This is a two-day seminar is for handlers competing in performance events, specifically obedience, agility and freestyle. In this seminar, Dr. Zink will give an introduction to the structure of the dog as it relates to these performance events and describe a number of common conformational problems that affect performance.

SATURDAY • February 1st
9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Importance of structure to Obedience, Agility and Freestyle

• Introduction to the musculoskeletal system
• How to evaluate your dog?s structure
• Understanding your dog?s physical advantages and disadvantages for performance
• Body size (gigantism vs. dwarfism) and shape
• How to evaluate a dog's front and rear angulation
• Dewclaws and tails

• Gaits (walk, trot, canter) - what they look like and how to train your dog to gait
• Pacing, crabbing - why they are not ideal gaits and what to do if your paces or crabs
• The use of cavaletti in conditioning and gait modification
• How to determine which leg your dog is lame on and how to help your veterinarian make a diagnosis

• Organizing a fitness program
• Strength and endurance exercises
• Intensity, frequency, duration of training
• Conditioning for specific muscle groups
• Rehabilitation after injuries/surgery

• observe videos of dogs of various shapes and sizes performing the agility obstacles to see how they use their bodies

• the contribution of spinal/neck length and flexibility to attention and heeling
• How heeling alters gait
• Off-lead heeling - accentuation of heeling problems by conformational problems.

• the effects of length of back, rear angulation and tail length and set on fronts and finishes.

• Speed of recalls, retrieving, approaches to jumping
• The effect of limb angulation and body length-to-height ratio on speed of recalls.

• Conformational reasons why some dogs have trouble with the stationary exercises.

• Facial structure, limb angulation and the ability to scent and the speed of pick-up.

• The effects of body type, body length-to-height ratio and angulation on jumping ability and prevention of injuries.
• The biomechanics of jumping
• Styles of jumping and the breeds of dogs that use them
• How to train jumping - from puppies to adults
• Solving jumping problems

Seminar Fee (both days): $110.00
$60.00 each day
addtional fee for lunch

Christine Zink, D.V.M., Ph.D.has been a dog lover all her life. She got her first dog, an Irish Wolfhound, the day she graduated from Ontario Veterinary College with her DVM. From an initial interest in obedience, mainly as a survival tactic, she gradually became fascinated with all aspects of canine performance. She currently shares her home with two Golden Retrieversand two Maine Coon cats. Dr. Zink has put over 55 titles in obedience, agility, hunting and conformation on dogs of several different breeds from the Sporting, Working, and Hound groups.

While competing in performance events throughout Canada and the United States, Chris recognized a significant information gap. Owners and trainers wanted to know moreabout how canine structure and medical or physical contisiotns affect their dogs' performance, and how to keep their canine teammates healthy and injury-free. Yet little information was available. She therefore wrote Peak Performance: Coaching the Canine Athlete, a comprehensive guide to the dog as an athlete. Her second book, Jumping from A to A: Teach Your Dog to Soar, coauthored with Julie Daniels, has become the gold standard for jump training. Her third book, Dog Health and Nutrition for Dummies was released in 2001 to rave reviews.

Dr. Zink presents Coaching the Canine Athlete (R) seminars worldwide and regularly writes for dog magazines. She is also a consultant on canine sports medicine, evaluating canine structure and locomotion and designing individualized conditioning programs for active dogs.

In her other life, Chris is a veterinary pathologist and a Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, with over 100 scientific publications. There, she teaches Pathology to medical and veterinary students and does AIDS research.

DOG STUFF
Dogs may lay by your chair in the seminar room as long as they remain quiet, leashed and under control at all times. Crates and exercise pens allowed in the adjacent room ONLY.

If your dog can't be confined in the adjacent room and remain quiet, please don't bring your dog. Any dog that is disruptive or behaves in an aggressive manner as determined by event staff will be requested to leave. Any dog that has "personal space issues" is not allowed in the seminar room. Remember chairs are right next to each other and people and dogs may be stepping over your dog. It is not a nice experience to be snarled at when dogs/people have to walk "over" your dog.

No dogs can be left in vehicles if the outdoor temperature exceeds 70 degrees even if all windows, doors and/or hatches are open.

Leaving dogs in a vehicle when the outdoor temperature exceeds 70 degrees IS AGAINST THE LAW.

DEMONSTRATION DOGS
Attendee's dogs will be chosen by the speaker for demonstration purposes. There will be opportunities for you to work your own dog, however this is NOT A WORKING SEMINAR.

DOG ETIQUETTE
You are responsible for cleaning up after your dog. There are no excuses for not picking up after your dog EVERYWHERE.

CURRENT VACCINATIONS
All dogs entering the facility are required to have up-to-date vaccinations.

SANCTUARY POLICY
Please, no prong collars on dogs in the facility.

PEOPLE ETIQUETTE
During the seminar and outdoor workshops, please turn off all cell phone and pager audio alerts. Please take all private conversations away from the area the speaker is presenting.

VIDEOTAPING
Audio taping is permitted... but, no videotaping, please.

BOOKS & TOYS, ETC. FOR SALE
A selection of books, videos and toys will be available for sale.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Monday, January 27, 2003.

REFUND POLICY
Full refund issued if requested by email or phone no later than Monday, January 27, 2003. Refunds requested after Monday, January 27, 2003 will be issued a 50% credit slip that may be applied to future Puppyworks educational events. No credits or refunds after 9:00 am on February 1st.

BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR
Metal or plastic chairs are available for seating. If you prefer more comfortable seating, we encourage you to bring your own chair. Please no oversized or high back chairs.

FROM 1-85/1-40
Take the Mebane (southwest bound) or Mebane Oaks Rd. (northeast bound) exit (#154). Turn south (away from Mebane), go 6 miles, turn left on to Nicks Rd. The Sanctuary will be 0.5 miles on the left at 6311 Nicks Rd.

FROM ALAMANCE COUNTY
Take Hwy 54 East one mile past the Orange County Line, turn left onto Mebane Oaks Road. Go 2 miles, turn right on to Nicks Rd. The Sanctuary will be 0.5 miles on the left at 6311 Nicks Rd.

FROM CHAPEL HILL/CARRBORO
Take Hwy 54 West out of Carrboro approximately 12 miles from the city limits, turn right onto Mebane Oaks Rd. (there is a road sign for Saxapahaw to the left at this intersection). Go 2 miles, turn right onto Nicks Rd. The Sanctuary will be 0.5 miles on the left at 6311 Nicks Rd.

FROM RALEIGH/DURHAM AIRPORT
Leave the airport and take I-40 West (towards Durham and Chapel Hill). I-40 merges with I-85 west of Hillsborough. Continue on I-40/I-85 West to exit #154/Mebane. At the end of the exit ramp make a left (south) onto Mebane Oaks Rd. Take Mebane Oaks Rd for six miles to Nicks Rd and make a left. The Sanctuary is a half mile down on the left.

MICROTEL INN & SUITES
120 Old Dogwood St
Hillsborough, NC
(919) 245-3102
Dog allowed, pet fee
~ 12 miles away

MOTEL 6 BURLINGTON
1257 Hanford Rd
Burlington, NC
(336) 226-1325
Dogs allowed
~ 16 miles away

HAMPTON INN MEBANE
105 Spring Forest Dr
Mebane, NC
(919) 563-5400
No dogs
~ 7 miles away

COMFORT INN DURHAM
3508 Mt Moriah Rd
Durham, NC
(919) 932-9522
No dogs
~ 22 miles away

For registration inquiries, contact:
events@puppyworks.com

For local information, contact:
Jeanine Brown
jajb@nc.rr.com