workshops are the best. I have been to many seminars from Top handlers and couldn’t tell you what I learned. Your system is fantastic and I wished I lived near you so I could attend class. I have trained two dogs now using your system and ideas and they work. I especially got a lot out of last years’s session on Friday. I had a hunch you deviated from what you were going to do because we all badly needed attention work. Well that was what we needed. The attention game you taught us has helped immensely and Ann Gehrlein agrees. Also the work we did in the beginning of getting the dog to look at us and relate to us before we even start work.