Ed Presnall: June 2008 Archives

A weekend Component Training^TM workshop by Ed Presnall and Lois Ballard was interrupted by this tornado that dropped in to disrupt our training in the rain!

Rain showers were predicted but no one expected this uninvited guest to arrive and disrupt the workshop.

So when you're given lemons ... move inside and make lemonaid!



When the storm was over, we went back outside to see the results of the 5+ inches of rain and found ... a group of die hard trackers who were still willing to think out of the box and track in rain and through standing water!

Six days after leaving Camp Pawmark and sending a note that said "I cannot believe the intensity and support you offer to each person. You know when to talk and when to watch and your years of experience comes through in your training model." Lisa Hefner and Zoom earned their VST and CT titles!

Component Training does work and Camp Pawmark "fine tunes" you and your dog to be ready to pass!

Planes, trains and motorhomes ... they converged on the 100 year old hotel that they would call home for the next week. Rangeing in age from 15 to 60+ they came to work out their urban problems on the tree lined campus of SUNY Geneseo.

A dozen breeds and their handlers worked through the buildings; changing surfaces from grass to mulch to dirt to stone to cement to asphalt making turns, finding articles and honing their tracking skills.

The weather tossed things at them before, during and after training. From tracking through drizzle and cold, bundled as tho it was winter and not late May to shorts and ees when the sun came out and the temps soared, each day was different, yet challenging and fun.

From early morning starts to midnight endings they trained and learned and had more fun than they though was possible. leaving exhausted but fulfilled ... they each wanted more and almost to a person proclaimed they would be back again!

I learned so much watching each team work at developing their skills, and enjoyed hanging out with people who share a passion for dogs and the time they spend with them.