Scheduling Dana for a Workshop
Please complete this form and select the topic(s) that most interest you. Dana can also tailor a workshop specifically for the host.
Currently available workshops:
But In a Trial
One of the best advantages we have as a competitor is adjusting to each search and support our dog in a competent and non-interfering way. Because most of us aren’t able to compete in trials regularly, we try to perfect these skills in training sessions. The purpose of this workshop is to help the participant make the most of training to prepare for trial in a way that makes the most sense to the dog and reduces the chance of unexpected or never-before-seen behaviors. We will discuss in detail how training often is very different than trialing (whether you realize it or not) and how to have more consistency between the two. As teams move up to Elite and Summit this is imperative!
As we move up in levels, teamwork becomes more and more important. Training is not just about setting hides and problem solving for the dog. It’s about improving our observation skills, noticing when our dog needs us, and having the tools to support our dogs effectively. This workshop encapsulates recognizing when our dogs are problem solving, stuck and in need of assistance, or close to solving the puzzle. Become more proactive and productive in the search!
Dana will tailor each exercise to the team’s level and will use her many years of experience observing this game we call nose work to help each individual team improve and become a more cohesive unit. We will have discussions, work dogs, and learn how to review videos to facilitate the most learning.
The Mindful Competitor
There are many factors that play a part in being a confident, present, and effective handler in competition, and only a portion of them actually occur during a trial. This 2-day workshop with Dana will delve into some of the most important of these factors and focus on bringing out your best as a handler in competition. Through lecture, video, and live coaching of working teams, Dana will help create a full, well-rounded picture of what it is to be a truly mindful competitor.
One important discussion, and study, will be of odor movement. The better understanding a handler has of this, the more his/her confidence grows when watching their dog work a new environment. Along with visual aids and video, Dana will set a search area, facilitate group discussion on potential odor movement, and then watch the dogs run to complete the picture. She will continue this discussion/study over the course of the two days.
In addition, Dana will cover a variety of other topics, including:
Pre-trial and before you run:
Preparing for competition
Making the most of your walk-thru
Strategizing before you run
During the trial:
Consistency in handling
Reading your dog in the moment
Knowing if/when your dog needs you
Post-trial:
Assessing your performance
What you need to work on moving forward, if anything
Video review
The final piece of the weekend is Dana’s coaching of the working teams. Dana will narrate everything she sees in regard to how each dog is problem solving, what the handler is doing to aid or hinder that problem solving and, of course, odor movement.
Join us in the educational and fun weekend to further your journey in becoming a mindful competitor!
Fox in Sox, It’s More than a Box
Join Dana Zinn for a day of comprehensive study of containers. Through lecture, video and live working teams, Dana will cover the many facets of this often-challenging element.
Dana will discuss odor movement, types of containers, setup, and the most important factor – handling.
Dana will coach teams and narrate all that she sees in regard to the dogs’ search style, problem solving, odor movement, and handler movement.
I’m Ready for My Closeup
Making the most of your training and trial videos.
Many people video their training sessions and/or buy trial videos but don’t understand how to utilize those videos to improve training and handling. In this workshop, Dana reviews videos submitted by attendees, discusses all aspects of the search including dog and handler movement and when they both compliment and contradict one another, and then sets up exercises to create learning based on challenges showcased in the videos. This workshop is invaluable for any team who wants to make sure they get the most out of their training and trialing videos!