Toni Dawkins Feb 08

We had another fantastic session with Toni Dawkins this past weekend. Puppies were first and we focused on sequencing and some mini courses. The pups were of quite varying standard but worked well. She picked up on some independency issues with contacts and weaves and gave us all homework regarding resistance to toy movement from final position and in the weaves. We did some simple sequences with front crosses, post turns and 'scoops' and tried leaving them to send to the end of contacts and also run past.

The afternoon group did more of the same with slightly more technical aspects to the sequences including wrong end of tunnels, rear cross work and recalled seesaws!

As always Toni pointed out any issues in a totally constructive way and gave all of us different things to work on. Every single person seemed to enjoy the training- here are just some of the comments e-mailed to me:

"And once again the crystal clarity and absolute consistency with which she approaches everything - her training, her requirements of the dog, her signals etc. She picked up variances in people's commands and actions that I would never have seen in a million years. Very good indeed".

"Thanks for organizing Toni once again. I always enjoy sessions with her".

I always appreciate Toni's training, love her clam persistent style, more please!

"We were given challenging stuff to do, but always with help and encouragement. Really good".

"Still the best trainer I have ever been taught by."

"I love training with Toni, I come away feeling positive that me and my dog can achieve even more with a little work. Each person and dog partnership are treated individually and thoughtfully".

Report from Yvette

Well the long awaited return of Toni came on Sunday 17.02.2008 and as usual it was great. This time she decided with the show season gaining on us fast we would do some courses with sequence handling involved to see how we were getting on. Well all the exercises were great but it did show us we all had weaknesses in one way or another, we also did some contact work to see how good our positions were. Yet again Toni was excellent in her instruction and picked up on our bad habits and how to try and rectify them.

I think we all enjoyed it thoroughly and we can’t wait for her to return again. Skate went home and slept all evening so I can only presume he worked very hard and enjoyed himself.

Thanks to Gem for organising it, Toni for coming to train us again and to Skate for being a great merlie boy.