Current Agility Seminars:
Annette Alfonso ✦ 10/10/26 – 10/11/2026

Future Agility Seminars:
Dudley Shumate ✦ 11/6/26 – 11/7/2026
Judy Kolva ✦ 11/14/26
Nancy Schilling ✦ 11/15/26

Agility Seminars Coming in 2027:
Paula Goss ✦ 1/9/27-1/10/27
Christine Tschech ✦ 1/23/27 – 1/24/27
Sheyla Gutierrez ✦ 5/8/27 – 5/9/27
Laura Dolan ✦ 5/22/27 – 5/23/27
Bridget Thomas ✦ 6/26 – 6/27/27
Courtney Moore ✦ 7/31/27 – 8/1/27
Claudette Mo ✦ 9/11/27 – 9/12/27
Merritt Speagle ✦ 9/25/27 – 9/26/27
Chris Tucci / Kris Seiter ✦ 10/23/27 – 10/24/27
Dudley Shumate ✦ 11/13/27 – 11/14/27
Cynthia Hornor ✦ 11/27/27 – 11/28/27

ORIOLE DOG TRAINING CLUB WELCOMES
ANNETTE ALFONSO
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 & SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2026

Annette is an accomplished trainer and competitor from Puerto Rico who turned her passion for training into a profession in 1997 after spending several years traveling the country performing with her canine team as part of the Purina Incredible Dog Team. She has competed with her dogs at numerous national and international events and has had the honor of representing Puerto Rico at the WAO in England (2011), IFCS Worlds in Texas (2012), WAO in Spain (2013) and IFCS CCOA (2014). Annette has traveled to England, Austria and the Channel Islands to compete in various agility Festivals and Open competitions. Annette has been part of the AKC European Open Team USA management team since 2017 and takes pride in coaching and mentoring the members of the US World Teams in preparation of and at international events in her capacity as Team Coach.

Outside of the competition ring, Annette’s canine team has performed in front of the camera for TV/movie work and advertising campaigns. Television appearances include “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”, “The David Letterman Show”, as well as NBC’s “Today Show”. Her dog Dealer had a lead role in the Spanish Soap Opera “Perro Amor” while her dog Decker starred in the movie “Marley and Me”.

As much as she enjoys performing with her own dogs, Annette thrives on coaching others to be the best they can be and helping students achieve their training goals. For Annette, training the ‘perfect’ dog begins with a strong relationship and realistic training goals geared toward the dog’s individual talents. Most importantly, it doesn’t matter whether you are training the next world champion or your best canine companion, keeping it fun is always the most important rule!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2026 – 8 working slots per seminar, limited auditors
8:30 am – 12:00 pm • THIS OR THAT…DISCRIMINATIONS
Tunnel vs weave vs jump vs backside. This workshop is designed to challenge and elevate your discrimination skills. As courses become increasingly complex, obstacle discriminations are showing up more frequently in every venue. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to confidently guide your dog to the correct obstacle – even when multiple choices are close together – using clear verbal cues, effective body language, and strategic positioning. Dogs must be familiar with all obstacles.

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm • MASTERING UKI CHALLENGES
UKI is coming to Oriole next year. Get a head start on the types of challenges typically found in UKI courses. Bigger distances, reverse starts, backsides, and challenging weave entries are all hallmarks of UKI agility. This workshop is for dogs familiar with all obstacles.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2026 – 8 working slots per seminar, limited auditors
8:30 am-12:00 pm • SAME HANDLING, DIFFERENT LANES
How do you recognize your dog’s line and how can one handling cue set that line for the dog? Have you ever thought you were telling your dog to go one way, when the timing or execution of your cues was actually telling your dog to go a different way? This workshop will help you identify how and when to cue different lines using the same handling. This seminar will have jumps and tunnels only.

1:00 pm-4:30 pm • EVERYTHING TUNNELS
The tunnel is an often undertrained and underestimated obstacle. While it may appear simple, it can present surprising challenges. In this workshop, we will focus on tunnel entrances, exits, finding the correct end of the tunnel, tunnel breaks/brakes, sends to tunnels, turns in and out of the tunnel, and stopping tunnel “sucking”. Join us as we perfect your tunnel skills and introduce you to new techniques. This is for dogs that are sequencing but can be tailored to all levels.

Cost: Oriole Members – $150 per seminar; Non-members – $160 per seminar.
Auditing: Oriole members $40 per session. Non-Oriole members $45 per session.

Location: Oriole Dog Training Club – 9 Azar Court, Halethorpe, MD 21227

Online registration and payment are required.

OPEN TO ALL NOW!!!

NEW! Oriole Members may only enter 2 seminars until the day after it opens for non-members. Then, additional seminars may be entered.

See registration links below:

Saturday, October 10:
THIS OR THAT…DISCRIMINATIONS
AUDIT ONLY – THIS OR THAT…DISCRIMINATIONS

MASTERING UKI CHALLENGES
AUDIT ONLY – MASTERING UKI CHALLENGES

Sunday, October 11:
SAME HANDLING, DIFFERENT LANES
AUDIT ONLY – SAME HANDLNG, DIFFERENT LANES

EVERYTHING TUNNELS
AUDIT ONLY – EVERYTHING TUNNELS

Payment is due in full at the time of registration. No refunds will be given unless a replacement is found for your slot. If a member cancels and the spot is filled, a credit will be issued. If a non-member cancels and the spot is filled, a refund will be issued, minus a $10 processing fee.

BIS Seminar Policy:
Unless otherwise specified, BIS are allowed in seminars if they wear tight fitting panties. Separate crating spaces can be arranged if necessary. If, in the opinion of the presenter or the club there is an issue, appropriate action may be taken.

E-mail seminar questions to Laurie McClain at lauriemcclain123@gmail.com. For registration issues, contact Seminar Registrar, Lorinda McKisson at Lmckisson@gmail.com.

All Oriole guidelines are in effect.

• There is a $10 clean-up fee for accidents that occur on the turf
• Only non-crumbly, non-staining dog treats may be used on the field
• Dogs are to be relieved in designated outdoor areas
• Dogs are to be crated when not working

For more policy information, go to https://orioledogclub.org/house-rules/.