Tag Archives: dogs

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Two Levels of Strength & Conditioning for Perofrmance Dogs Seminars

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with Lee Carr DVM, VMST, CSCC, CMT
Sunday, March 8, 2026

Dr. Lee Carr graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. She has practiced clinical veterinary medicine for 41 years. Dr. Carr has been a veterinary chiropractor since 2011. She earned her CSCC, Canine Strength and Conditioning Certificate in 2024. Dr. Carr recently added Massage certification to her list of skills. “I love teaching dogs and their humans’ new skills.”

Training in only one dog sport leads to fit muscles only required for that activity. For a fully balanced dog, you must train the body as a whole. Canine conditioning offers benefits including physical improvements like increased strength, balance, and endurance; injury prevention by strengthening muscles and supporting joints; mental stimulation through engaging exercises; behavioral benefits such as increased confidence and reduced boredom; and a stronger bond between dog and owner.

The morning seminar will present the foundations of a general fitness program. The emphasis will be placed on good form. The program presented will allow teams to progress on their own.

The afternoon seminar will focus on advanced exercises. To continue these exercises at home, you will need to have some fitness equipment. FitBones, Propel cushions, Klimb tables and Cato equipment will be used to demonstrate these exercises. Your dog will need to be comfortable working on unstable surfaces.

Dogs need to be at least one year of age. All dogs must be injury free for a minimum of four months. Targeting skills are helpful but not required. Dogs must be able to work in close proximity to other dogs.

Sunday March 8, 2026 – 8 working slots per seminar, limited auditors

Cost: Working spots – Members – $115, Non-Members – $125; Auditing spots – Members – $40, Non-Members – $45

Registration opens Monday, January 5, 2026 at 8 am for members, and Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 8 am for non-members.

To register, click links below:

9am – 12pm Session:
FOUNDATIONS STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
AUDIT ONLY – FOUNDATIONS STRENGTH & CONDITIONING


1pm – 4pm Session:
ADVANCED STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
AUDIT ONLY – ADVANCED STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

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

Payment is due in full at the time of registration. No refunds will be given unless there is a waiting list, or you find a replacement for your slot. A $10 processing fee will be deducted from your refund.

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, the presence of the bitch becomes
disruptive to the seminar, she may be removed from the building or other appropriate action taken.

E-mail seminar questions to Lee Carr at fluple@hotmail.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/.
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Problem-Solving Agility Seminars With Merritt Speagle – January 17, 2026

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 Merritt has been training dogs since she was 9 years old. She has trained a variety of breeds, from a Shih Tzu to a Golden Retriever, and now owns 6 Border Collies and 1 Papillon. Merritt loves figuring out each dog and trying to bring out the best in them. She loves teaching independent skills to dogs – those lightbulb moments are always the most fun to watch! She has national placements across multiple organizations with past and current dogs, so she has an understanding of both the unique skills required to succeed in the various organizations and the important foundation pieces that apply no matter what “style” of agility you run. She believes that learning never stops, and there is always something we can do to improve our game! Merritt is an agility instructor, the manager of Level Up Dog Sports, as well as a UKI judge.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2026 – 8 working slots each, limited auditors
8:30 am-12:00 pm • Problem-Solving for Green/Novice/Young Dogs
Does your dog have a problem going ahead of you to a jump or tunnel? Do you have questions about setting the right line or path for your dog? Does your dog make wide turns or come blasting out of a tunnel and go around the next obstacle?  Are you uncomfortable with front, blind or rear crosses? This workshop will give you a chance to get help with the specific issues you choose. Once you register, we’ll ask you to submit at least 2 problems you’d like to work on, so that Merritt can plan how best to help. Jumps & Tunnels only.

1:00 pm-4:30 pm • Problem-Solving for Excellent/Masters/Senior Dogs
Do pinwheels make you dizzy? Does your dog have trouble driving to a backside approach? Are threadles your nemesis? Will your dog commit to a line when you’re behind? Do you have problems with tunnel entrance discriminations or turns out of tunnels? Do you know how to decide which way to turn your dog when you have a choice of how to wrap a jump?  What specific handling challenges would you like help with? This is your chance to get expert assistance with the issues you choose. Once you register, we’ll ask you to submit at least 2 problems you’d like to work on, so that Merritt can plan how best to help. Jumps & Tunnels only.


Cost: Oriole Members – $135 per seminar, Non-members – $145 per seminar
Auditing – Oriole Members – $40 per seminar, Non-members – $45 per seminar

Online registration and payment are required.

Registration opens:
For members:  Monday, December 22 at 8am
For non-members:  Tuesday, December 23 at 8am

Click on links below to register:

Problem-Solving for Green/Novice/Young Dogs
AUDIT ONLY – Problem-Solving for Green/Novice/Young Dogs

Problem-Solving for Excellent/Masters/Senior Dogs
AUDIT ONLY – Problem-Solving for Excellent/Masters/Senior Dogs

Payment is due in full at the time of registration. No refunds will be given unless there is a waiting list, or you find a replacement for your slot. A $10 processing fee will be deducted from your refund.

Be sure to enter your correct jump height when registering. If any change before the seminar, contact Lorinda McKisson at lmckisson@gmail.com.

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

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, the presence of the bitch becomes disruptive to the seminar, she may be removed from the building or other appropriate action taken.

For questions about the seminar, contact 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/.
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Distance Agility Skills Seminars with Paula Goss

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Oriole Dog Training Club presents Distance Skills Seminars 
with National Agility Competitor Paula Goss!
Saturday, January 10 & Sunday, January 11, 2026Why is distance handling so important? It allows the handler to get ahead and stay ahead of their dog on the course so they can better handle technical challenges. The handler can take a shorter path which is especially an advantage when the dogs speed is faster than that of the handler. Distance handling also allows you and your dog to participate in agility games like FAST, Gamblers, Jackpot, etc.

Paula Goss has been involved in competitive agility for 25 years competing at the highest levels in AKC, USDAA, NADAC and UKI. She began with her Labrador Retriever and currently competes with Border Collies. She has been ranked in NADAC’s Top 10 for the past 20 years, earned over 50 NATCHs and MEDALs and 22 Platinum Speed Star awards, as well as the NADAC prestigious MOD SQUAD award. Paula teaches seminars across the US and Canada, as well as being a NADAC clinician and instructor. Paula and Kellan, her border collie, are currently trialing in NADAC, AKC and UKI.  Paula works with each team’s strengths and adds step by step instructions on how to improve. She provides the handler with clear, consistent tools for teaching distance and efficient handling.

SATURDAY, 1/10/26 • HELP! I CAN’T GET THERE!
Fast Dog, slow handler? Come learn how to handle your dog at a distance. Distance handling isn’t just useful for classes like Gamblers or FAST, it can enable a slow handler to keep a fast dog running at top speed while still getting to where you need to be to handle critical points on a course. Contacts, jumps, and tunnels.
Novice/Open Teams • 8:30am-12:00pm
Advanced/Masters Teams • 1:00pm-4:30pm

SUNDAY, 1/11/26 • WHICH ONE IS THE RIGHT ONE?
Discriminations at a Distance. So many obstacles, so many choices. How do you cue the right obstacle without having to be right there? How do you tell your dog to take an obstacle away from you with other obstacles in between? Come and learn how to do discrimination challenges while maintaining distance. Contacts, jumps, and tunnels.
Novice/Open Teams • 8:30am-12:00pm
Advanced/Masters Teams • 1:00pm-4:30pm

8 working slots per seminar, limited auditing, waitlist available.Online registration and payment are required.

Cost: Oriole Members – $135 per seminar, Non-members – $145 per seminar Auditing: Oriole Members – $40 per seminar, Non-members – $45 per seminar

Registration opens:
Members: Monday, December 15 at 8am ✦ Non-Members: Tuesday, December 16 at 8am

Click links below to register:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2026
HELP! I CAN’T GET THERE (Novice/Open)
AUDIT ONLY – HELP! I CAN’T GET THERE! (Novice/Open)

HELP! I CAN’T GET THERE! (Advanced/Master)
AUDIT ONLY – HELP! I CAN’T GET THERE! (Advanced/Master)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2026
WHICH ONE IS THE RIGHT ONE? (Novice/Open)AUDIT ONLY – WHICH ONE IS THE RIGHT ONE? (Novice/Open)

WHICH ONE IS THE RIGHT ONE? (Advanced/Master)
AUDIT ONLY – WHICH ONE IS THE RIGHT ONE? (Advanced/Master)

Be sure to enter your correct jump height when registering. If any change, contact Lorinda McKisson.

Payment is due in full at the time of registration. No refunds will be given unless there is a waiting list, or you find a replacement for your slot. A $10 processing fee will be deducted from your refund.

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

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, the presence of the bitch becomes
disruptive to the seminar, she may be removed from the building or other appropriate action 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/.
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ORIOLE DOG TRAINING CLUB WELCOMES BACKCYNTHIA HORNOR

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 30 & SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2025

We are lucky enough to have yet another world team member coming to work with us at Oriole! Be sure to sign up early because we expect spots will fill quickly. If you compete or want to compete in agility, these are the seminars you’ll want to attend!

We are offering a special package on the Saturday seminars only. So many times, we miss training some of the foundation work we will need in the future. So for this day only, if you enter either the Puppies seminar or the Young Dog seminar, you can audit the other seminar at a reduced rate of $15.

Cynthia Hornor has been competing in agility since 1997. She has put several championships on multiple dogs in both USDAA, AKC, and UKI. She has been a 30 time national finalist in AKC, USDAA & UKI National events with three different dogs. She is an eleven time world team member for the WAO, IFCS, and EO USA teams with her border collies & border/pap mix, Spice, Truant, and Nimble. She has won international medals twice and has been a multi time national champion – winning AKC Nationals in the 16”, 24C, & 12″division, USDAA Grand Prix Nationals in the 22″ & 12″  class and USDAA Biathlon Champion in the 20” & 24″ classes. Cynthia has been the silver medalist on two different USDAA National DAM teams with two different dogs. She is a consistent podium representative at many national and regional events. More importantly, many of Cynthia’s students have been national and regional finalists themselves!

Cynthia believes agility should be fun for both dog and handler. She believes in helping to build a team’s full potential using positive reinforcement and consistent handling. She enjoys working with all breeds of dogs.  She owns both Shelties and Border Collies, giving her an insight on what it takes to be successful running both large and small dogs.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 2025 – 8 working slots per seminar, limited auditors
8:30 am – 12:00 pm • PUPPIES!
Have a new puppy?  Want to start them out on the right paw?  Then this workshop is for you!  We will work drive games, impulse control games, tunnels, commitment, and more!  Don’t miss this opportunity to get your puppy started on its foundation training.  For puppies up to 1 year old. 

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm • YOUNG DOGS
We will work on skills that are required for any dog starting out. Forward focus, blind crosses, front crosses and rear crosses. Plus some minor tunnel discriminations. This workshop will help you get your dog started with the right skills to do their best in any venue. For dogs from age 1-2 years of age or new to agility. Jumps and tunnels only.


SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2025 – 8 working slots per seminar, limited auditors
8:30 am-12:00 pm • EITHER/OR
Have you ever wanted to try things two different ways? Want to make sure your dog is listening and following your cues instead of “guessing”? Then this workshop is for you! We will explore different ways of handling different sequences to see what works better for you and your dog. We will also work to make sure your dog will follow the cue combinations that you want them to. A perfect workshop to improve your skills to make you the best that you can be on any course!  Jumps, tunnels and an A-Frame. Dogs should be 15 months or older.

1:00 pm-4:30 pm • LAYERING/BYPASSES
The new hot topic in agility!  Teach your dog how to layer any obstacle to help you stay ahead on course.  Layering is a critical skill to help you handle with distance and ease. For dogs 15 months and up, you and your dog should be proficient with jumps, tunnels, weaves and contacts.


Cost: Oriole Members – $135 per seminar; Non-members – $145 per seminar. 

Auditing: Oriole members $40 per session. Non-Oriole members $45 per session.
Auditing Special for Puppies! and Young Dog – $15 per session
Location: Oriole Dog Training Club – 9 Azar Court, Halethorpe, MD 21227

Online registration and payment are required.

Registration opens Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at 8 am for Oriole members and Thursday, July 17 at 8 am for non-members.


To register, click the links below:

Saturday, August 30:
PUPPIES! – FULL – Please sign up on waitlist or audit
AUDIT ONLY – PUPPIES!
SPECIAL PUPPIES! AUDIT FOR YOUNG DOGS ATTENDEES
YOUNG DOGS – FULL – Please sign up on waitlist or audit
AUDIT ONLY – YOUNG DOGS
SPECIAL YOUNG DOGS AUDIT FOR PUPPIES! ATTENDEES

Sunday, August 31:
EITHER/OR – FULL – Please sign up on waitlist or audit

AUDIT ONLY – EITHER/OR

LAYERING/BYPASSES – FULL – Please sign up on waitlist or audit
AUDIT ONLY – LAYERING/BYPASSES

Payment is due in full at the time of registration. No refunds will be given unless there is a waiting list, or you find a replacement for your slot. A $10 processing fee will be deducted from your refund.
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, the presence of the bitch becomes
disruptive to the seminar, she may be removed from the building or other appropriate action taken.
E-mail seminar questions to judytgc@comcast.net.

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/.