AGILITY U.S.A. SEMINARS

Thank you for your interest in my Agility U.S.A. presentations. I would be delighted to present one for your group. Here is some material on my seminars for review as well as some reactions to my seminars. There are a number of seminar formats that I offer and each hosting group is welcome to pick and choose among them. I am always happy to custom tailor a seminar to fit a group’s needs. There are one- and two-day formats. Should your group decide to host one, I will provide any help needed to produce the flyers to advertise the seminar.

The broad purpose of my seminars presentations is promote the exciting sport of agility as a team effort of both handler and dog based on Understand and Skill which results in great Attitudes. Agility training for both the dog and handler is with positive motivation, which is not just a method by which I teach it's my only way. Believing that success builds on upon success, my methods seek to allow both handlers and the dogs to succeed during each step in the training process. Motivating both handlers and dogs to work together as teams I use a multitude of creative methods to gain results. These results are based upon solid foundational approaches to agility training. My seminars are highly interactive and provide ample opportunity for the attendees to work their dog. There is moderate amount of lecture time and detail is provided on the whole range of agility competition classes with their unique handling and performance needs. I use high quality visual aids, which are flexible, enough so that I can tailor them to best suit the interests of the participants.

I provide handouts to the participants, which include outlines, basics of subjects covered during my seminars with space for the participants to write notes, and several agility articles I have written.

I can also do private agility lessons either before or after my seminars; information is included in this mailing. The hosting club generally requires that those interested sign up ahead of time, so that I can arrange my travel schedule appropriately. The private lessons have been enthusiastically received, and many that don't sign up ahead of time are disappointed because I just don't have enough time to fit them in to the available time. My private lesson fees are $30.00 for a half-hour and $45.00 for an hour. I can arrange to arrive a day early or stay a day after the seminars to accommodate scheduling of private lessons. If a hosting club guarantees four hours of private lessons I will waiver my normal fee for extra days. Depending upon access and lighting of the agility area I can do 3 hours of private lessons the evenings of seminars.

My fee is $400.00 per day plus expenses (travel, hotel, and meals) for a two-day minimum (weekend package). Extra days in addition to a weekend package are $200.00 per day plus expenses. Single day workshops are $400.00. I request a non-refundable deposit of $200.00 to reserve a seminar date. While this deposit is non-refundable I am willing to work with clubs if their chosen date must be changed as much as my schedule allows. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

Seminar Offerings

Instructor's Workshop One-Day Format

Those interested in teaching agility to either others or just their own dogs are shown a systematic approach to developing dog/handler teams using foundational approach to agility training. Topics covered included a wide range of contact obstacle training methods, basic skills needed by agility instructors, how to build a team, intro. to clicker training and much more.

Instructor's Workshop Two-Day Format

The same materials as the one-day format with the additional day being a hands on day for workshop participants. Working in instructor pairs participants under Penny's supervision introduce new dogs and their handlers to the basic agility obstacles

Beginner's Seminar One-Day Format

Offered either with the Instructor's Workshop or as a separate seminar dogs and their handlers are introduced to basic agility equipment and handling skills. Please note that no dogs less than six months of age will be allowed in this class and equipment will not be at full height for this seminar.

Intermediate Working Seminar One or Two Days Formats

This seminar is for those who are just starting or are ready to start agility competition. Participants will learn handling skills that will help their team become consistent competitors in the agility ring while putting the finishing touches on their dog's performance.

Advanced Working Seminar One or Two Days Formats

This seminar is for those with agility title or titling legs that want to tine tune their agility team's performance. In-Depth look at agility course handling strategies including agility games and their special requirements.

Body Language Working Seminar One Day Format

This seminar takes an in-depth look at how our body language can make our on course communications with our dogs more precise and effective.

Seminar Reviews

We just wanted to thank Penny Winegartner for a fantastic seminar and match. We had a great time, learned a lot, and received plenty of positive feedback on Penny.
Jim H.

We had a great time! I just got a note from one of our attendees saying she thoroughly enjoyed it. You did an excellent job. Most of the groups were starters and even the other few certainly benefited from your approach. We plan to implement your clock game at the next practice.
Susan B.

Didn't get a chance to tell you how much I enjoyed the seminar... I am already using a lot of the tips you gave and got two legs and several placement (including a 1st place!) our first weekend showing after your seminar. Thanks!
Tracey T.

Posted to the Internet Agility List - Just returned from a seminar presented by Penny Winegartner and let me say that the whole weekend was FABULOUS. Penny is very entertaining and willing to share her knowledge and obsession with the sport with everyone. She answered questions from the peanut gallery ALL weekend long - she could hardly eat or take a break without several of us (mostly novice agility-holics) crowding around her! I would definitely take from her again.
Tina H.

Couldn't wait to tell you... Chase qualified at an AKC trial this weekend! I took your suggestion about my handling and it worked! We qualified in 56 seconds with 13 obstacles and a 62-second course. Thanks again for the helpful advice. I feel like you helped us qualify Finally!
Terry S.

All the participants and of course, myself, thank you for making your trip to our part of the country and enlightening us all! You have given us new direction and excitement for our agility training. Hopefully we can look forward to having you in our company again some time in the future.
Katherine T.

The depth of joy you have for the sport of agility and your love of dogs is a shining model for all of us. Thank you for your honesty about your training and competition experiences and your willingness try new and different training methods.
Robert C.

You have given the words Excitement and Enthusiasm a new depth of meaning for agility training. A great weekend, now to just put it all together! Watch out agility world, here we come!
Leslie A.

I can’t wait to get home and try the new ideas you have given me about handling! If we do half as well in competition as we did at your seminar then WATCH OUT – HERE WE COME! Thanks again for all the great tips!
Carol R.

I’m going home with a different dog than I came with, or maybe my dog is going home with a different handler! Anyway whichever way it is Thank you for putting our "Team" back together. Agility is fun again and that’s what we were missing most! Great seminar, I’ll be back next time you’re in our area!
Robert W.